Are you feeling "Taxed"?
Are you stressed out because you haven’t filed your taxes yet? If so, you aren’t alone 🥰
If you’re feeling a bit stressed around tax season, you’re not alone. Many people can be procrastinators, especially those who owe money; they face penalties and fees if they file late.
Or, maybe you are dealing with a health issue, politics, social event, or a family member has you stirred up! Yes, there can be plenty of negative emotions this time of year. People can feel angry, sad, frustrated or fearful - sometimes all at once.
What an opportunistic time to talk about being “taxed” in the month we have to pay our financial taxes 🥺 But another definition of being “taxed” is carrying a heavy burden. Have you ever felt this way? How are you feeling this very moment?
In the journey of caring for our families, handling workplace and social demands, caring for elders or even someone with special needs, there can be moments, and sometimes months that are difficult, as we carry the heavy burden of all that is required in our ever complicated worlds.
Today, I’d like to talk about the waves that ebb-and-flow in our lives that can make us feel like we’re taxed or overwhelmed, and share with you some tools that I have found helpful 💗 Sound good?
Before we get started, I hope you learned some interesting tidbits from last week’s newsletter on ”Happy Mouth, Happy Body - What Happens in the Mouth, doesn’t stay in the Mouth", if you missed it, you can click this link, Here.
OK, let’s talk “TAXED”?
🤨 😖 🥺 🤯 😓 😵💫 🥴 😵💫 😓 🤯 🥺 😖 🤨
WAYS WE ARE TAXED
For many taxpayers, stress is a common occurrence and likely affects their health, even if its a headache or upset stomach of short duration. This is the time of year when Americans need a reminder of the importance of controlling stress as they confront the challenges of modern-day living. Household finances are a regular source of stress for many people, and tax time can compound the effect.
A nationwide survey in February found that stress about money and finances appears to have a significant impact on Americans’ lives. Nearly three-quarters (72 percent) of adults report feeling stressed about money at least some of the time, and nearly one-quarter say that they experience extreme stress about money, according to the latest Stress in America survey by Harris Poll on behalf of the American Psychological Association. Twenty-two percent rated their stress about money during the past month as an 8, 9 or 10 on a 10-point scale.
In working with patients for more than a decade, I’ve recognized different situations that can make us feel like we’re taxed and overwhelmed. Things like:
Lack of sleep
Body fatigue and exhaustion
Compassion fatigue
Health care of others
Health care of us personally
Commitments and appointments
Extended family issues
Needing time alone
Needing to get recharged
Finances
_____________(name your own)
_____________(name your own)
STRESS ISN’T JUST A STATE OF MIND
“Relax.” That is probably the last piece of advice you want to hear if you are stressed out. That single word can cause your blood pressure to spike and increase - not decrease - your anxiety, agitation or anger.
Still, it is important for your health to seek solutions if you are experiencing a lot of tension, frustration or worry. Stress isn’t just a state of mind; it causes physical responses that can have serious long-term repercussions on the body, particularly your cardiovascular health.
Depression, anxiety, stress - these are factors we know cause inflammation over time. Inflammation can contribute to and increase the risk for stroke, heart attacks, heart failure, even premature death.
WHEN STRESS IS A PROBLEM
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, women are more likely than men to report symptoms of stress. Experts do not fully know the reason for the difference, but it may be related to how men’s and women’s bodies process stress hormones.
I have observed that stress can be a challenge for some of my female patients, who shoulder a lot of responsibility. I see women who are juggling family, work, maybe caring for a spouse or parents. They tend to forget to take care of themselves.
Regardless of gender, everyone should take steps to reduce stress. I always encourage exercise and being outdoors. To me, exercise is a great therapy for many things - not only for cardiovascular health. It boosts your immune system and can definitely help improve your mental health. I also encourage relaxation such as yoga and mediation, as well as good sleep hygiene.
For some patients, however, that might not be enough. When I identify that stress is interfering with their life and the Functional Medicine methods I have here in the office aren’t working, I may suggest they seek professional help - whether psychology or psychiatry. All of us at sometime need help, and there is nothing wrong with that.
WHY YOU SHOULD SEEK SOLUTIONS
Allowing stress to go unchecked does not make you a hero. Even if you think you can deal with it mentally, your body is unconsciously responding with long-term health implications.
In these busy, complicated times, it’s important to prioritize your own health by addressing factors that can be detrimental.
Stress can aggravate and worsen just about any existing health conditions, or create new problems such as anxiety, headaches, muscle aches and even shortness of breath from hyperventilating. It’s important to treat stress to help you overcome underlying health problems, such as high blood pressure, digestive problems, aging, hormones, weight fluctuations, immune issues and risk factors for heart disease.”
