Inadequate rest impacts our physical and mental health.
Centration, memory, mood and emotional regulation, regulation of hormones and stabilising emotions and moods are severely impaired without the right amount of rest; not to mention the fatigue, exhaustion and burnout which then has an impact on our work, relationships, our ability to retain information and simply to exist.
When we’re fatigued, our bodies produce more cortisol (the stress hormone), affecting heart health and triggering inflammation. Is it any wonder IBS related illness are on the rise? Increased cortisol affects our health as women.
The female sex hormones are also impacted. Progesterone is responsible for regulating our periods, for building the endometrium lining of the womb, when cortisol is high, progesterone is low, therefore impacting fertility.
Without rest, our bodies ability to regulate our hormones weakens and puts us more at risk of issue with periods and fertility, injury and makes recovery times longer for illness and injuries. Our immune systems are weaker without rest, so we’re more likely to pick up infections and sickness.
Not only that, we think that sleep covers all angles when it comes to rest. In reality, rest is multi-faceted. It’s reported that even those who get 8 hours sleep per night, still struggle with ongoing and chronic fatigue. This is telling us that we need to explore more layers of rest. Sleep isn’t enough.
It’s difficult for women to grasp the concept of resting. It feels like there’s no time or the classic excuse “it’ll be quicker if I just do it myself”, which when translated means “I am a control freak”!
As women, we need to understand that resting is more than just sleeping. Lack of rest = stress. Fatigue = stress on the body. Resting should be tailored to your needs and lifestyle; physical, emotional, sensory, connection and spiritual practices.
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Stress and Women's Health | Wild Flow Co 2024
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