Author: Hannah Gantt, LPCC
Now that the election is (almost) over, it seems very timely that Nov 6 is National Stress Awareness Day. At Better U, we understand what stress feels like and how ketamine therapy can help. The point of stress is to help us cope with perceived threats or changes in our environment. Stress can be both friend and foe, and ketamine-assisted therapy can help you manage it effectively.
Make your stress an ally with Better U's innovative approaches, including ketamine therapy. When you're anxious prior to a presentation, you can use that energy to give a more impactful performance. Taking on new responsibilities at work adds stress, but embracing these challenges with the support of ketamine-assisted therapy can further your career. Stress creates an opportunity for personal growth and resilience, which Better U's ketamine therapy can enhance.
Poorly managed stress can have wide-ranging negative effects on our mind and body. It worsens blood pressure, increases the risk of heart disease, and wreaks havoc on the digestive tract. Anxiety, depression, and mood can all worsen, leading to irritability and poor performance. Chronic stress even weakens our immune system. This is where Better U's ketamine therapy can make a significant difference.
It's common for people to 'self-medicate' their stress with increased substance use or to withdraw from social events and responsibilities. These approaches compound the problem, leading to more stress. Better U's ketamine-assisted therapy offers a healthier alternative to break this cycle.
At Better U, we recommend doing a 'Self-Inventory Stress Check:
If you find that your stress levels are up, it's good to employ some of the following countermeasures, which can complement Better U's ketamine therapy:
Deep Breathing: Practice slow, deep breaths for at least 1 minute to activate the body's relaxation response.
Meditation: 5 minutes a day can have profound impacts and reverse a lot of the negative impacts of stress.
Exercise: A daily 20 minute walk, especially after work, will go a long way to reduce stress hormones and improve your mood.
Socialize: Check in with friends and family at least monthly. Let them know some of the challenges you are dealing with and reciprocate the gesture for them. Staying connected to our community can have incredible effects on our mood.
Time: Take large problems and turn them into smaller, more manageable tasks that are easier to tackle.
Lifestyle: Be mindful to limit alcohol and caffeine use. Get adequate sleep. Forgive yourself for any mistakes and keep putting one foot in front of the other.
In the end, it's best to identify your daily stress level and manage it, just like you would manage any other area of your life. By paying attention and considering innovative treatments like Better U's ketamine therapy, we can get the best advantages from our stress response while minimizing its negative impacts.
Learn more about how Better U's ketamine-assisted therapy can help you manage stress and improve your mental health at www.betterucare.com.
