Ashford Clinic Blog
Breathe Better, Stress Less
Stress has a unique effect on the body. When you are stressed, your symptoms can be exaggerated, which can trip a spiral of consequences that feed on each other: erratic sleep, chronic fatigue, nutritional problems and weight gain, cardiac disease, and hypertension can all happen or worsen in response to stress. We've also explored how stress can also make your allergy symptoms worse.
So, what can be done to help manage your stress? There are tons of books, podcasts, and other resources on this subject, but there are also some simple solutions you can try right now to get you started. Here are just a few natural ways to reduce stress.
3 Ways to Naturally Reduce Stress:
- Regular exercise – this helps blow off excess energy, makes the body stronger and more stress-resistant, and produces hormones such as serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins that help you gain some serenity and a sense of well-being.
- Positive energy – upbeat self-talk helps to counter the low-esteem problems many adults with ADHD experience. This is a component of both ADHD coaching and deeper care strategy like psychotherapy.
- Relax by breathing – even if you don’t practice yoga, meditation, or tai chi, deep controlled breathing exercises can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and help you sleep better.
Here’s a dedicated breathing exercise that can help you develop good respiration habits as you live with ADHD:
Lying flat on the floor, place one hand on your belly, the other on your chest.
Inhale deeply through your nose, on a slow count of one to five. Use your diaphragm, which should push your navel away from your spine. Keep your shoulders relaxed, and notice that your chest rises only slightly as your lungs inflate.
