Stress, the Eceonomy, Swine Flu, and Other Illnesses

Normally I do not get colds, and when I do, they are mild and always in Winter. But recently I came down with a very nasty cold that took me totally out of commission for a few days. As I later tried to understand how I got sick so easily and severely, I realized that it had nothing to do with any of the usual causes of sickness.

Just a couple of days prior to getting sick, I experienced severe stress due to a personal issue and was very drained emotionally and physically. I have heard that stress can weaken the immune system, but little did I know just how much!

I had allowed the stress to become so severe that an ordinary, common told quickly took over and wreaked havoc on my body. Nutritional supplementation, homeopathic remedies, and rest, allowed me to recover in a few days instead of weeks, but I learned my lesson: Don't play around with stress.

The most important step when dealing with a specific stress is to control your thoughts, especially your self-talk. When in a stressful situation, it's easy to dwell on it constantly and worry. The only way to take control of your thoughts is to force yourself not to think about any of the things that trigger anxiety or other stressful emotions. By doing this, you will break the cycle of obsessing over the situation, and your worries and fears will not spiral out of control.

Another step you can take is to enjoy physically relaxing things like hot tea, a warm bath, or just watching even or listening to music. Avoid activities that may remind you of the stressful situation. You will be sending your body and mind cues to relax, and this will allow you to calm down and subconsciously recollect your thoughts.

Set aside a particular time when you can focus on and deal with the stressful situation. Even if it means just sitting there and worrying, give yourself a very limited time window in which to do that. But once the time window is up, you must force yourself to stop thinking about it and go do something else.

Preventing illness and giving your body a fighting chance if you do get sick involves helping both the body and the mind. Supplement your diet with vitamins and minerals, avoid refined sugars and carbohydrates, but remember to keep stress in check. The Bible asks, "Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?" (Matthew 6:27) In fact, worrying will only shorten your stature, and possibly your life.

Ben Piper is a health and wellness expert and the founder of Christian Financial Freedom (www.ChristianFinancialFreedom.com)