What is the Definition of Sress?

What is the Definition of Sress?
Providing an exact definition of stress is almost
impossible, as very complex to explain. But the good news
is that all those people who think of all stress as a bad
thing, are not totally correct in doing so.

It is considered both normal and healthy to experience
certain levels of stress in our lives. However, it is when
stress starts to take control of our lives, or we feel as
if we have become a different person, is when stress
becomes both unhealthy and maybe even dangerous.

The definition of stress then can be said basically to be
the emotional and physical strain that is caused by our
response to pressures from the outside world. This strain
varies in terms of severity and impact from person to
person, as each person handles stress differently and
responds differently to separate stressors - stressors
being the factors in our lives that cause us the stress.

Our bodies also respond differently to different types of
stress. When we feel stressed the body releases chemicals
into the blood and sometimes these chemicals give us more
strength and energy - that's in response to the 'good'
stress. However, the bad stress can have the opposite
effect, and the chemicals released can cause us to feel sad
or depressed.

Causes Of Stress

There can be a variety of causes to stress and it all
depends on what is happening in our life, and how we deal
with it on a daily basis. For instance anyone working in a
high-paced job where they seem to be constantly annoyed and
frustrated are likely to feel a lot more negative stress
than someone doing a job they enjoy, and who can work at
their own pace.

It is also important to realize that there are a few
different specific definitions of stress, namely: survival
stress, internal stress, environmental stress, and then the
stress caused by fatigue and overwork.

Internal stress is the most commonly experienced form of
stress, and is one of the most important kinds of stress to
understand and manage. It basically occurs when people make
themselves ill by being stressed out, when they worry about
things that they cannot control or put themselves in
situations that they know are just going to end up causing
themselves even more stress.

Treatment

Regardless of how severe your stress is or how long you
have been trying to deal with it you should consult a
doctor as soon as you notice any symptoms you think may
have been caused by this stress. He, or she, will recommend
a course of treatment which may involve taking medicine.
However, if you would prefer to treat your stress using
more natural methods there are several helpful websites to
be found online.

----------------------------------------------------
Peter Blake is an Englishman currently based in London, and
writes on family and lifestyle issues. Online professional
help can be found by going to these websites:
http://www.plrprocess.com
Blog: http://bezierbrit-stressmanagement.blogspot.com

Black Cohosh and Its Connections in Helping with Menopause

Black Cohosh and Its Connections in Helping with Menopause
Also known as the natural option for those who do not want
to undergo Hormonal Replacement Therapy or HRT, the herb
known as Black Cohosh is making itself one of the best
possible options for women entering their transitional
years. The problems associated with menopause are quite
numerous and quite irritating, to say the least. The
uncomfortable hot flashes, mood swings, headaches, bouts
with depression and all the other problems associated with
menopause have always been treated with therapy that gets
women to take in doses of medication that has estrogen to
help replace the hormones that are fast disappearing from
their systems due to age. While this may be very effective
for some, there are women who want a more natural way of
boosting their hormone levels to a degree that can help
them comfortably cope with the changes they are going
through, both physically and emotionally. With the use of
Black Cohosh as a natural supplement to help with
menopause, women are beginning to find comfort in a more
natural way of fighting the problems that menopause brings.

What exactly is Black Cohosh? This herb, which also goes by
a few other names like black snakeroot, bugwort, bugbane,
rattleweed and rattletop, is known to be found in North
America and is part of the plant family of the buttercup.
The medication that is made from this plant is extracted
from two of its main parts, namely the roots and the
rhizomes, also known as the plant's underground stems.
These parts of the plant are then prepared by extracting
the juices of the Black Cohosh for use in certain tablets
and capsules.

The herb has been used by Native American Indians for a
number of medicinal purposes like for the treatment of
malaria, malaise, rheumatism and a whole lot of other
diseases and ailments. It was also used by settlers in the
19th century for curing fevers, inducing menstruation and
as a diuretic. These medicinal properties of the herb has
indeed been widely known in the past and its usage as a
treatment for such menopausal problems like hot flashes is
just another addition to the long list of ailments that it
can treat and help with.

