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Stress is sneaky. It worms its way into our lives, often unnoticed, silently wreaking havoc on our health. As adaptable humans, we find ourselves growing accustomed to situations that are anything but normal. It's our survival instinct at play; we cope with challenging life events, toxic environments, or even physically taxing conditions, barely realizing how these 'new normals' are draining us.

In this article, we spotlight five tell-tale signs of chronic stress and offer practical remedies. Keep an eye out for the handy recap of herbs and teas at the end to help you combat stress naturally. Let's get started!

 

1. Your Mind Won't Shut Off

A mind that can't seem to hit the brakes is a clear signal that your nervous system is struggling to wind down. If you find your thoughts sprinting a marathon every night, journaling could be your new best friend. It's like decluttering your mind, freeing it from the whirlwind of thoughts that keep you tossing and turning. Write without restraint, put everything on paper – the good, the bad, the trivial – and let your mind breathe.

For those with thoughts that feel like an unstoppable carousel, passionflower might just be the pit-stop you need. Renowned among overthinkers, this botanical gem is known to soothe anxious nerves and promote tranquility. Unwind with passionflower-infused Loose Leaf tea blends like Daily Calm and Nitey Nite, and make peace with your racing mind.

 

 

2. You Have Chronic Insomnia

Perpetual sleeplessness is a glaring red flag that your nervous system is on high alert and needs to chill out.  If you are dealing with chronic insomnia, you need to get off the sedate-and-caffeinate hamster wheel.  The allure of a potent sleep aid might be strong, and caffeine might seem like a tempting morning ally, but this cycle only perpetuates sleeplessness rather than resolving it. Instead, try this: 

1. Kick-start your mornings with a tea, not coffee. Here are my favorite morning blends: Coffee Quitter, Bulletproof Breakfast, and Tigger & Pu. If you want completely caffeine-free blends, try Smooth Jazz and An Elephant Never Forgets.
2. Stop the caffeine by noon.
3. Turn to calming, herbal teas during the day – like Lush Lavender, or Daily Calm.
4. At night, drink a tea with valerian and california poppy. Our favorite one is Nitey Nite.

Read also: 10 Uncommon Tips To Help You Get The Sleep You Need 

  

3. Your Digestion Is Out Of Whack

Stress doesn't just rattle your nerves; it can also disrupt your digestive system. Symptoms such as bloating, gas, cramping, loss of appetite, diarrhea, constipation, and acid reflux can indicate a stressed gut. Given the constant communication between the brain and gut—boasting more neurons than even the spine—it's no surprise your digestive system might bear the brunt of nervous system stress.

Interestingly, several herbal teas known for their calming effects also support digestive health. Members of the mint family, like spearmint, peppermint, lemon balm, and lavender, are renowned for soothing both body and stomach. Similarly, chamomile, though not a mint, offers dual benefits for the nervous system and digestion. 

Our favorite blends for digestion:

• Bye Bye Bloat (for bloating and gas)
• Stomach Soother (for inflammation, nausea, and cramping)
• Gut Balance (for more regular digestion, reduced bloating and inflammation, and better mental focus)

 

 

4. Your Body Is Storing Excess Belly Fat

Most of our stresses are modern, but our physiology is ancient. Our bodies respond to stress the way the bodies of our ancestors did: by perceiving stress as famine, and consequently storing fat as a means to survive. No matter how many crunches you do, those extra rolls aren’t going away as long as your stress levels remain high. And here’s the kicker: if you keep working out even more intensely, pushing yourself harder and harder, that only adds to the stress load, making it even more challenging to lose those pounds.

The sanest approach to that vicious circle is to address the stress naturally:

• Practice relaxing breathing techniques
• Journal your repetitive thoughts
• Avoid junk food and sugar
• Drink stress-relieving teas
• Work out moderately in a way that feels like self-care rather than punishment for gaining weight

Read also: Kita's Tips To Relieve Stress Instantly

 

5. You Are Always Getting Sick.

When cortisol levels, a.k.a. your stress hormone levels, remain high it can impair the ability of the immune system to fight off infections and other harmful substances. This can make you more susceptible to colds, flu, and other illnesses. In addition, chronic stress can cause inflammation in the body, which can also weaken the immune system and make it more difficult for the body to fight off infections. If you're always getting sick, in addition to calming teas, make sure to prioritize an immunity tea, like Elderberry Tonic.

 

The Best Herbs & Teas For Chronic Stress

 Looking for teas that help calm the nerves? Here are a few of our favorites:

• Daily Calm is soothing and mild, with a pleasing flavor. The more you drink it, the better it works.
• Anxiety Relief is helpful when feelings of stress start to become unmanageable, and you begin to experience feelings of anxiety such as racing heart, digestive distress, tense muscles, and sweaty palms.
• Lush Lavender eases the body and mind, and the deep blue color of the tea has an additional calming effect on the mood and emotions.
• Ginseng Green Dragon is low in caffeine, and contains antioxidant-rich green tea and two herbs (ginseng and jiaogulan) that protect your body from the negative effects from stress.
• Inflammation Relief is a soothing herbal blend that fights both inflammation and stress. It also has a soothing effect on the stomach.
• Hug In A Mug is great for the combo of anxiousness, upset tummy, and low immunity.
• Nitey Nite is a caffeine-free blend of organic herbs that promotes restful sleep without waking up feeling groggy. Sweet dreams, friend. 

 

Thank you so much for reading! If you found this blog to be helpful, share it with someone else who will benefit from it. By doing so, you just might make a huge difference in their life.