No, it is not 'normal' to feel stressed most of the time or all of the time!
Everyone feels stressed some of the time, but like many other symptoms which are common, such as digestive issues or PMS, whilst they are commonly experienced, they are a sign that something is out of balance and they are not 'normal' and therefore not just to be accepted and struggled through.
Nor is life meant to feel like a daily struggle of pushing through to do what needs to be done whilst trying to keep stress or anxiety levels under control.
Each of us will experience times where stress feels high, life can be unpredictable and things WILL happen that can cause us to feel stressed.
\
But feeling constantly stressed, irritable or anxious and as if each day is a struggle, is a sign that your stress threshold has been reached, things are out of balance and that you need to do something about it.
Each one of us has a different capacity to handle stress before it will start to manifest as physical symptoms or through mood and emotional changes such as irritability, frustration, anger or teariness.
Stress underlies or contributes to many common health complaints and sometimes unless you address the stress component, other methods of treatment or dietary changes etc may not alleviate your symptoms. This is really common in the case of digestive and hormonal issues which are stemming from stress ( not all digestive and hormonal issues are stress related).
When you're stressed you simply cannot digest because your nervous system is busy gearing up to help you escape a threat ( this is that old primal reflex which exists to divert your blood to your limbs , away from your digestive system so that you can run to escape a wild animal). Many people spend most of their days in this high alert stress response which is incredibly draining and taxing on the nervous system and adrenal glands.
Being stressed has somewhat been 'normalised' due to so many people feeling stressed so much of the time but we're not meant to be feeling stressed as often as many of us are.
It is up to each one of us to factor in the things which help us to manage stress and to create time for slowing down and replenishing our reserves. We each also need to learn to recognise when we're getting to overload point and to regularly evaluate the balance of our lives.
There will also be times where some additional stress support can be hugely beneficial to see you through a stressful time or to soothe your nervous system and adrenals when they have become affected by ongoing daily stress.
Adaptogenic herbs are perfect for those times when you feel like you've reached your limit or that your ability to handle stress has become compromised and your energy and immune system has been lowered as a result. The adaptogenic herbs are my absolute favorites for their ability to work WITH the body, exerting a tonic affect on frazzled adrenals and nerves and helping the body to find it's equilibrium again.
Nutrient deficiencies will also lower your resistance to stress and stress also leads to nutrient depletion.
Key stress support nutrients are the B complex vitamins, vitamin C, magnesium and zinc.
Regular fresh air, exercise, adequate sleep ( often hard to come by when stressed!), mindfulness, breathwork, meditation and creative outlets can also be key elements of maintaining balance and therefore helping you to better manage regular daily stress ( whatever that may be for you) and also the bigger stressors as they come along.
Need some stress support and strategies?
Appointments can be booked online here: https://blossomwellbeing.as.me/?appointmentType=1157307
You can also find and fill in a stress questionnaire here: https://blossomwellbeing.com.au/free-resources/
