Stress and Detachment

Weightless By Marconi Union

 

 

There is a lot anxiety and worry throughout the world and stress is taking its toll.

Here’s something you may find helpful...

Researchers at Mindlab International in the U.K. wanted to know what kind of music induces the greatest state of relaxation.

The study involved having participants try to solve difficult puzzles — which inherently triggered a certain degree of stress — while connected to sensors. 
At the same time, participants listened to a range of songs as researchers measured their brain activity, heart rate, blood pressure and rate of breathing.

What they found is that one song — “Weightless” — resulted in a striking 65 percent reduction in participants’ overall anxiety, and a 35 percent reduction in their usual physiological resting rates.

Interestingly, the song was specifically designed to induce this highly relaxed state. Created by Marconi Union, the musicians teamed up with sound therapists to carefully arrange harmonies, rhythms and bass lines, which in turn slow a listener’s heart rate and blood pressure, while also lowering stress hormones like cortisol.

In fact, the music is so effective, that many of the female participants became drowsy — to the point where lead researcher Dr. David Lewis-Hodgson advises against listening to it while driving.

But don’t take their word for it, experience it for yourself here:

Don't Give Up

We've all been there.

There are times when everything seems hopeless and you will want to give up.

But here’s an idea, instead of giving up, let’s learn to detach from all the negativity that surrounds you.

There are a few things you can do to help reduce stress, anxiety and depression.

So, the bottom line isn't about giving up on youself, its about getting rid of the negative losers who enjoy seeing you miserable.

You manage to do that and life will eventually seem like worth living again.

When All Seems Lost

The More Trees We Are Surrounded By The Lower Our Stress Levels

Even though it’s something many of us already know, a recent study reveals how nature can help reduce stress levels. 

Researchers put people in stressful situations and then showed them 3-D videos of various “city”scapes, each with different densities of tree cover.

The thicker the tree-cover, the lower the subjects’ stress levels dropped.

The researchers, from the University of Illinois and the University of Hong Kong, subjected 160 participants to various stressful scenarios, including having them prepare to deliver a speech, or perform a math test, in front of judges and cameras.

Once the participants were fully stressed out, they viewed one of 10 six-minute videos of city streets that changed only in the amount of tree coverage, ranging from 0 to 70 percent.

What they found was the higher the density of trees, the lower the levels of stress the subjects reported. Inversely, the lower the density of trees, the less helpful the video was in helping the subject recover from stress.

The real story here is, spend as much time as you can surrounded trees. 

The Old Religion is the magic of Nature itself. It is the essence which binds all things together.

Dealing With Anxiety

 

You're not alone.

Remember, you are not alone.

We are often asked about anxiety and what can be done when the panic strikes.

We've discussed remedies before, crystals, smudging, meditation are very effective ways to deal with anxiety, but there other things you can do.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Again we stress getting in touch with nature. When we reconnect with nature we reconnect with ourselves, that's where our strength comes from.

From Power of Positivity we read:

From Even though we live in a concrete world, we can all find a patch of greenery nearby to clear our minds and refresh our souls. We lead busier lives than ever, but that doesn’t mean we should neglect our basic needs, one of which is breathing fresh air and connecting with the Earth.

According to a study published by the National Academy of Sciences of the USA, people today spend 25% less time outdoors than they did 20 years ago. It comes as no surprise that rates of anxiety and depression continue to rise as we move farther and farther away from the way nature intended for us to live.

Walking in nature doesn’t just give us a break from the hectic city life; it can actually change our brain chemistry, too. 

HERE’S HOW SPENDING TIME IN NATURE EVERY DAY CAN REDUCE STRESS AND ANXIETY:

Related article: 10 Surprising Health Benefits of Walking Barefoot

It’s no surprise that living farther away from nature surrounded by buildings and city noise can increase your risk of anxiety and depression, but spending time in even the smallest patch of land can do wonders for the brain.

New research out of Stanford University found that spending time in nature can actually alter the chemistry in your brain, leading to mental clarity and peace of mind, and alleviating anxiety and stress. As Gretchen Reynolds explains in the New York Times, graduate student Gregory Bratman, who attends Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources at Stanford, analyzed the brains of 38 adult city slickers who went on a 90-minute nature hike. Bratman found that these individuals had lower brain activity in their subgenual prefrontal cortex, a part of the brain that focuses on “morbid rumination,” than the participants who trekked along the side of a nearby highway.Those who spent time in nature at least once a day didn’t dwell on the negative happenings in their lives as much, Reynolds reported. These results suggest what many of us probably knew all along – that everyone can benefit from spending more time in nature, and less time in the concrete jungle.

Nature can do wonders for your mental health, so if you have neglected your time with Earth lately, here are a few more reasons to hit the trails again that we didn’t mention before.

1. NATURE CAN BOOST YOUR ENERGY LEVELS.

After spending time outside, have you ever noticed that you feel more lively, cheerful, and refreshed? Well, there’s actually a scientific reason behind that. Several studies have confirmed that spending time in nature increases vitality, and the research finds that just 20 minutes a day out in nature can significantly boost energy levels. Richard Ryan, lead author of the scientific studies mentioned above and a professor of psychology at the University of Rochester, says, “We have a natural connection with living things. Nature is something within which we flourish, so having it be more a part of our lives is critical, especially when we live and work in built environments.”

