Soul series: signs of stress and how to overcome it

I couldn't breathe. There was a heaviness in my heart and i struggled for air. 

Did i just stop breathing? I wondered to myself, my heart beating faster. 

I sat up in bed heaving, trying to take in deep slower breaths. I felt sick in the stomach. I got out of bed towards the toilet. Bending over the toilet bowl, I allowed myself to throw up. What came out was not digested dinner but a colorless fluid - stomach acid. 

Acid reflux, many might conclude. 

Maybe i ate too much before sleeping or it was something i ate or drink (spicy food, garlic, mint, chocolate or carbonated drinks, caffeine can cause reflux)  or i really need to start losing weight. 

After throwing up, i went back to bed but i could not sleep. I was distressed by the entire experience. 

Meditate, meditate. I tried to silence my mind and focus on my breathing. 

It wasn't easy. I turned to my handphone and searched for a meditation recording. 

"This meditation ... you will feel an inner calm...." 
The soothing voice and the beta waves soon set me in a calm relaxed state and i drifted off into a deep sleep. 
 
Was it acid reflux? Something i ate? It was none of that. 
Taking some time to reflect, I realized that my mind and body was not connected and i was experiencing stress and anxiety - both of which can cause our body to react in such ways. Emotions we experience as a result of stress, anxiety and/or excitement cause complex physical responses in all aspects of our body, including the digestive system. These physical responses can start and stop quite suddenly and be very intense.

It is our body's way of telling us that we need to check in with ourselves to figure out what is causing us to feel that way and to adjust our lifestyle or cognitive behavior to manage ourselves better. At the end of the day, we are the drivers of our own lives. If we do not take care of our own bodies, we only have ourselves to blame for any ailing health. 

If you have experienced such symptoms before or know of someone who has experienced such a reflux reaction, it could very well be be due to stress, anxiety and over-excitement. It means it is time to give your body a break. 

Here are a few tips taken from WebMD (and enhanced by me) on what can be done. 

1. Breathe deep. Close your eyes and take a deep breath, then another. Let each breath out slowly. Repeat as needed.
2. Do some light exercise to soothe a stressed out body or an over-excited mind. The endorphins released will help. 
3. Meditate, do Yoga or try Art Therapy. Focus on your breathing and the present environment. If it is difficult, attend a meditation class or art therapy class.Yoga is a mind-body practice that combines physical poses, controlled breathing, and meditation or relaxation.
4. Take time out to do something you enjoy. 
5. Visualize and picture yourself facing and conquering fears. Think the best out of the situation.
6. Get support. Call up a friend or family member or seek a coach. Some times reviewing your lifestyle and time management is useful. 
7. Eat and drink right. Alcohol can make stress and anxiety worse. 
8. Rest sufficiently and take scheduled breaks. It is important to be aware of your body's needs.
9. Receive Reiki. It is a wonderful form of stress relief. It helps to calm the mind and heal the body on a very deep level.
10. Attend Growthbeans Coaching Circle which places you in a safe, nonjudgmental and positive environment that allows you to take time out of your busy schedule to be present with yourself, to make friends, self-reflect and to learn, share and grow to enhance your personal well-being.