Stress is unavoidable in today’s world, and it can worsen fibromyalgia symptoms. Therefore, it’s essential to learn how to relieve stress through various techniques. Here are five must-have items for relaxation to help you better manage your stress and fibromyalgia symptoms.
How Stress Affects the Body with Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is a typical symptom of and – in some cases like mine – the cause of fibromyalgia. Typically, chronic pain and stress have an unhealthy relationship, meaning one usually exists because of the other. It’s a nasty little cycle of chronic pain that causes stress, and stress causes chronic pain. It’s similar to the fibromyalgia sleep cycle.
According to the publication The impact of stress on body function: A review, the effects of stress on the nervous system have been studied for over fifty years. Stress is known as “any intrinsic or extrinsic stimulus that evokes a biological response.” These studies over the decades have revealed that stress can cause structural changes in the various parts of the brain, and chronic stress can have long-term effects on various parts of the body.
The body systems stress effects also include:
- Immune
- Cardiovascular
- Nervous
- Digestive
- Endocrine
- Respiratory
- Reproductive
Stress can affect the immune system’s function when stress mediators pass through the blood-brain barrier. Stress also impacts the cardiovascular system by activating the autonomic nervous system, which leads to the activation of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.
The symptoms of these effects of those systems include:
- memory
- cognition and learning
- increase heart rate
- increase blood pressure
- loss of appetite
- slows down digestion
- increase of inflammation of the digestive tract
- negative impact on the release of hormones
- shortness of breath
- rapid breathing
- a decline in sex drive
- a decrease in sperm production
- irregular menstrual cycles
- lower ability to conceive
Other side effects include:
- muscle pain, tightness or soreness
- inflammation of the joints
- worsen existing skin conditions
- increase depression and anxiety
Ways to Relieve Stress
There are various ways to relieve stress; it doesn’t have to take up much of your time. Some of these include:
- Regular physical exercise
- Healthy sleep hygiene, such as quality sleep
- Get a massage
- Use essential oils
- Soak in a warm bath
- Meditation
- Yoga
- Drink a cup of tea (here’s my favorite tea)
- Listen to music
- Eat some dark chocolate
- Hug someone
- Controlled breathing
5 Must-Have Items for Relaxation
In addition to the previously listed ways to reduce stress, there are some gadgets and other nifty items for relaxation. These are listed in no particular order.
Music
Music positively affects the body and can be linked to increased happiness, energy, and alertness. It also can calm, heal, and reduce stress. (You can read more about music and it’s the direct link to health in the article Music and Health by Harvard Health Publishing at Harvard Medical School.)
I was surprised (and thrilled) to see they have one for kids! My kids have wanted one in their rooms since I received three Echo Dots for Christmas. I have one in my room, the upstairs hallway (so I can talk to the kids upstairs from the kitchen/living room), and kitchen. They love the ability to speak to me from anywhere in the house (except their rooms, which is why they want one) and the bonus of listening to music, too.
The kid’s version is the Alexa kid-friendly version. It comes with one year of FreeTime Unlimited, over 1,000 Audible books for kids, songs, and games. Kids can control lights, plugs, switches, and more with compatible connected devices. It can also link to Amazon Music, Apple Music, and Spotify and will automatically filter explicit songs. It also includes parental controls. It comes in green, blue, red, and RAINBOW!
Diffuser
Diffusers use essential oils as aromatherapy by releasing their smells. They do not use heat, as heat can break down the beneficial components of essential oils. The types of diffusers are fan, nebulizing, evaporative, and ultrasonic. Diffusers use essential oils to promote good sleep, eliminate odor, reduce stress, and more.
Himalayan Salt Lamp
Himalayan salt lamps are big chunks of pink Himalayan salt used as decorative lights and for health benefits. The benefits of salt lamps include cleaning the air, soothing allergies, boosting mood, and more. Read more about these lamps and how they work.
Bath Pillow
Soaking in a bath can soothe sore muscles and help ease stress throughout your body. However, lying in a bath can also strain your neck. To get the ultimate relaxation while enjoying the warm comfort of a bath, try a bath pillow. It provides ergonomic support for your neck and back.
Face Mask
It’s creepy-looking, I know. It reminds me of The Man in the Iron Mask, minus Leo’s beautiful face and flowing hair. However, these masks can ease migraines, promote sleep, reduce dry eyes, TMJ, and more. This face mask featured below can be used as a cold compress or heat therapy. The gel beads have a soft lining, forming a custom-contoured fit.
For more ideas for self-care, check out this list of the best self-care gifts for fibromyalgia.