While there are numerous manufacturers that swear to the
effectiveness of the herb known as Black Cohosh due to some
of the preliminary findings on the herb in relation with
menopausal treatments, there is still no substantial
evidence or accredited findings that will help prove that
it is indeed the solution to a woman's menopausal woes. As
such, a lot of women still trust in the testimonies of
women like them who have suffered the aches and pains of
the onset of menopause and who have used Black Cohosh
medications and supplements to help with these problems.
This kind of a reception from the numerous women who are
going through the problems of menopause has also given rise
to a lot more companies using the herb known as Black
Cohosh in their menopausal treatments and despite there
being no substantial proof to back their claims up, women
will keep on patronizing these Black Cohosh products rather
than undergo HRT.

----------------------------------------------------
Patricia McDougall B.Sc. is a Chartered Herbalist and
graduate of the Dominion Herbal College, British Columbia,
Canada. Originally from Peru, Patricia is the Director of
Research and Development for Amazon Botanicals LLC of
Newark Delaware.
http://www.amazon-botanicals.com/Natural_herbs_for_menopause
_s/38.htm

Hair Loss Treatment & Remedies

Hair Loss Treatment & Remedies
There may be many reasons that you have suffered hair loss.
Chemotherapy, thyroid issues, and genetics are all leading
contenders when it comes to hair loss. A change in diet
can do it; when it comes to hair loss, vegetarians can be
quite affected, especially if they are just starting.

What all these causes boil down to however, is a change in
your body chemistry. Somewhere along the way, something
has changed, whether it is a change in medication, the
development of an illness or a medical condition. If you
are concerned about hair loss, treatment can go a long way
towards restoring both your locks and your self esteem.
Women have it especially hard when it comes to hair loss.
Hair loss in women can result in things like a loss of
self-esteem due to a belief that she is no longer
attractive. While nothing could be further from the truth,
getting your hair back to its usual thick and shiny texture
can go a long way towards making you feel better!

When it comes to remedies for hair loss, treatment varies
wildly. As stated above, hair loss is usually a sign of
something changing in your body. While it might be genetic
and not signify something more serious, you may wish to
speak to your doctor about it.

In terms of remedies, there are many folktales and stories
that when examined, have very little basis in fact.
Brushing your hair a hundred times before bed won't make it
grow faster, for instance. There are many over-the-counter
remedies that are sold in drug stores or online, but most
experts are wary of trusting such things. Because there
are such a wide variety of causes for hair loss, treatments
need to be just as varied.

If you are looking for remedies, the best way to find one
that works for you is to find out what has changed in your
life. Sometimes the answer is simple. For instance, if
you have recently given birth, there is a good change that
your body has been depleted of the vitamins it needs for
good hair production. Reintroducing vitamin B12 to your
life in the form of supplements can go a long way towards
helping you regain hair that has been lost. If you are
male, these supplements may also help if you believe that
your hair loss is due to a vitamin deficiency. Another
common cause of sudden hair loss is related to scalp
issues. Once you have made your scalp healthier, there is
a good chance that your hair issues will be resolved as
well.

When you are working on hair loss issues, remember that
what works for someone else may not work for you; you may
have to do a bit of searching to find an answer that you
are comfortable with!

----------------------------------------------------
Read other Hair Loss related articles by Anthony Smith at:
http://laserhairlossinfo4u.com

Overpowering the Demands of Caregiving - Lessons from Madelyn

Overpowering the Demands of Caregiving - Lessons from Madelyn
Madelyn Kubin was a Kansas farm woman who overpowered her
own failing health to care for her husband after he
suffered a debilitating stroke. She chronicled her
experience through writing letters to her daughter. There
are many lessons for all caregivers in Madelyn's
experiences. Here are three, illustrated with excerpts from
the book Letters from Madelyn, Chronicles of a Caregiver:

Write a Rant

Writing about your anger, fear, and frustrations can get
negative feelings out of your head. When you allow
yourself to rage on paper you release intense emotional
energy.

Writing this rant didn't change Madelyn's situation, but
she was able to reposition her attitude after blowing off a
little steam:

"I had reached a stage where everything about Quentin
irritated me. I hated the way he huffed and puffed when he
got in bed. It didn't start my morning off right to get out
of bed and step on a very wet Depend.

