Discover Why Insomnia and Stress are Closely Related

Insomnia and stress are closely linked to each other. Stress causes insomnia as your mind is in overdrive and at the end of a busy demanding day at work it's very hard to switch off.

Transient insomnia is experienced by most people at some time throughout their lives and can be caused by stresses such as worrying about a job interview or an illness in the family.

As you lay awake in bed your mind is going over the meeting you had at work or any other problem that's keeping you from sleeping. Insomnia can cause more stress as you are tired during the day from lack of sleep which in turn makes you more stressed.

Drinking lots of coffee to overcome daytime drowsiness caused by insomnia will only make matters worse. Caffeine can make you more anxious and increase your heart rate especially if you drink lots of strong black coffee. Caffeine blocks the absorption of a calming chemical called adenosine which is produced during activities such as exercise, and instead promotes the production of adrenaline which speeds the body up.

reduce the amount of caffeine in your diet and try replacing coffee with herbal tea or just change to decaffeinated. There is very little difference in taste but it won't keep you awake at night. Some people are more sensitive to caffeine than others

Exercise is not only a great way to keep fit but it also helps you to manage stress. Exercise releases endorphins in the body which are natural pain killers and also help relieve stress. This works very well with mild depression and anxiety. You don't have to join a gym, but just try brisk walking for 30 minutes each day. This can fit in with most people's lives and you will notice a difference in a very short time.

You will find that you will be able to sleep better at night and your insomnia and stress levels will be greatly reduced.

If you are very stressed try meditation or join a yoga class. Set aside some time for yourself in the day no matter how demanding your work schedule is. It's very important for your mental and physical wellbeing to spend some time just relaxing and allowing your mind to switch off. You will feel refreshed and less likely to suffer from insomnia at night.

Aromatherapy is great way to reduce insomnia and stress. Try placing a few drops of jasmine or lavender oil into an aromatherapy burner and place it in your bedroom. The soothing and relaxing fragrance will help you to sleep. Alternatively try adding a few drops of these oils into a warm bath just before you go to bed.

The warm bath will relax you and the aromatherapy oils will help you to de stress.

In some cases the insomnia and stress experienced by the sufferer is so great that professional counselling is needed. This could be due to a traumatic event such as the sudden death of a close member of family, bankruptcy or redundancy. Read more...

Exercise and Diet as Pain Relief Therapy

To avoid physical pain, most people usually avoid engaging in strenuous activities and vigorous movements of the body. However, inactivity may actually worsen the condition and result in more pain in the long run. Since the human body is designed to be in motion regardless of your health condition, making your body inactive will lead to muscle degeneration. Through regular exercise, people can avoid pain or, at least, have an effective means of attaining pain relief therapy.

Once the muscles start to deteriorate, other problems may soon develop such as diminishing bone density, depression, and a weakened heart. On the contrary, regular exercise can help keep joints flexible and strong. Moreover, physical activity promotes pain relief by releasing mood-enhancing chemicals in the body that help deal with arthritic pain and lessen pain perception.

The three types of exercise recommended for arthritis patients involves the following:

* Flexibility Workouts
* Cardiovascular Workouts
* Strength Conditioning

Flexibility workouts involve stretches that can help enhance range of motion. Cardiovascular includes aerobic workouts, walking, water exercises, and cycling. Strength conditioning, includes isometric or isotonic workouts. Isometric workouts are static exercises that involve applying resistance without moving the joint. An example of isometric workout is pressing your hands against the wall while standing. It works out your chest muscle without joint movement. Isotonic workouts, on the other hand, use the full range of motion such as bicep curls and leg extensions.

Different exercises work for different individuals. A certain exercise that works for you may not work for your buddy. Always remember to apply appropriate effort in proper form to avoid further injury and minimize pain. Consult a doctor or a well-trained fitness instructor before engaging in a fitness program.

While regular exercise promotes natural pain relief by releasing mood-enhancing chemicals in the body that reduce perception of pain, being overweight can takes its toll on the joints due to the excess poundage they have to carry. A variety of weight loss programs are available everywhere but a nutritionally-balanced diet, besides regular physical activity, is a proven method for weight loss.