2. NATURE CAN MAKE YOU MORE CREATIVE.

A study published in the journal PLOSone indicated that immersion in nature can boost creativity by as much as 50%! Participants in the study had to spend four to six days in nature, completely disconnected from all technology. Psychologists explained that because of the gentle, more relaxing stimuli in nature, people’s attentional system becomes rejuvenated and able to function correctly, whereas in modern society, we constantly have to switch between tasks and become bombarded with loud, sudden noises.

If you have been struggling to bring out your creative energy, try spending more time in nature!

3. NATURE ELIMINATES STRESS.

Numerous studies have found that time spent outside can greatly reduce stress. For example, a study published in 2012 in the journal Landscape and Urban Planning revealed that out of 25 healthy adults living in Scotland, those who lived in areas with the most greenery had lower levels of cortisol.

Stress can increase your risk of mental and physical illnesses, but among all remedies, nature is one of the easiest ways to heal the mind and recharge the soul.

4. NATURE CAN IMPROVE DEMENTIA SYMPTOMS.

Along with all the other benefits of nature, a bit of greenery can go a long way in helping those who suffer from dementia. Researchers at the University of Exeter Medical School discovered that when gardens were placed in nursing homes, the patients showed less agitation, more relaxation, and appeared to be more stimulated mentally.

Carlymarie and Healing

 

Carlymarie of Perth Australia, is a healer of sorts.

Her thoughts and insights are refreshing.

She says, "I have come to learn that we are all perfectly human. I have made many mistakes in this life. I have disappointed people, disappointed myself, broken hearts, been a bitchy wife, a lousy friend. I have known addiction and made excuses. I have played the victim and so on and attached to all of that was a big fat cloud of shame. Shame is an awful thing. It ruins lives and keeps people living in fear. At some point I forgave myself for being human and set myself free from the walls of shame. I spend my life trying my best to be a light worker on this planet and spreading as much compassion as possible. Kindness is free and you should treat yourself to it more often."

 

 

She asks us  to ask our ourselves...

When was the last time you connected with nature?

When was the last night you laid down on the grass and watched the clouds go by?

When was the last time you walked through a forest, walked on a beach, visited waterfalls?

When was the last time you went outside at night to look up at the stars?

When was the last time you stepped outside just to breathe in fresh air?

When was the last time you place your hands on a tree and marveled at their magnificence?

When was the last time you stood barefoot in the Earth?

When was the last time you got up early to watch the sun rise?

When was the last time you stopped cooking dinner to go and catch the sunset?

When was the last time you look at the intrinsic beauty of a flower?

When was the last time you collected shells at a beach?

When was the last time you swam in the ocean?

When was the last time you went on a hike?

Connecting with nature grounds you. It brings you back down to Earth. It opens your heart to the miraculous beauty of the natural world around you. You can connect with nature every day. You do not need hours, you needs minutes. Standing outside in the fresh air – breathing it deep into your soul allowing it to clear you mind and spirit. Connecting with nature is a beautiful way to reconnect, recharge and heal. Book yourself a spot in your diary each day to reconnect with nature. Make it something different each day. 

To learn more: Click Here

Stress, Anxiety and Depression

When you find yourself in negative, stress, depressing, it may because of toxic energy in your life.

This includes your mental, spiritual or physical body, and your environment—whether it’s your home, office, or other physical space. Toxic energy can have serious  effects on your mental and physical well being.

It seems that people are the usual suspects in most of the stress, anxiety and depression we experience.

It doesn't matter if it's your neighbor, co-workers, friends or family, these relationships can sometimes bring you down.

So let's discuss a few things you can do to make life less stressful.

While learning to be assertive you can start smudging to combat this negativity, clear the energy in your life and help you start over. Smudging is an ancient ceremony in which you burn special leaves from sacred plants, like white sage, to allow the smoke to clear the air, so to speak.

The goal of smudging is to make your environment clear of lingering energy that is different from what you want.

Feeling Stressed? Try this

Professor Ian Robertson, one of Europe’s most prominent neuroscientists has come up with a simple, four-point plan for dealing with stress and actually using it to an advantage. 

STEP ONE - Actually explain to your brain it's only excited and not stressed or anxious - as you keep telling the brain this, the brain will change and improve how it performs.

Cortisol is produced when you feel stressed and anxious and telling the brain to calm down doesn't work.

STEP TWO - Breathe in slowly for five seconds then out for six. This changes the chemistry in the brain and acts like an anti-anxiety drug.

STEP THREE - Take on a confident posture.

Stand tall, with the 'fight' and not the 'flight' emotion. This tells the brain to feel and act confident.

STEP FOUR - Clench your right fist for 45 seconds, open it for 15 seconds, then close it again for 45 seconds. This switches on the left side of the brain to put you in a 'challenge' frame of mind, lessening anxiety, and improving performance. 

Stress Release Pressure Points

It's time for a little stress relief, you deserve it.