I wanted to scream when he would sit and watch me put the
orange juice, medication and vitamins, etc. on the table.
And then when I would come with the toast, he acted like he
was surprised that it was time for breakfast. It made me
furious that I would have to wait and wait while he
struggled to get his chair located right. I don't have
time to remember and itemize all the other irritants, but I
can tell you that everything he did aggravated me.

I do realize that the stroke has affected him in so many
ways that aren't obvious. I also know he is definitely not
this way by choice and that he is not trying to irritate me.

I believe it is important to do unto others as you would
have them do unto you. That is the reason I don't want to
be cross with him. I also realize that some day I might be
in even worse condition than he is. It would be awful to
be struggling with every little thing and have your
caretaker and others cross with you, so I've readjusted my
attitude, and today I'm feeling a little better."

Stay Connected to Family, Friends, and Organizations

It is not uncommon for invitations to social functions to
stop once a person is diagnosed with a chronic illness. As
a caregiver you will need to be proactive and innovative to
make sure you don't become isolated.

In this letter Madelyn tells how she turned a regularly
scheduled meeting into a party:

"Our Fellowship Group has a carry-in luncheon once a month.
I decided I would have them come to the farm this time,
and I have had more fun getting ready for them. Except for
being a little windy, it was a perfect morning. I sprayed
the yard with Yard Guard and there wasn't a fly or mosquito
in sight. There were 24 of us.

Quentin was there and he enjoyed himself so much. He was
sitting with some especially interesting people. I regret
I didn't get a picture of him with the happy expression he
had on his face. It is something that triggers memories of
the past, but it is very rare now. The experience is
somewhat like the feeling one has playing golf - one good
shot makes a person want to go back and try for it again.
I will be trying to think of things for him to do so I can
see that expression again."

Accept that Death is a Part of Life

We all know that death is inevitable, but it can be very
difficult to discuss. Talking about it openly can remove
some of the mystery and fear and open the door to some
meaningful conversations.

Madelyn wrote:

"On the fourth anniversary of Quentin's stroke he was
terribly depressed. He was convinced he was going to die
that night, and he wanted to. When we went to bed he told
me he didn't know what was going to happen in the night,
but if I woke up and he was having a problem, he wanted me
to try to go back to sleep and leave him alone.

He woke up alive and fairly cheerful the next morning.

I never get excited about death premonitions the way my
mother did. Dad could make her jump through a hoop when he
would cry and say he was dying. I made three trips to
Florida one year. She would call me up crying and upset
about him. Frankly, it never made much sense to me, as she
had kept a nice black dress in the back of her closet to
wear to his funeral since 1946. One time when I went to
Florida Dad started the crying with me and saying he was
going to die. I said I thought death was one of the nicest
things God had planned for us. I told him it would be
terrible to think a person would have to go on forever in a
body that was hurting and didn't work right. I still feel
that way. He stopped crying while I was there."

Madelyn Kubin survived her caregiving experience by taking
care of herself physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Although there is nothing that can make the job of
caregiving easy, writing a rant, engaging in social
interaction, and talking openly about death can help ease
some of stress.

----------------------------------------------------
Resource box:
Elaine K. Sanchez, author of the tender, gritty, and
uproariously funny book, Letters from Madelyn, Chronicles
of a Caregiver speaks to audiences across the country about
finding hope and humor in aging, illness, and long-term
caregiving. For a free Caregiver's Survival Guide, visit
her website at http://www.LaineyPublishing.com

The #1 Reason Why You Must Pay Attention To Nutrient Timing For Fat Loss.

The #1 Reason Why You Must Pay Attention To Nutrient Timing For Fat Loss.
Scientists have been conducting research now for a while
and what they are finding is that when you eat your food is
just as important as what and how much you eat. Different
foods can influence certain hormones that are a part of
muscle growth, fat burning, and recovery. All things you
are working towards to achieve that ideal slim body.

