Stress and dry skin

The psychological effects of Dry Skin can be very stressful. People recoil when their eyes fall on your skin condition. This leaves you with a sense of embarrassment, helplessness, hopelessness. You feel pain which leads to depression. This stress can lead to headaches and trouble with your asthma, allergies, psoriasis, or eczema. It can really be a vicious circle of emotional turmoil and health problems with life long consequences.

Effects of Stress on The Body

--Your pupils dilate to let in more light.

--Your heartbeat increases. This is due to the release of adrenaline (a hormone).

--Then another hormone is released called cortisol which causes your blood sugar and blood pressure to rise.

--Your liver goes to work adding glucose to your body for extra energy.

--Stress also makes the bowels move much more rapidly. This in turn causes less water to be reabsorbed into your body causing diarrhea. Oh, Hooray! More dry skin.

You may also experience the following:

--Sweaty palms and feet.

--Stuttering

--Chest pains

--Muscle spasms

--Grinding of teeth

--Hair loss

--Shaking (tremors)

--Skin Rashes

Stress Management

1. Remove yourself from the situation.

2. If that is impossible you will need to change your thinking about your situation. Let me give you an example.

Let’s say that everyday after work you have to face stress due to traffic snarls. This really chaps your hide. You can feel your blood pressure rising each night when you get behind the wheel. You feel you need to rush home—there is so much left to do in your day. Some blockhead cuts you off and you miss that green light. Road rage! If you allow this to happen to you each night you will experience health problems down the road, so don’t. Take a look at the situation and decide how you can get home each night without putting yourself through this. How about:

--Changing traffic time to favorite music time. Bring some music you enjoy, something relaxing. Listen to it.

--Make a game of it. Watch the expression on others faces when you allow them into your lane and are otherwise practicing being a polite driver. Their eyes will be bugging out of their little heads when they see your smiling face. THEY are so stressed out.

--Stay later at work or ask if you can start your day later and work later due to the traffic problems.

--Get out the city map and map yourself a new route or many different routes. The back roads may be the way to go. You could even have fun choosing different routes for each work night of the week.

--Put a tote of car cleaning items in your trunk and when traffic has come to a complete stop on the interstate pull over and clean the inside of your car. The traffic problem will probably be all cleared up when you are finished.

These are just a few suggestions. I’m sure you could think of many more ways to rethink the things that set you off. The thing is you need to change to manage your emotions. If you can’t rethink what is stressing you, or need help in doing so, talk to someone you trust (clergyman, friend, mental health care provider, etc.)

3. Go for a walk.

4. Exercise, meditation, prayer, or yoga.

5. Take a few deep breaths.

6. Pinpoint exactly what is bothering you. So, you can fix it.

7. Count to 10.

8. Don't discount the power of some good laughter! Read my story about the worst gumbo ever for a start. Check out some funny movies, read some hilarious books (like my Scooter Pie and Other Wonders) ,and watch some great comedy shows.

Life is meant to be good. Getting so stressed that you cause yourself harm is serious. Don’t get trapped into thinking you have to do it all. You need to set some time aside each day to care for yourself. Prioritize. What are the most important things that must be finished today? Can something be put off until tomorrow? Can you give up some of the lesser for some of the greater? Are some people in your life really not worth it? Edit your life and edit it again. Put yourself first so you actually can give to others the gift of yourself. You will be better off emotionally, physically, and your dry skin problems may be lessened.

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