Often difficult to pinpoint the cause or causes, stress and anxiety can be debilitating conditions which severely impact our quality of life.  There have been and continue to be a number of studies which endeavor to connect these conditions to different parts of the brain such as the amygdala (the bit of the brain which processes emotion such as fear), brain chemistry, hormone production and the hippocampus (the area of the brain responsible for storing memories). Such a complex area of study and currently, there are many possibilities for causes and cures.

The strange thing is that stress can also have positive influence on the body this is best described when we see athletes about to compete in an event or people having to experience public speaking. In fact, without stressful situations, our life would be a little on the boring side. You need only think about how you have experienced stress or anxiety over your lifetime and what situations have put you in the position and how you have managed to deal with things.

So, stress and a little bit of anxiety is OK and often creates a feeling of excitement however, too much stress and anxiety is simply not a good thing and can affect your overall health.

A few things that lead to these conditions can be Genetics, Chronic health worries, Brain chemistry that has gone a little haywire, pregnancy and birth, other medical issues, trauma, your personality type, substance abuse and other mental health issues. We have a lot going on and managing stress and anxiety is not something that happens overnight. There are loads of risk factors for stress and anxiety, there are also (according to medical researchers) some factors that may protect us from developing or coping with both issues. Social support such as strong family or extended family relationships are a real support mechanism that cannot be understated, when you have this type of support you are likely to cope with the problems in a more positive way.

Pheww, all that talk of stress and anxiety has made me feel a little stressed but in a good way; we need to consider a few ways to work on managing these conditions, when they get a bit out of control. Some folks rely upon relaxation techniques such as yoga or meditation and find these very effective in turning the volume down on things that put you ill at ease. Deep breathing is another quick method of slowing the heart rate and adjusting the release of hormones such as adrenalin which creates that flight or fight response. How about a short walk-in fresh air to clear the mind and focus on the world about you and meeting some colleagues. All of these are very positive mechanisms that are proven to help when things are not the way you want.

It’s not out of the question to take a visit to professional people who can aid in talking things out and digging deep to find the root cause of the problem. There are also short-term medications that can get you over the hump but we like to think of those things as very short term and not for the long haul.

Herbal medicines and remedies have been around for hundreds if not thousands of years and to date have shown to be helpful in managing stress and anxiety. Medicines which contain herbs such as St John’s Wort, Lemon Balm and Passionflower help to relieve the symptoms of stress and anxiety and reduce nervous tension. Liquid preparations are known to be absorbed by the body faster than tablets or capsules so take time to seek out liquids for best results. Stress Plex® is a liquid herbal medicine that is made in Australia and created by herbalists specifically to assist with stress and anxiety. Taken as a daily tonic, Stress Plex® can support you with quality ingredients in a pleasant tasting formula that can be taken direct from the bottle or diluted with water or juice. Don’t be too impatient looking for immediate results as you work through your issues to resolve things, it’s all about slow and steady and trusting your body to overcome issues that lead to stressful or anxious situations.

As with all health conditions, speak to your healthcare professional if symptoms persist or worsen. If taking complementary medicines, always read the label.