On the other hand, weight loss with a poor diet may result to being underweight that leads to inactivity. When the hormone levels are off, it can aggravate pain. While limiting intake of animal protein and saturated fat is ideally healthy, people need not become vegetarians to avail of pain relief benefits from proper nutrition. Instead, beef up on foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Eating whole grains and organically produced foods rich in fiber substantially help reduce your consumption of carcinogens and other harmful chemicals usually present in processed foods. These chemicals in preservatives may negatively stimulate the immune system.

Some studies are exploring on the pain relief properties of two dietary supplements, chondroitin and glucosamine, in relation to osteoarthritis. However, there is much research to be done on their long-term safety and effectiveness. While chondroitin side effects may be rare, it may include headache, motor uneasiness, euphoria, hives, rash, photo-sensitivity, hair loss, and breathing difficulties. Those with bleeding disorders or taking blood thinners should consult with their doctor before taking the supplement.

Some glucosamine products may be made with shellfish, and may cause adverse reaction in people with shellfish allergies. Side effects include upset stomach, drowsiness, insomnia, headache, skin reactions, sun sensitivity, and nail toughening Read more...

Stress Relief through Martial

Formerly known as Siam to foreigners who first came to this region as early as the 12th century, the country's name was changed to literally mean “Land of the Free.” Throughout the country's 800-year history, this nation can boast the distinction of being the only country in Southeast Asia never to have been colonized. Siam was changed to Thailand with the advent of a democratic government in 1939. People inhabiting Thailand today share rich ethnic diversity mainly Thai, Mon, Khmer, Laotian, Chinese, Malay, Persian, and Indian stock with the result that there is no typically Thai physiognomy or physique. There are petite, statuesque, round-faced, dark-skinned and light-skinned Thais. Some 80% of all Thais are connected in some way with agriculture which, in varying degrees, influences and is influenced by the religious ceremonies and festivals that help make Thailand such a distinctive country.
Thais are tribal people and have had to defend their country from many invaders throughout their history. As such, they have developed their own brand of martial art. Muay Thai is the devastating “science of 8 limbs” developed over thousands of years ago. The exact date of the creation of this fighting art is not known but it is widely believed to be over 2000 years old. Muay Thai used to be referred to as Pahuyuth (multi-faceted fighting style) hundred years back, but Muay Thai itself is only part of the whole Thai fighting system that covers weapons and groundwork which is often referred to as Ling-Lom. This most effective of fighting techniques has evolved from the cultural artform of the Siamese warriors of the past. It has also become an International sport with a proud heritage.
From time immemorial, Muay Thai had been practiced in imperial contests. During the early times, this would occur in any location such as jungle clearings, courtyards, a village square or any area of flat ground. There were no time keepers or rounds, and no forbidden moves, the winner being the boxer who remained standing. Boxers would fight with their forearms strapped in rope and their fists bound with strips of raw cotton.

In 1929, the switch was made to the type of gloves worn in International boxing, the contests became standardized and contained in a ring. Today, Muay Thai contests are fought over five, three-minute rounds with two minute breaks between rounds, a referee and three judges awarding points for effective strikes.

Muay Thai is now one of the most popular martial arts practiced all over the world. Just like any other form of martial arts, Muay Thai will enable the practitioner to develop many skills and attributes. Though most people would list physical fitness as an obvious benefit of studying Muay Thai, few people really understand all the physical benefits. One will realize increased strength and flexibility, stronger bones and joints, increased stamina and energy, better coordination and balance, weight loss, and lean muscle gain. One will also benefit in terms of increased coordination, flexibility, strength, endurance, and stress relief through constant practice of the martial arts.

In addition to physical skills, there are many noticeable spiritual and mental benefits. Some of the more subtle, but equally important benefit are; concentration, confidence, courage, awareness, respect, etiquette, self - discipline and humility.

Though martial arts such as Muay Thai seem at first glance to be a set of physical skills, in reality the real goal is to condition the mind. It is the mind that has to learn to act quickly, often reading subtle signs and responding with a complex set of moves. The mental benefits of martial arts are possibly more significant than the physical. Read more...