Stress is the body’s natural response to any circumstances or challenges. The human body is designed to experience stress and react to it. The hormones released when a person senses threat or in stressful situations include adrenaline and cortisol which help in a fight or flight response. Stress responses allow the body to adjust to new situations.

The stress you experience can be positive as it keeps you alert and ready to avoid danger. But sometimes stress becomes a problem when it continues without relief or relaxation. Frequent and long-term continuous stress without any periods of relaxation has harmful physical and psychological effects.

Role of homeopathy in stress

Stress is a part of daily life and everyone experiences it occasionally. It helps a person achieve his goals and is needed for survival in certain situations. However, chronic stress, which is not managed, leads to physical problems. Homeopathy works on stress at a psychological level to help the body cope with the stressful situation and also helps to manage its effects on the body.

Homeopathy, as a holistic form of medicine, is used to maintain emotional balance and treat physical symptoms through its classical treatment and individual approach. It can effectively treat disorders like anxiety, stress, and depression with negligible side effects.

Six homeopathic medicines for stress

Aconitum napellus

Common name: Monkshood

Aconite is prescribed in cases of acute stress with great intensity of panic attacks. Extreme anxiety with fear, restlessness of mind, and hurriedness with intense palpitations are the main symptoms of this remedy. The person shows great fear on his face with fear of death, but the recovery in such cases is very quick. The person is always in a hurry and does all his work with great haste. Music is unbearable as it makes him sad. Mentally the person feels very uneasy, angry, and worried.

Arsenic album

Common name: White oxide of arsenic

Arsenic alb. is indicated for stress leading to anxiety. The person experiences stress with extreme restlessness and overthinking with several thoughts. There is a marked fear of death and the person is very fastidious. They want everything neat and clean. There is trembling of the extremities, cold sweat, and a flushed face.

The person has weak memory due to confusion and tearful situations. The anxiety attack is more prevalent after midnight with fearfulness, restlessness, and anger. Physically, the person is very weak and exhausted so much that it is difficult for him to even move.

Coffea cruda

Common name: Coffee

Coffea is used to treat cases of sleeplessness that develop due to stress. The person is oversensitive to all the senses. Excessive thoughts flow through the mind persistently and lead to sleeplessness. There is a wide awake condition with impossibility to close his eyes. The mind is full of ideas and actively makes plans and fancies. Palpitations may be present, and the person tosses about in bed from side to side. The complaints are worse from sudden emotions and pleasurable surprises. Nervousness, irritability, and weeping are the main symptoms of this medicine.

Ignatia amara

Common name: St. Ignatius bean

Ignatia is indicated for managing stress that occurs due to some grief. The person experiences grief due to the effects of bad news or disappointment in love, which leads to stress. There are constant sad thoughts, weeps bitterly, and a desire to be left alone. The person has a changeable mood where they laugh and weep in quick succession. The person also sobs and sighs frequently. There is indifference to things the person loved in the past and discouragement with physical and mental exhaustion. Dullness of mind and difficulty in comprehension are other symptoms that may be noted.

The slightest fault finding or contradiction excites anger where the person is already short-tempered. The person is very impatient, inconsistent, and quarrelsome. They are good-natured when well but quickly disturbed by the slightest emotion and easily affected. The person may also get frightened easily and tend to have restless sleep. A person is physically and mentally exhausted by long-continued grief. The complaints get worse by consolation.

Kalium phosphoricum

Common name: Potassium phosphate

Kali. phos. is used to manage the stress that arises from overstraining the mind. The condition arises from mental and physical depression. A constant state of care and worries leading to stress is a guiding feature of this medicine. The person is very nervous, irritable, and depressed, with a loss of memory. He desperately wants energy, and the slightest labor seems a heavy task. There is brain-fag from overwork. Anxiety, lethargy, and gloomy moods look on the dark side of everything. Indifference to life and stress headaches are treated well with this remedy. There is sleeplessness after worry or excitement from nervous causes.

Natrum muriaticum

Common name: Common salt

Natrum mur. is used to treat stress causing depression. The person is disturbed mentally and is extremely emotional. They desire to be alone, have an aversion to talking, and are weeping all the time where the weeping alternates with laughing. Sometimes, they weep without any cause. Consolation aggravates the state of mind. They are hurried, anxious, and hopeless about the future. Dullness of mind, difficulty thinking, fluttering of heart, and palpitations are other features. They also become absent-minded and suffer from weak memory. Natrum mur. is also helpful for treating hair loss resulting from stress.

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Causative factors for stress

  • Major life changes
  • Problems at workplace
  • Disharmony in relationships
  • Starting a new job
  • Unemployment
  • Financial crisis
  • Negative thinking (pessimism)
  • Illness
  • Death of close members
  • Stress after a traumatic incident like a natural disaster, violence, or an accident (PTSD- post-traumatic stress disorder)

Signs and symptoms of stress

Signs of stress can be visible or observed as physical symptoms, mental symptoms or, in some cases, both.

Physical symptoms of stress

  • High blood pressure
  • Heart disease
  • Obesity
  • Diabetes
  • Skin problems such as acne or eczema
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
  • Gastric problems – constipation or diarrhea
  • Menstrual problems
  • Stiff jaws or neck
  • Weight loss or gain
  • Changes in appetite
  • Muscle spasms

Mental symptoms of stress

  • Sadness
  • Anger
  • Mood changes
  • Forgetfulness
  • Anxiety or irritability
  • Depression
  • Panic attacks
  • Feeling of isolation
  • Weak memory
  • Difficulty concentration
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Alcohol abuse or drugs for relaxation

Treatment of stress

Meditation and Mindfulness

Meditation and mindfulness are proven therapies to manage anxiety and depression. Meditation helps relax the mind by focusing on breathing and awareness of the present.

Recognize stress and make changes

Think about what’s causing your stress. Try connecting the physical and emotional signs you’re experiencing. Do not ignore physical symptoms such as tiredness, headaches, or tense muscles. Think about what things will improve with time and things you can’t do anything about. Take small steps towards the things you can improve. Prioritize essential commitments and ask for help for things you can’t take on.

Build supportive relationships

Stay connected with people who make you happy and calm and provide emotional support. These people can also be good listeners and share responsibilities so that stress doesn’t become overwhelming.

Get professional help

Do not be afraid to seek professional help if you continue to feel overwhelmed by stress. It is important to get help as soon as possible. Talk to your doctor so that they can advise you and suggest therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and meditation-based stress reduction (MBSR).

Diet and lifestyle modifications for stress

  • A healthy diet may help to improve your mood. Getting essential nutrients and adequate water intake can help your mental well-being.
  • Quit smoking and drinking if you can. They can seem to reduce stress temporarily but make problems worse. Caffeine and alcohol can make you feel anxious.
  • Physical exercises can help manage stress by producing endorphins that boost your mood. Motivating yourself when stressed is tough, but a little activity can make a difference.
  • Practice self-care. Take time out to relax and do positive things. Maintaining a balance between doing things for others and oneself is vital in reducing stress levels.
  • Get adequate sleep of 6-8 hours.
  • Avoid too much screen time before bed.
  • Don’t be too hard on yourself. Look for positive things in your life and write down what makes you grateful.

Conclusion

It is natural to be stressed sometimes. Try relieving and managing stress by using a few simple strategies. Long-term stress can cause physical, emotional, and behavioral symptoms. Homeopathic remedies can help lower your stress. The constitutional remedy helps build stamina to cope with the day-to-day stresses of life. It’s essential to seek advice from a homeopath to ensure you receive the best treatment for all you are experiencing.

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