Stress is a part of our modern world, with many people suffering from stress or anxiety on a daily basis. A study commissioned by the Mental Health Foundation found that over 70% of adults in the UK feel overwhelmed and unable to cope due to stress.

Whether is it your job or career, your personal life, your relationships or family life, stress can have a huge impact on your health and wellbeing and, if left untreated, can lead to long term illness. So, finding ways to alleviate the stress in your life is the key to feeling balanced, in control and able to cope.

The physical effects of stress

Even though our bodies are hardwired to cope with small amounts of stress, prolonged periods of stress can have a significant impact on our lives.

It can leave you feeling, agitated, frustrated and moody. You may struggle to relax, switch off and your sleep may be affected, which can make it more difficult to cope because you feel so tired and drained. You may find it hard to focus, make poor decisions and feel pessimistic.

Physically, stress can sap you of your energy so you feel constantly tired and it can give you headaches or other muscle pain such as back pain or tension in your head and neck. It can upset your stomach and give you diarrhoea or constipation. Prolonged stress can affect your immune system, so you are more likely to catch colds or infections. In extreme cases, stress can give you a racing heart and chest pains.

How reflexology can help

Reflexology works by applying pressure to reflex areas in your feet, unblocking your nerve endings, rebalancing your lymphatic system and boosting your circulation. This will leave you feeling blissfully calm and relaxed.

Reflexology puts you in a deep state of relaxation, physically releasing tension, decreasing your blood pressure and slowing your heart rate down which helps you destress, unwind and stay focused and present.

By stimulating your lymphatic system, reflexology unlocks the healing power of your body, flushing out toxins, bringing your body back into balance and leaving you feeling completely refreshed and revitalised.

Summary

While there are a huge range of products and over the counter medication available to combat the feelings of stress, most of them just mask the feelings of stress rather than dealing with the underlying condition. Many people are turning to reflexology to manage stress because it is a natural, holistic therapy which unlocks the healing power of the body and restores balance, leaving you feeling completely relaxed and rejuvenated.

For more information about reflexology and how it can help you, please get in touch.