Your body works best to metabolize and use carbohydrates in
the morning after you wake up and after your workouts.
These are the ideal times to consume fast digesting
carbohydrates rather then the normal whole grain,
vegetable, fruit type of carbohydrates. The reason is
because in the morning after fasting all night and after
workouts a hormone called cortisol is elevated. This is
detrimental to muscle growth and actually encourages fat
storage. Cortisol helps facilitate the breakdown of amino
acids and sugar from tissues in your body. Generally these
nutrients come from your muscle. Cortisol does have an
important role, but you don't want the levels to get too
high.

To control these levels your goal is to elevate your
insulin level, which suppresses cortisol levels. After
workouts you are also more sensitive to insulin which
allows your body to use these fast digesting carbohydrates
as energy rather than storing it as fat. The insulin
levels also help with glycogen synthesis(storage form of
glucose) and protein synthesis (protein building).

All these mechanisms and reactions help with proper
recovery so that you can give it your all during each and
every workout and maximize the success as a result of your
hard work in the gym.

How does nutrient timing facilitate fat loss?

Well, if you have read any magazines or listened to the
latest fad then you think that any sugar is bad sugar and
you need to avoid it at all costs. Well, that means you
don't eat fruits or vegetables. This then contradicts
those same people that say you should eat fruits and
vegetables every day.

So what is there to do? Where do you turn to from here?

The fear is that sugars increase insulin levels which
promotes fat storage and decreases fat loss. This is true
to an extent. What most people forget is that there are
many other nutrients that we eat and mechanisms that help
control that insulin level. One of those nutrients is
fiber and another is protein. When you consume foods that
are a good source of fiber or protein source it slows down
your digestion process, which then slows down the release
of insulin. Essentially you do not have the insulin spikes
like you would if you ate a doughnut. Insulin spikes lead
to weight gain.

By timing what you eat and when allows you to control your
insulin levels which facilitates fat loss by allowing your
body to burn fat as energy rather than trying to store
ingested calories as fat.

In regards to working out and then consuming quick
digesting carbohydrates research has shown that timing your
after workout food intake with these nutrients along with
protein is not only beneficial to recovery, but may also
increase fat oxidation which is your body burning fat for
energy.

The bottom line is do not be afraid to ingest higher
glycemic or quick digesting carbohydrates at breakfast or
after your workout because you will actually be benefiting
from this nutrient and promoting growth and progress rather
than destruction. At your other feeding opportunities I
suggest you stick to whole-grain fibrous starch choices
such as whole-grain pasta, fruit, vegetables and other
starches that contain 2 grams of fiber or more per serving
along with a lean protein source.

----------------------------------------------------
Jayson Hunter, RD, CSCS is the creator of the "Dramatic
Dress Size Reduction Diet." As a registered dietitian
Jayson knows the secrets to helping any woman drop dress
sizes and inches fast, so they can look their best for any
special occasion. Discover more by downloading his powerful
special report "The Five Simple Steps for Losing Twenty
Pounds Quickly and Safely" at
http://dress-size-reduction-blog.com

Can you Relieve Stress Through Hypnosis?

Can you Relieve Stress Through Hypnosis?
Have you ever thought about that?

Stress is something we all complain about and something
that every human feels at various times and yet a
definition of stress alludes us. Although there are plenty
of definitions around, one of the most useful is: "Stress
is any change to which you must adjust."

We may think of stressful situations as being negative;
like an illness, a death of a loved one, getting fired from
your job, flunking school, a divorce, as some examples.
But there are situations commonly thought of as positive
that produce stress as well; like moving into a new home,
getting a promotion, going away to college, getting married.

Stress can come from external and internal sources. It may
come from the environment, or from the body and/or the
thoughts and emotions.

Hypnosis, or rather self-hypnosis, is useful in teaching to
you reduce stress. And there are other techniques such as
nutrition, time management, assertiveness training,
autogenics, visualization, meditation, breathing, job
stress management and biofeedback can be used to help
reduce the stress. You can also go to my website for a free
'Reduce Stress' session.

Let me ask you;

Do you ever get the feeling that your brain is on
'overload' that you just couldn't think another thought?

That your brain has somehow ground to a halt?

That your ability to concentrate has just evaporated?

Or suddenly notice that your shoulders have somehow ended
up around your ears with stress? That the tension in your
back is just killing you?

