Stress Triggers and Remedies

Stress is a fact of life. And that's OK. You can learn ways to handle it... Stress Triggers

Stress comes in many forms and affects all of us at some point in our lives.

A little stress can be a good thing, as it produces a boost that provides the motivation, drive and energy to help people get through situations like exams or work deadlines15. However too much stress can be problematic and can lead to long term health consequences.16

The first step to dealing with chronic stress is determining what triggers it in the first place, and developing strategies to manage these triggers. It can help to ask yourself; what exactly is the source of my stress, and how do I diminish the source of this stress or find better ways to cope?

Everyone’s stress response can be triggered by different events and feelings. One way to identify your triggers is to write down some of the biggest issues you are facing right now.

Some common stress triggers include:

You may be unhappy in your workplace, facing an impossible workload and endless emails, enduring a demanding boss or lacking clarity on expectations around your workload

Relationships beginning and ending breakdowns in communication, or loss of a loved one

Big changes in your life, both positive and negative, can be overwhelming and stressful.

Lower self-esteem, a pessimistic outlook, and an excessive desire for perfection have all been shown to cause stress for many people

Stress is a reality for most people today.

Some stressors are completely out of our control - family illness, financial pressures, relationship difficulties.

And some have become part of our lifestyle - heavy workloads, social pressure, maintaining a specific persona on social media…the list goes on.

Although we cannot control what life throws at us, we can take control over how we handle stressful situations. The key to managing stress is recognising and changing the behaviours that cause it. This can be challenging, however the following simple lifestyle changes may help:

• Regular exercise: Being active is a small but powerful change you can make to manage stress. Physical activity increases your body's production of feel-good endorphins.
• Eat well: Your diet can have a big impact on your mood, which in turn can impact on your stress levels. Try to make healthier food choices like eating fresh fruits and vegetables, wholegrain cereals, nuts and seeds, plan ahead, make small changes and always stay hydrated.
• Time management: Running late for that important meeting or lunch with friends can really get raise your heart rate and leave you in a stressed out state. Try to organise your schedule ahead of time; maintain a calendar, plan your journeys, leave in plenty of time. And then when you arrive at your destination in complete relaxation mode, sit back and enjoy.
• Practice mindfulness: In today’s society it is easy to let the world rush by without noticing. Mindfulness means paying more attention to the present moment, and can positively change the way we see ourselves and our lives, allowing us worry less about the stresses in our lives.
• Talk to someone: As the saying goes, a problem shared is a problem halved. Reach out to friends and family or if you don’t feel able to talk to someone, visit your GP.
• Take a break: When you are in a highly charged or stressful situation it is easy to feel overwhelmed. Take a few minutes to yourself – go for a walk, clear your head, take some deep breaths. It is amazing what this can do to put things in perspective.
• Sleep well: As most people will know from experience, we cannot function effectively without sleep. Try to maintain a regular sleeping pattern by going to bed and getting up at the same time every day, avoid stimulants, stay active and make sure to wind down at the end of the day.
• That can mean turning off all technology and doing something restful to relax the mind like stretching, taking a bath, or reading a book.
• Try to tackle the causes of stress in your life: Although this is certainly easier said than done, avoiding problems rather than facing them can make things worse.

When we experience stress, the body produces larger quantities of certain chemicals including cortisol, the stress hormone16.

If you are suffering from chronic stress or feel that you cannot cope, please consult a doctor or healthcare professional. Zenflore is not a substitute for any medication prescribed for you by your doctor.

Is a multivitamin for stress enough?

Many people take supplements to help them manage or reduce their stress levels.

Multivitamins containing B vitamins in particular, are linked with helping to support a healthy mind.*

However, scientists are now aware of the gut-brain axis, and the impact that the gut has on brain function and mood. This link between gut and brain is well established. In fact, 80-90% of nerve fibres in the vagus nerve (a key physical link that relays information between the gut and the brain5) are going from the gut to the brain.

Evidence shows that bacteria (also known as microbes) in the gut can act on the gut-brain axis and hence influence gut-brain communications3

The gut produces more than 90% of the serotonin found in your body -  this is a neurotransmitter that can affect your mood and feelings of happiness and pleasure, and research has shown that gut bacteria can impact its production in the gut.

Current research indicates that a gut with a healthy microbiota is a strong predictor of health and wellbeing.