Cover Story

How's your mental health these days?

Even women who think of themselves as good at coping with life’s ups and downs need to monitor their stress level

By Ruth Ora Jackson

ROCKFORD WOMAN

Aug 26, 2008 @ 06:31 PM

We women are busy and often ignore what our bodies are telling us. Much has been written about mental-health disorders, but people without mental-health issues need to stay in touch with their emotions as well.

Ruth Ora Jackson, psychologist and naturpathic doctor, states, “Most people are not enough in touch with their bodies to know when they are under stress. They miss the subtle signs.”

The first signs to pay attention to include sleep disruption or insomnia, change in appetite, indigestion, low energy, weight gain or loss, racing thoughts, tight shoulders, twitchy muscles, feelings of apprehension, worry and irritability.

If signals are disregarded, they can escalate. By heeding early signs, women can relieve stress before it becomes overwhelming. According to Jackson, we take in too many toxins (people can be toxic, too) and do not take in enough that nurtures us (the right foods, the right people).

Recognizing who or what triggers a symptom is key. Changes in diet and lifestyle can be made to help keep the body systems in balance.

A counselor can help you take an “inventory” of your life. You may learn that there are nutrients missing from your diet; you may need to make lifestyle changes (you cannot be all things to all people), or your on-edge feeling may be hormonal imbalances. Even if it’s hormones, there’s help. Food — what, when, how much — can factor in to relief. Proper sleep and exercise can improve the balance of the body’s systems, as well as herbal alternatives.

Life is often lived on autopilot, and we tend to forget that we have a choice in how to take care of our bodies. If you can tune in to everything being a conscious decision by asking yourself “Is this good for me?” we can significantly reduce the stress. Being aware of what the body is saying and discovering what is toxic to your mental health can keep preliminary symptoms from spiraling.

There are times when a good talk or a good cry can be therapy enough. Women like to talk things out. We process verbally and need to express our thoughts and emotions. Many times the chance to talk is all that is needed; a solution presents itself, or isn’t needed, just the need to vent.

Pay attention to what your body is saying. The emotional and physical are interrelated. Stress can be a precursor to emotional distress or disease, so watch for telltale signs.