April is Stress Awareness Month!
Stress is prevalent throughout all walks of life and is something that is universally experienced by all people at some point in the lives. It can range from mild right through to severe, to the extent that it disrupts normal daily life and routines.
Although it is mainly viewed as something that affects our mental health, the physical impacts of stress cannot be ignored, and they link directly into the psychological aspects of stress. In fact, Chinese medicine believes that these two components of stress are inseparable, as the mind and body are but two parts of a whole organism.
Stress can affect people of most ages, young and old, it impacts on home life, school and education, and also the workplace. Stress is not something that should control people, and there are methods and treatments available to help you deal with stress such as mindfulness and meditation, yoga, tai chi, acupuncture, massage therapy, and herbal medicine. Mental Health UK offers some interesting activities to promote stress awareness.
While Stress Awareness Month is important to help bring more attention to the issue, more work and help is needed in the understanding and treatment of stress. At Asante Academy of Chinese Medicine, our practitioners are able to offer practical and helpful solutions in treating stress, and stress related conditions.