Try Hypnosis!

Hypnosis can trigger your natural relaxation response,
causing wonderful waves of good hormones and feelings of
tranquility to wash through your mind and body.

Imagine having relief on tap - something you could
experience whenever you need it that would remove all the
stress from your body and return the clarity of your mind.
Hypnosis is an effective method of dealing with stress when
you cannot get relief through any other methods. Through
hypnosis to relieve stress, you can learn many beneficial
techniques that will help you cope with ordinary and
extraordinary stress and live a happier healthier life.
Stress causes many physical and psychological problems,
which indirectly cause pain and disease, that can be
relieved through hypnosis. It is important to be able to
recognize the signs and symptoms of stress and Hypnosis can
help you do this.

Through hypnosis, you learn to distinguish between good and
bad stress. Stress is good when it invigorates your life
and challenges you to reach the limits of your potential.
Stress can be bad when worry about problems or situations
causes headaches, insomnia, depression or any other
physical problems. Learning how to properly manage stress
makes you a happier person and one that others will want to
be around. Stress is contagious and if you are down about a
problem, you will also bring others down. Through hypnosis,
you can also learn to recognize stress is others and how to
avoid getting caught up in their problems.

Stress hypnosis teaches you how to relax and stay calm even
under the most stressful conditions. It helps you to
replace those negative thoughts with positive ones that can
help left your spirits. You learn to recognize the things
that trigger your stress and this is powerful in helping
you to manage the level of stress you feel may be
necessary. You can get the help you need to effectively
manage stress through stress hypnosis.

Why Does Hypnotherapy Work?

The ways in which the mind operates in its subconscious
mode provide the answer.

It is instructive to note that our autonomic system is in
the subconscious. That's the system which tells our hearts
to beat and our lungs to breathe. It is because of this we
don't have to think (conscious mind), "Oops! Gotta take a
breath now!" or "Time for another heart beat!" Fortunately
this is all taken care of by our subconscious-----
automatically. Everything that is done for our benefit,
originates here. Therefore should a hypnotist make an
inappropriate suggestion of any kind, it would be rejected
by the client.

Years ago I heard a Hypnotherapist explain that if he
should ask them in hypnosis to rob every bank in town and
bring the money back to him, they wouldn't do it. Our
subconscious always has our best interest as its main
concern.

It does other things for us, too. We are bombarded by
60,000 stimuli per second every minute of our lives. In
one minute we receive 3,600,000 bits of stimuli! One can
only speculate what would happen if they would flood our
consciousness! Especially when we know that our conscious
mind can only be aware of five to seven pieces of
information or "clumps" of information at a time.

Emotions and the imagination reside in the subconscious.
In an emotional state, we are motivated to proceed in the
direction of what we are imagining. Emotion is the fuel of
the subconscious while imagination is the language.

Habits by definition are those repetitive behaviors that
you do "without thinking." Thinking is a function of the
conscious; everything else is in the subconscious. One
habit is usually eliminated by replacing it with another.
Some habits are easier to eliminate than others and if they
are firmly held in the subconscious may require finding the
causes and remove them and replace them with healthy
behavior.

The subconscious doesn't "think" in the usual way; it
reacts. And it can't distinguish between reality and
unreality; it absorbs all the information received through
the senses as truth.

Generally speaking, if two or more emotions are in
conflict, the dominate one wins out over the weaker;
imagination wins out over will power; emotions win out
over logic; the subconscious wins out over the conscious.

The subconscious can be your master or your greatest ally
in your quest for success and self-improvement.

----------------------------------------------------
Download your complimentary Stress Reduction session at
http://www.BunnyVreeland.com . Dr. Bunny Vreeland - Ventura
County Hypnotherapist - Bunny Vreeland serves Camarillo,
Oxnard ,Ventura, Thousand Oaks, Ojai, Moorpark and Santa
Paula California - Bunny Vreeland provides hypnotherapy
solutions for weight loss, hypnosis to stop smoking, IBS,
fibromyalgia, stress relief, and more. Dr. Bunny Vreeland
can be reached at 800-755-4083 or 805-984-1237 or at
http://www.bunnyvreeland.com