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Mentor

How Spirituality Can Help Stress

Posted by Teresa, Volunteer Mentor @hopeful33250, Jul 11, 2017

I recently read an article from Mayo Clinic about Spirituality and Stress Relief. Here is how the article began:

"Some stress relief tools are very tangible: exercising more, eating healthy foods and talking with friends. A less tangible — but no less useful — way to find stress relief is through spirituality.

What is spirituality?

Spirituality has many definitions, but at its core spirituality helps to give your life context. It's not necessarily connected to a specific belief system or even religious worship. Instead, it arises from your connection with yourself and with others, the development of your personal value system, and your search for meaning in life.

For many, spirituality takes the form of religious observance, prayer, meditation or a belief in a higher power. For others, it can be found in nature, music, art or a secular community. Spirituality is different for everyone." The complete article can be found at http://mayocl.in/2u8FOTm.

How has spirituality helped you to deal with stress?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Mental Health Support Group.

georgette12 | @georgette12 | Jul 13, 2017

Gosh i am surprised we havent discussed this before...now that you all are talking about it. I am glad teresa did say that the term spirituality refers to many modalities. That is such a key thing to me. I'm a former hippie so i've kind of followed every form of what can be labeled "spirituality" for 50 years. I am also a recovering catholic. How it relates here...is that i have used "spirituality" techniques to manage long term lifelong mental health issues. Clinical depression and related challenges that have always required medication. And still do. And of course physical pain is often helped by various techniques that reduce stress .... This link between the body and mind was not always accepted as it is today. It some circles, it still isnt, i am sad to say.

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georgette12 | @georgette12 | Jul 13, 2017

To add to my comment above, you all know that i am struggling with the anniversary of my son's suicide. So i am taking a mood stabilizer...depacote....and remeron ...for sleep. However i just got back from purchasing tart cherry triple strength juice extract to add to the sleeping medication at night. This extract helps the body produce its own melatonin which will help me sleep. The melatonin capsules did not work well.
Then i made an appointment with an alternative healer to do some "energy" work. In my case, i have PTSD symptoms re images from my son's death...which in my own case results in "trapped emotions" which create severe reactions.
Two important things to add. I HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH ENERGY HEALING FROM BEFORE.
AND I HAVE A GRIEF COUNSELOR AND A PSYCHISTRIST WHO APPROVE AND ALSO WORK WITH ME.

I just really feel i want to say that it is so important to first see a medical professional when moving into other things that are more intrusive than meditation and music and relaxation techniques.
More another time. Blessings to everyone here and thanks to the forum for being here.

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2 replies
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Jul 13, 2017
In reply to @georgette12 "To add to my comment above, you all know that i am struggling with the anniversary..." + (show)
@georgette12

To add to my comment above, you all know that i am struggling with the anniversary of my son's suicide. So i am taking a mood stabilizer...depacote....and remeron ...for sleep. However i just got back from purchasing tart cherry triple strength juice extract to add to the sleeping medication at night. This extract helps the body produce its own melatonin which will help me sleep. The melatonin capsules did not work well.
Then i made an appointment with an alternative healer to do some "energy" work. In my case, i have PTSD symptoms re images from my son's death...which in my own case results in "trapped emotions" which create severe reactions.
Two important things to add. I HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH ENERGY HEALING FROM BEFORE.
AND I HAVE A GRIEF COUNSELOR AND A PSYCHISTRIST WHO APPROVE AND ALSO WORK WITH ME.

I just really feel i want to say that it is so important to first see a medical professional when moving into other things that are more intrusive than meditation and music and relaxation techniques.
More another time. Blessings to everyone here and thanks to the forum for being here.

