Holding Hand of Your Spouse May Reduce Your Stress!
In today’s fast-paced world, many people are seeking a way to get away from it all and relax. Let’s face it–the stress and strain of your “to do” list can really take its toll on family life. People who deal with stress have “lifelines” to others who can help. Support is very important. People with support have fewer stress-related health problems. Especially the kind of support you get from your spouse since you share a special bonding with your spouse. Bonding in terms of emotional & physical expected to a greater extent; appears as a basis of healing in times of stress.
Stress is familiar to everyone. You may associate it with an ache in your stomach, sweaty palms, a pounding heart or a dry mouth. What causes these stress reactions? It depends. It could be a traffic jam that makes you late for work, a misunderstanding with a close friend or spouse, a death in the family, or fear of failure at work. But all these events are not necessarily stressful. They are potential stressors - situations, thoughts or feelings that can trigger the stress response. This stress response is your body’s physical reaction to events that you interpret as threatening or challenging.
Holding a hand of your spouse in those most distressing moments may help to overcome anxiety and depression. There surely is some truth in it. Even so there is more that can be done to cure anxiety and depression. Anxiety and depression is deeply engrained in our mind - and about “25 per cent of us will experience the effects of anxiety disorders at some point in our lives, with sometimes dire repercussions for friends, family and our own well-being”.
Communicating with you spouse
When you are under stress, having someone to talk to about your feelings is very important. Having just one person ‘ your spouse’ to confide in and ask for help makes a difference. It reduces your stress and improves your health. It also gives you a feeling of being accepted and respected.
The Power of Touch
All individuals, regardless of age or abilities, have the need for touch and love and the desire for companionship. Touch is a human need and personalizes care giving. People respond to touch depending upon their upbringing and self-image. A touch can convey compassion, not just sexual interest. It can convey reassurance (as a gentle stroking of the forearm), safety (as an arm around the shoulder) or relaxation (as a shoulder massage) among other feelings.
So often we rely on the “miracles of modern medicine” and technological solutions to the stresses of aging and physical illness (and even spiritual/emotional losses). Most religions have traditions of the healing and curative powers of touch. These traditions can be interpreted as myth or fact. Yet even modern science recognizes the importance of human interaction and physical contact. Touching or massage can promote physiological responses such as decreased nervous tension, decreased muscle contractions, increased circulation, and decreased heart rate and blood pressure.
Remember, a balanced approach to health will help you look better, feel better and enjoy improved function in your everyday life. It is essential to maintain your balance and minimize your stress level. Developing strategies and taking positive actions in all areas of health give you the balance that helps enhance and maintain health and wellness.