They say a little bit of stress is good for you. It can self motivate you to get your tasks done or spur you on to achieve a goal that you 1st thought was impossible. But most of the time our stress levels can start to pile up and we choose to either ‘ignore’ or to just ‘put up with it’. Causes of stress can come from anywhere, from familial, lifestyle to environmental factors to the ever so popular causative factor; occupational.
The level of stress varies from person to person as well as the methods of stress management. However what happens when and priorities come along and you begin to neglect your health and stress management and put other commitments in front?
Well we all definitely know the answer to this. Our health indeed begins to suffer. It means our stress levels have become uncontrollable and the body is having trouble coping.
Stress actually causes 2 things in the body. The 1st thing it does is cause a disruption to the smooth and harmonious flow of energy, called ‘Qi’ within the body. The 2nd thing it does is create unwanted heat within the body.
Did you know that there different stress types? In my years of clinical practice, effective stress level management is often advised repeatedly for optimal overall health. There are high percentages of patients coming in presenting with unmanageable stress levels as well as stress related health issues. There are in fact 3 kinds of Stress types.
TYPE 1: The Stressed ‘UP’
Patients who fall into this category generally place all of their stress on their shoulders, neck and head region. Here are some common examples of the types of symptoms that are fall under this category:
- Aches and pains especially around the neck, shoulders and upper back region.
- Constant headaches
- Poor sleep quality
- Unable to concentrate
- Low energy levels
- Stiffness of the body
- Flush of heat in the head region
TYPE 2: The Stressed ‘IN’
If you fall under this category, that means you hold all of your stress in your gut, the Digestive system. The gut is regarded as the system that involves the Spleen and Stomach in Chinese medicine terms. Too much stress on the body will cause the Spleen and Stomach to not be able to function properly together. Here are the common symptoms related to this type:
- Poor appetite
- Weight gain
- Unable to shift weight
- Junk food cravings
- Bloating
- Stomach aches and pains
- Indigestion
- Burping
- Heartburn
- Unsatisfying #2’s.
Type 3: The Stressed ‘OUT’
People who fall into this category are classed as having the more severe type of stress in which the body is not only under heavy amounts of stress, but is also causing high sensitivity to the stress and as a result high amounts of unnecessary heat is developed. The incredible body responds to this heat by detoxing it through sweat and through the skin. Hence this category is labelled ‘out’ because the skin becomes affected immensely.
- Acne of any type
- Psoriasis
- Eczema
- Dermatitis
- Rosacea
- Red patches around the skin
- Skin rashes
- Boils and bumps forming
- Itchiness of the skin often causing bleeding if scratched.
- Excess sweating
Have you figured out your STRESS type?
If you yourself or someone you know is struggling to deal and manage stress, seek for help immediately.
The wonderful world of Chinese medicine can provide you with natural methods such as Acupuncture, suction cupping and herbal medicine to help you relax and manage your stress well in both the short and long term.
Amy Duong, Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine is a 5000 year old system of healthcare that focuses on the causative factors of a condition. Practitioners adopt a holistic approach to investigate aspects of a person’s diet, lifestyle and emotions in order to diagnose and treat an underlying problem.