A few years ago I found myself with all my bills paid, my work flowing beautifully and abundantly, amazing friends, so much gratitude… and I felt this ever-present draining stress that had no cause in reality. I tried to ignore it, but it persisted and weighed on my days, casting a shadow where things were so light. I didn’t understand that there was a stress in my body – severe anemia- until I finally wound up completely exhausted.
Hidden stressors are all over the place, and even if you have no “reasonably good reason” to feel stressed, it might be affecting you.
This is a big deal to me to share some hidden stressors- there are so so many- because it’s the hidden stress that makes us seem like we’re irrational, ungrateful or otherwise not making sense. And yet, the stress is real. And you can eliminate it, for sure!
“In 50-60% of patients seeing a primary care clinician, no cause for their symptoms can be found with diagnostic tests. Most of these illnesses are due to hidden stresses in the patient’s life.
David D. Clarke, MD.
Big statistic to kick things off!
In a Self-Hacked article, , the author explains that stress in high doses can lower your immune system, disrupt your sleeping patterns, affect the balance of your hormones, cause “leaky gut” – which is when you develop sensitivities to food and inflammation of the stomach lining, thinning hair, heart damage and memory loss.
The cause of your stress may seem obvious- from a demanding schedule to a troubled relationship, financial worries or something else that’s tangible- some stressors that are just as troubling can remain in the background of life. These hidden stressors can be incredibly destructive, and clearing them out of life can be the most liberating exercise!
Let’s look at a few hidden stressors in life…
Cell Phones: We’re constantly with a phone, making us feel that we constantly need to be “on.” Even if the phone rings and you don’t answer it, or you receive a text message notification and don’t reply, the knowingness that other person expects you to be accessible all the time can be very stressful. It’s hard to conceive of the harm in this, because most people live glued to their cell phone. Turn OFF your cell phone. This may not be plausible to some because we rely on this form of communication for work, etc. You can turn your phone off far more often, especially after work hours, and do not sleep with your phone in your bedroom.
Pharmaceutical Drug Commercials: We’ve all been there before…watching our favorite TV program when a commercial hits the screen asking if you are often, “fatigued, overwhelmed, feeling doubt, low-self-esteem” then boom…they say you may have Bi-Polar disorder. Pharmaceutical drug commercial advocates claim that these commercials help people have more control over their health. But, according to Martha Rosenberg, author and health reporter, in a blog post, “Following Success of DTC Drug Advertising, DTC Radiation Advertising? What?,” she believes these ads only cause a growing number of hypochondriacs to develop with believe they have diseases that they never even knew existed. If that isn’t bad enough, the long list of horrible side-effects presented of these drugs – that often include permanent injury or death- is alarming. Mute the commercials on your TV when they pop up, or watch less TV and you’ll minimize the chance of stress!
Overindulging in sugars: Refined sugar is processed by your body at a super-fast rate, causing sharp highs and lows in energy and mood. Stress hormones skyrocket. When your diet is high in refined sugar, you’re at much higher risk of becoming depressed, as high doses of sugar intake daily can cause inflammation in the brain and the body. Decrease your intake of refined sugar, or cut it out of completely.
Allergies: Food allergies can cause a range of symptoms that include, chronic tiredness, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation and inflammation of the digestive system, and skin irritation. Undiagnosed food allergies and intolerences but stress of your body and mind. If you’re feeling like your body isn’t the same as it used to be, and a doctor clears you of any serious medical concerns, you might want to ask for a full comprehensive allergy test. (Hint: gluten intolerances are something that everyone has, according to the best nutritionists in Los Angeles, and you don’t need to be celiac to need to avoid gluten!)
Comparing yourself to others on social media: Limit your use of social media, especially where it seems to leave you feeling drained or stressed.
Clutter causes stress! In the Psychology Today article, Why Mess Causes Stress, clutter is explored as very undervalued source of tension in life.
“Clutter can play a significant role in how we feel about our homes, our workplaces, and ourselves. Messy homes and work spaces leave us feeling anxious, helpless, and overwhelmed. Yet, rarely is clutter recognized as a significant source of stress in our lives.”
And… of course… there’s always a way to untangle any stress that appears and make life flow straight and sound and beautifully again.
Stresses dissolve in spaciousness. No pressure. No forcing. No bombarding media and electronics.
Clear space. Quiet your mind. Purify your diet. Eliminate noise from your home. You can banish so much stress and find, beneath it all, incredible calm and quiet.
xoxo Dana
P.S.: If you want to really immerse yourself in the light of joy so much more, my favorite Feng Shui and cutting-edge energy-shifting tools that I use almost every day are HERE for you in the Joy Immersion: 30 Day Negativity Detox!
I’m so excited to share this with you!!!
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xoxo Dana
Such a genius article! When we don’t need our cell phones, we should turn them off, especially when we are at home and resting after work. As for TV, I have personally stopped watching for this exact reason you mentioned; while watching your favorite documentary a random advertisement will pop up that has to do with health issues. There are things in our routine that cause us stress. By changing them, we can enjoy a more stress free life!
Zaria