|
This could effect us all at some point...
28th September 2007
There's one thing I don't miss about not having a
proper job anymore...
All right, there are loads of things I don't miss
office politics, communal toilets, a guy called
Reg who used to push me in the back by way of a
greeting, even if I was holding a scalding cup of
tea...
But there's one thing I REALLY don't miss...
and that's giving a presentation.
I remember the feeling of twenty pairs of eyes all
turning on you as you stand up to run through a
business plan or a sales pitch... the dry throat, the
heart hammering at ten times its normal speed,
the irrational fear that your flies are undone...
Honestly, it's Hell.
And this feeling came flooding back to me
yesterday evening when Lara and I popped over
to see a couple of friends Adam and Katie.
'Adam's out the back,' Katie said to me,
meaning 'Clear off Ray, we've got women's
business to attend to.
I took my cue and went out into the back garden,
only to see Adam pacing up and down, holding a
bunch of papers in one hand, waving a cigarette
around in the other, saying 'Please bear with me;
numbers aren't my strong point.'
I'm trying to add some humour, he said,
humourlessly. Adam's an accountant. It was like
watching a man trying to crack jokes from the
gallows.
But I empathised with him immediately. And I
could see how stressed he was.
Whether it's wedding speeches, leaving speeches
or even having a stand up row with an officious
ticket inspector on the 19.00 London to Bristol
train (and I WAS right!), there'll probably be a
time at some point in your life when you have to
speak in front of dozens of people.
So I've raided the Internet, and my own back
catalogue, to come up with natural remedies that
can help beat nerves and ease stress...
Adam the Viking accountant!
When you're stressed out, your body produces
hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline.
They are vital chemicals, because they give us
that boost we need to complete difficult and tiring
tasks.
But if you're stressed over a long period, these
hormones begin to overstimulate your body.
Luckily, your body also contains stressfighting
hormones to deal with this problem.
One of the ways to release them is through
'adaptogens', chemicals that block stress
hormones by getting to your body's receptors
first.
|
Here are some of the best sources:
- Rhodiola is a plant from Asia, Europe, and the
Arctic. Historically it has been recommended
to combat fatigue and restore energy. Swedish
researchers believe that the Vikings used
Rhodiola... and we all know how energetic
they were. And in modern Siberia, a bouquet
of rhodiola is still presented to a bride and
groom to ensure a good marriage.
One shot of this and Adam will be throwing
his spreadsheets to the ground and pilaging
his way through accounts payable.
- Korean ginseng is a natural immunity booster
that is also claimed help regulate blood
pressure, improve libido... and possibly even
impotence.
- Siberian ginseng, from the Eleutherococcus
plant, used to be called 'Russia's secret plant'.
It was used by Soviet athletes, as well as
Russian cosmonauts to stimulate their
immune systems... reduce stress... boost
energy levels... and reverse chronic tiredness.
And here are some more natural ways to help you
relax...
- Melissa Officinalis is indigenous to the
Mediterranean, but is widespread throughout
the world. It is often used as a general
nervous system restorative, digestive
calmative and to reduce blood pressure. Its
active ingredients include volatile oil, tannins,
flavinoids, tocopherols and choline.
- Lavender is famous for its calming properties
and as a tonic for the nervous system. It
contains the active ingredients tannins,
coumarins, flavinoids, triterpenoids and
volatile oil. Use a little lavender oil in the
bath, or add a few drops to a bowl of boiling
water, drape a towel over your head and
inhale deeply and slowly.
- Passion Flower is used for insomnia and can
relieve anxiety and nervousness. Active
ingredients include flavinoids, cyanogenic
glycosides, alkaloids and saparin. It helps to
calm and soothe and is also thought to reduce
high blood pressure and nervous tremors.
And since this whole issue of The Good Life
Letter seems to be dedicated to Adam and his
health, I may as well go the whole hog...
How to stop turning to the ciggies
when you're vulnerable
It's all well and good making a brave stab at
quitting smoking just before you're about to go to
sleep or after you've put out your last one of the
day, but trying to keep off them when your
feeling stressed is a real challenge.
Here are some natural remedies that could help
you kick the habit for good...
- Lobelia is a herb that is said to balance the
effects of nicotine withdrawal, by causing the
same reaction in the body as nicotine. It
presses the same buttons as nicotine,
increasing the production of dopamine, which
is our natural 'pleasure drug'. In fact Lobeline
(the active ingredient in Lobelia) is so
effective it's included in many nicotine
patches.
However - YOU MUST SEE YOUR
DOCTOR BEFORE TRYING THIS.
This herb can be toxic if taken in too large a
dose, leading to sweating, nausea, increased
heartbeat and convulsions. If it's taken to
excess it can even lead to coma and death, so
this is clearly not something to be taken
without first consulting your GP.
|
- A homoeopath friend of mine suggests the
remedy Nux Vomica 30. Its main strength is
controlling the mood swings and snappiness
that occur when you're trying to give up.
- St John's Wort. Yes, this is often cited as a
powerful natural anti-depressant, but a fresh
study also suggests it could help fight nicotine
withdrawal.
When 24 smokers smoked received St. John's
Wort (450 mg capsule 2 times a day), 9 out of
24 people had quit after 12 weeks. That's a
pretty impressive statistic.
Okay, this group also received counselling,
but I don't think that on its own would have
led to 9 people giving up.
Again, there are certain people who shouldn't
take St. John's Wort, so check it out with your
doctor first.
That's all from me today. Have a great
weekend, and I'll be back to join you again on
Sunday.
Till then,
Yours as ever,
Ray Collins
The Good Life Letter |
|
|
|
