Eldercare – How to Lower Stress Levels
Sometimes it seems as if nothing is going right. The bills are piling up, the loved ones are far off or have even passed on, medical issues are not going the way you want, the stress just continues to build. There are no more hours in the day, no miracle cures, and unless a lottery is in your immediate future finances are not improving. Is there any way to improve the situation, to lower stress levels?
When life's circumstances spin out of control, it may seem overwhelming. The truth is that you may not be able to change the circumstances. You may, however, be able to react differently to them. By learning to control your thoughts and emotions, it is possible to lower stress levels and actually improve …show more content…
Studies show that communication with another human that makes you feel safe and happy has a great calming effect on the brain and body. For many seniors, especially those who are largely homebound, this person may be an eldercare aide with whom they have developed a trusting relationship.
Exercise has also been shown to have a remarkable effect on stress levels. In addition to the release of endorphins, the body's "feel good" chemicals, exercise also acts as a distraction from life's many worries. While research shows that the most beneficial exercise exceeds 30 minutes, any amount of exercise helps. Recent studies show that short, 10-minute exercises have nearly as much benefit as longer sessions, so long as the heartrate is elevated enough to break a sweat. If mobility or pain are an issue, eldercare personnel can assist with an exercise regimen that is both safe and effective.
Meditation and deep breathing exercises help lower anxiety levels and actually impact the brain at the cellular level. Just a few minutes a few times a day is enough to impact the brain's neural pathways and relieve stress. Psychologist Judith Tutin notes, "Deep breathing counters the effects of stress by slowing the heart rate and lowering blood
Sometimes it seems as if nothing is going right. The bills are piling up, the loved ones are far off or have even passed on, medical issues are not going the way you want, the stress just continues to build. There are no more hours in the day, no miracle cures, and unless a lottery is in your immediate future finances are not improving. Is there any way to improve the situation, to lower stress levels?
When life's circumstances spin out of control, it may seem overwhelming. The truth is that you may not be able to change the circumstances. You may, however, be able to react differently to them. By learning to control your thoughts and emotions, it is possible to lower stress levels and actually improve …show more content…
Studies show that communication with another human that makes you feel safe and happy has a great calming effect on the brain and body. For many seniors, especially those who are largely homebound, this person may be an eldercare aide with whom they have developed a trusting relationship.
Exercise has also been shown to have a remarkable effect on stress levels. In addition to the release of endorphins, the body's "feel good" chemicals, exercise also acts as a distraction from life's many worries. While research shows that the most beneficial exercise exceeds 30 minutes, any amount of exercise helps. Recent studies show that short, 10-minute exercises have nearly as much benefit as longer sessions, so long as the heartrate is elevated enough to break a sweat. If mobility or pain are an issue, eldercare personnel can assist with an exercise regimen that is both safe and effective.
Meditation and deep breathing exercises help lower anxiety levels and actually impact the brain at the cellular level. Just a few minutes a few times a day is enough to impact the brain's neural pathways and relieve stress. Psychologist Judith Tutin notes, "Deep breathing counters the effects of stress by slowing the heart rate and lowering blood