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@georgette12 Thanks for your comments, we appreciate having you as part of this forum. You have experienced a lot and I admire the way you problem solve and prepare for difficult anniversaries. Thanks for sharing your ideas and strategies for spirituality. Teresa

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Mentor
Jim, Volunteer Mentor | @jimhd | Jul 13, 2017
In reply to @amberpep "Hi all ..... if I may, I'm going to "switch horses" here .... I would like..." + (show)
@amberpep

Hi all ..... if I may, I'm going to "switch horses" here .... I would like some input from anyone that has any insight into this. I've had depression and anxiety since I was an early teen and finally at age 45, I went to my doctor. She sent me to a Psychiatrist who put me on Zoloft. That was many, many, moons ago and I have a different Psychiatrist and now take meds. for Depression/Anxiety and Cyclothymia. I sleep great every night (my adult kids tell me I could sleep standing up!!!), but every morning, as soon as my feet hit the floor I feel this overwhelming anxiety and I don't know why. I slept well, was it dreams? I don't know what causes this, but I come right to the kitchen, take my meds. and within 45 min. it's gone. I just don't get why I wake up that way .... it doesn't make any sense to me. Input from anyone?
abby

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@contentandwell

A very good looking couple.

Jim

REPLY
JK | @contentandwell | Jul 13, 2017
In reply to @liz223 "I do meditation on my own which has been a great help. I have learned to..." + (show)
@liz223

I do meditation on my own which has been a great help. I have learned to simply find a quiet place, be still, relax and take a deep breath, hold a bit, let it out and repeat as many times as I choose (without counting).. I focus on my breathing. When outside thoughts enter my mind, I shove them away and continue to focus on my breathing. After I practiced this a few times a day for a few weeks, I can now do it anytime. It even did away with my "white coat syndrome" at my doctor's office. My BP has gone from dangerously high to normal. It is great, makes me feel relaxed and IT WORKS. 🙂 Hope you will give it a try and it will cost you nothing. My husband says he cannot do it. I don't understand why not, but perhaps not everyone can, at least without more instruction or a different method. Good Luck!

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@liz223 Liz, this is what I am afraid of, that like your husband I will not be able to do it. Once I tried to get hypnotized for weight loss and there was no way I could go under. My brain just swirls too much. I definitely do plan to try though.
I have trouble sleeping so I have taken up saying a number of prayers while laying in bed, hoping for sleep to come. I will suddenly find my mind on something totally different and have to pull myself back. I guess I basically do have ADD like my son and daughter with mine being like hers, no hyperactivity or impulsiveness. She had to write an essay once and she wrote in on ADD explaining that it is not that you do not pay attention, but that you pay attention to too many things all at once. She often used her personal experiences in her essays.

JK

REPLY
JK | @contentandwell | Jul 13, 2017
In reply to @amberpep "Hi all ..... if I may, I'm going to "switch horses" here .... I would like..." + (show)
@amberpep

Hi all ..... if I may, I'm going to "switch horses" here .... I would like some input from anyone that has any insight into this. I've had depression and anxiety since I was an early teen and finally at age 45, I went to my doctor. She sent me to a Psychiatrist who put me on Zoloft. That was many, many, moons ago and I have a different Psychiatrist and now take meds. for Depression/Anxiety and Cyclothymia. I sleep great every night (my adult kids tell me I could sleep standing up!!!), but every morning, as soon as my feet hit the floor I feel this overwhelming anxiety and I don't know why. I slept well, was it dreams? I don't know what causes this, but I come right to the kitchen, take my meds. and within 45 min. it's gone. I just don't get why I wake up that way .... it doesn't make any sense to me. Input from anyone?
abby

Jump to this post

@jimhd Thanks, Jim. As I say about my son, he cleans up well. He has become an amazing young man with a huge and loving heart. That's what I am most proud of in him. He appreciates me and my husband so much, knowing that we will not always be here.
JK

REPLY
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Jul 14, 2017
In reply to @liz223 "I do meditation on my own which has been a great help. I have learned to..." + (show)
@liz223

I do meditation on my own which has been a great help. I have learned to simply find a quiet place, be still, relax and take a deep breath, hold a bit, let it out and repeat as many times as I choose (without counting).. I focus on my breathing. When outside thoughts enter my mind, I shove them away and continue to focus on my breathing. After I practiced this a few times a day for a few weeks, I can now do it anytime. It even did away with my "white coat syndrome" at my doctor's office. My BP has gone from dangerously high to normal. It is great, makes me feel relaxed and IT WORKS. 🙂 Hope you will give it a try and it will cost you nothing. My husband says he cannot do it. I don't understand why not, but perhaps not everyone can, at least without more instruction or a different method. Good Luck!

