How to lower stress and increase endorphins

[CitM]

This is from Wiki How, but you'll love these suggestions.

1. Smile. For some reason this works the same as botox and is less expensive. There are facial feedback loops that trigger hormone releases. Frowns trigger stress hormones and smiles trigger endorphin release. So smile and do feel better.

2. Exercise. No, you don't have to run a marathon, but getting out and walking 20 minutes a day may be the key to a better day. If you do it with your favorite music, you get a double release for your 20 minutes.

3. Eat dark chocolate. This you got to love! How often do you hear, take two squares of chocolate and call me in the morning! No wonder kids love Easter! So be a kid and treat yourself too. The Easter Bunny said so.

4. You have heard that variety is the spice of life, right? Well here is something that really is, spicy foods! Hot foods makes you feel better and is just the thing to chase an oncoming cold away or make you feel cooler in the heat, and make you feel better for body aches. Why? You got it! Hot spices actually gives off a chemical that causes burns. Your body fights off pain immediately in those areas up to a certain point and so you get an endorphin release. So bring on the hot peppers and salsa!

5. Beeee SILLYYY. And I mean lamp shade silly. Just get goofy! Believe me, best thing for you!!

6. Use your senses. Not only does it focus you in the here and now, it brings back good memories later or memories of comfort and soothing now. So don't be afraid to indulge in touch, taste, smell sight, and hearing.

7. And finally, socialize. While that is really hard to do, the internet chatrooms and forums designed for people with health issues, do bring a sense of community into your life. Start at least here, and then as you begin to feel better, expand your social life to getting out once a week.

8. Warm Up!! More blood to the brain means more oxygen and better functioning!! So hot baths, hot tubs, warm massages, warm sun, hot water bottles under comfy blankets, etc.

9. Sunlight!! You need it. People get sick without it. Vitamin D and melanin and other chemical processes triggered by sunlight are very important for health and well being. Just don't overdo it. If you can't get outside during daylight hours, invest in a blue sunlight spectrum lamp. It's worth it if you have seasonal affective disorder on top of other issues.

May this be a happy list of things to do that can help you when you feel down or anxious.

[Fernwood]

I really love your post, it's so positive and makes so much sense. Thanks for sharing.