Boost your stress coping capability!

Work-related stress is at epidemic levels in Australia with almost three in four workers struggling to manage the pressure of unreasonable workloads, job insecurity, and low morale. And with the added pressures of juggling work from home and family life, stress is on the increase. But the good news is there are steps you can take to recognise the early signs of stress and boost your coping capacity.

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, large numbers of workers are clocked on for more than 50 hours a week, leaving Australia near the bottom of the work/life balance ladder compared with other countries. Among the many causes is the impact of technology blurring the boundaries between work and downtime, with employees expected to be contactable at all hours. In some sectors, technological advances create job insecurity as computers and machinery take tasks from workers. Casualisation of the workforce and the growing gig economy (where workers are freelance contractors or hired on demand) has also removed much of the stability enjoyed by previous generations. Last year, a workplace wellness survey of more than 1000 Australian workers found that 73 percent felt stressed with millennials bearing the brunt of the pressure.

At a biological level, stress is related to allostasis, when the nervous system, immune system, and hormones are activated to help the body adapt to challenges. Hormones including adrenalin and cortisol trigger the fight-or-flight response that helps us react quickly to manage stressful situations. When this happens efficiently and infrequently, the body can cope. But in circumstances where these systems are overstimulated and cannot perform properly, the result is allostatic load, which can lead to disease.

When worries, challenges, and anxieties show no sign of abating, chronic stress can result.
Signs of stress include: aches and pains, insomnia, indigestion, diarrhoea, irritability, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, low self-esteem and feeling out of control, moody and tearful. If left unchecked chronic stress can lead to depression, high blood pressure, a weakened immune system, and even heart disease. And while stress might leave you reaching for alcohol, caffeine, and sugary foods, these can, in fact, escalate symptoms. Instead, regular exercise and a balanced diet supplemented by specific vitamins and minerals can help ease symptoms of stress and set you on the path to make longer-term changes.

Must-have magnesium

Magnesium assists muscle and nerve function, with foods such as kale, spinach, yoghurt, almonds, avocado, bananas and even good quality dark chocolate rich in this essential mineral. Speak to your Go Vita health consultant and find the best magnesium supplement for you - tablets, capsules, powders, and now even sprays and creams can deliver you a dose of must-have magnesium! Soaking in an Epsom salt bath is just another way to absorb the stress-relieving benefits of magnesium too.

Better with Bs

B-complex vitamins found in many animal proteins protect the immune and nervous systems while promoting mental clarity. So it is a great way to start the day with a B complex vitamin supplement - check out the latest activated B supplements - your body doesn't have to work as hard for its daily dose of B group vitamins when taken in this form.

Take time out for tea

Swapping out your afternoon caffeine hit for a soothing green tea is a great way to increase levels of theanine, an amino acid used to treat high blood pressure and anxiety. When green tea is paired with ashwagandha and taken regularly, it is an unbeatable combination to improve the body’s capacity to cope with stress and enhance mental function and physical performance, especially during times of overwork, fatigue, exhaustion or convalescence.

St John’s Wort & stress

Since the days of the ancient Greeks, people have taken St John’s wort as a natural remedy for stress, anxiety and mild depression.

The herb is believed to work by preventing nerve cells in the brain from reabsorbing the chemical messengers’ serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline, which are linked to nervous conditions. Clinical trials have found the herb to be as useful as standard antidepressant drugs for the treatment of mild to moderate depression. It is not recommended in cases of severe, biological depression.

Because of the potential for adverse reactions when combined with other medications – particularly warfarin and other antidepressants – it is advisable to consult your healthcare practitioner before taking St John’s wort.

When stress interferes with sleep

Stress often affects your quality of sleep. A calming combination of the traditional herbs hops and passionflower is recommended to help you fall asleep naturally. Check out our blog on Simple Sleep Solutions 

While dietary changes and supplements won’t make work less stressful, they can help build your physical and mental reserves so you can take steps towards reclaiming a manageable work/life balance.

For professional help, see your GP or call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.