Jump to this post

@contentandwell Your daughter must be an amazing writer! I just heard a podcast about writing in a journal for the first 20 minutes of each day (some of us might only be able to do 10 minutes). Just write about complaints, worries, what's going to happen during the day, etc. I might give it a try. Anyone else like to join me? Teresa

REPLY
JK | @contentandwell | Jul 14, 2017
In reply to @liz223 "I do meditation on my own which has been a great help. I have learned to..." + (show)
@liz223

I do meditation on my own which has been a great help. I have learned to simply find a quiet place, be still, relax and take a deep breath, hold a bit, let it out and repeat as many times as I choose (without counting).. I focus on my breathing. When outside thoughts enter my mind, I shove them away and continue to focus on my breathing. After I practiced this a few times a day for a few weeks, I can now do it anytime. It even did away with my "white coat syndrome" at my doctor's office. My BP has gone from dangerously high to normal. It is great, makes me feel relaxed and IT WORKS. 🙂 Hope you will give it a try and it will cost you nothing. My husband says he cannot do it. I don't understand why not, but perhaps not everyone can, at least without more instruction or a different method. Good Luck!

Jump to this post

@hopeful33250 Thanks Tesesa, she does a nice job. The irony is that her English teacher in HS gave her a bad grade because he felt she didn't share enough personal information in her journal! I was furious. That prevented her from being in Honors English. I am different now, now I would make a huge thing about it, advocating for her, but I was pretty much a mouse back then. One of those regrets... A job I had after my 20 year "retirement" from IT where I pretty much liked to be a lone worker, helped me to be more self-confident, dealing with people a lot.
JK

REPLY
GailBL, Alumni Mentor | @gailb | Jul 14, 2017
In reply to @liz223 "I do meditation on my own which has been a great help. I have learned to..." + (show)
@liz223

I do meditation on my own which has been a great help. I have learned to simply find a quiet place, be still, relax and take a deep breath, hold a bit, let it out and repeat as many times as I choose (without counting).. I focus on my breathing. When outside thoughts enter my mind, I shove them away and continue to focus on my breathing. After I practiced this a few times a day for a few weeks, I can now do it anytime. It even did away with my "white coat syndrome" at my doctor's office. My BP has gone from dangerously high to normal. It is great, makes me feel relaxed and IT WORKS. 🙂 Hope you will give it a try and it will cost you nothing. My husband says he cannot do it. I don't understand why not, but perhaps not everyone can, at least without more instruction or a different method. Good Luck!

Jump to this post

Yes Teresa, I would like to start writing a daily journal. I usually spend my first 20 minutes to 2 hours reading and responding to email, social media or Mayo Connect types of electronic correspondence. I think it would be wise for me to privately journal what's going on with me first. I did journaling when I was younger whenever I was going through a difficult time in my life. I found it very helpful. Aging is a different kind of stress, some of it good and some difficult to accept. One of the best books I read a few years ago is, From Aging to Saging, by a rabbi. I'm going to order his book to read again. He had wonderful information about how to handle the aging changes in a positive way. Thanks for reminding me about journaling. Gail B

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danybegood1 | @danybegood1 | Jul 14, 2017
In reply to @ryman "My spirituality is centered in God and the work that Jesus did for us. If my..." + (show)
@ryman

My spirituality is centered in God and the work that Jesus did for us. If my faith were strong enough, I would have no stress or anxiety but even when my faith is weak, I know God is in control and will be with me. Without Him I could not face the tough days.

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@gailb, hi. Sorry to butt in. Just a statement. I dont trust anyone except my kids and my dog. And i still consider myself a Christian. Is that contradictory? It seems i cant wait til the end, yet i dont want to die. I just want to see Jesus in all his glory. I know i should trust, but ive been hurt so many times. My last husband made me believe there were people out to kill me and my family. Evidently, i knew too much about a grandson who was contractd to homeland security, and had supposedly killed people. I couldn't talk to anyone about it. I stopped my kids from talking because they said my house was bugged. I lived in intemse fear for two years. It was obviously a. hoax, but why would someone do that to the person they profess to love? I will never understand why. That's why i dont trust.

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