Here are the top 5 conditions that can be exasperated by stress:
Heart Disease. People need to understand 80 percent of cardiovascular diseases are preventable. The sooner you start, the more significant the impact will be, especially when it comes to lifestyle modification. It is unclear why some people are more affected than others by stress, but researchers have found that a “Type A” personality carries a higher risk of high blood pressure and heart problems. Stress can have an impact on increasing heart rate and blood flow. It can also cause the release of cholesterol and triglycerides into the blood.
Belly Fat/Obesity. Too much fat in the belly poses higher health risks than fat deposits in legs or hips. And people who are more stressed seemed to have a greater propensity for storing fat in the belly. Binge-eating habits are often tied to stress. And obesity caused by stress-fueled eating habits can lead to serious health conditions, including diabetes, hypertension and heart disease.
Gastrointestinal Problems. Stress does not cause ulcers, but it can create or aggravate digestive problems for individuals with common GI issues, especially chronic heartburn (gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Several factors — both biological and psychological — contribute to gastrointestinal disorders.
Depression and Anxiety. Stress can be a major factor in anxiety and depression. A survey of recent studies found that people who were stressed out at their jobs had an 80 percent higher risk of developing depression over time, compared to workers with lower stress.
Diabetes. Stress can harm those already diagnosed with diabetes. It can cause people to binge on unhealthy foods high in carbohydrates, and that scenario can cause glucose levels to surge. People who are pre-disposed to diabetes, either through a family history or lifestyle habits, can increase their risk by stress-induced overeating.
A good place to start is to acknowledge how you are feeling.
SOME TOOLS TO HELP
While sometimes we feel that it’s not realistic to have everything all at once, it sure would be nice to experience rest, a normal work load, and plenty of personal free time; all at one time, just to see what it’s like!
Because this can be a very unlikely scenario when the “going gets tough”, here are a few things we can do (some with the help of others, some we can plan and allow ourselves) to get some moments of reprieve:
Alternate who “gets” to take some “me” time on the weekends
Plan outdoor time, alone or as a group
Get a chiropractic adjustment, your vagus nerve may need some TLC (see my blog, Here)
Alternate the load of running errands, preparing dinner, yard work, etc. with family members, so the brunt of chores won’t fall just on one person
Plan quiet time alone before bed every night for reflection, instead of zoning out in front of the TV or on your phone
Divide and conquer the kids and their activities
Plan healthy food options to help reduce S-T-R-E-S-S (see my blog, Here)
Get away for an overnight together, or have everyone get away one time a year (more if you can afford the finances and time to get away). One night away won’t solve problems, but it can rejuvenate you, and it will be a treat.
Practice gratitude as an individual or family (see my Mindset blog, Here)
Read or listen to Books and Podcasts to help you stay positive while driving, feeling stressed, doing chores, first thing in the morning, or last thing before you lay your head down to sleep
Maybe you’re not in a relationship and feel like you have no one to help you in some of the ways we just described. It will be important for you to pursue help from others, to give you a break from a stressful life from time to time. It might take time to get this kind of process to work well, but it’s worth the effort.
It’s important to, Learn to ask for help!
Will these ideas cure the feeling of being overloaded and taxed? Probably not 100% of the time, but it will give you some things to look forward to, so you can get back in the game of life and stay in the game for the long haul.
Making excuses for why some ideas won’t work is simply an excuse not to try. Don’t quit. Be creative, use trial and error, and find something that works, even if it’s just for a season. It’ll be worth the time and effort spent to give it a try.
THE BOTTOM LINE
“Don't get discouraged: it is often the last key in the bunch that opens the lock.”
Most people I see in my practice would like to be calmer and more focused on what matters in the moments of their lives. But the more stressed we are, the less open we are to creative ideas and the more prone we are to procrastination.
Allowing stress to go unchecked does not make you a hero. Even if you think you can deal with it mentally, your body is unconsciously responding with long-term Health implications. Let me say that again, STRESS is the ultimate dragon to slay! I see so many healthy people turn to the worse, when they haven’t learned to handle their stress.
Depression, anxiety, stress - these are factors we know cause inflammation over time. Inflammation can contribute to and increase the risk for stroke, heart attacks, heart failure, even premature death.
If the tools that I shared today don’t offer any relief, or you are feeling more stressed than normal, it may be a warning sign of something physically that needs to be addressed. Come in and see me, and let’s talk about your unique body and physical situation. You can make an appointment using this link: HERE.
Or, you can always give me a call at (973) 210-3838
I want to hear from you! What concerns do you have about stress and staying healthy? Did you find this newsletter helpful?
Share your thoughts in the comments on our
We bring tools such as these to you, our patients, by using proven cutting-edge therapies to extend the health-span, life-span and years of health for everyone (no matter their age)!
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