Workshops and Special Programs

The Gift of Calmness – Healthy Ways to Manage Stress

Anxiety is an unavoidable part of life. It’s an appropriate and reasonable response in many situations. If you’re fairly healthy, it subsides once the stressor goes away or is resolved.

But, if you don’t feel any anxiety when facing potential loss or failure, something could be wrong. You might be depressed. Or you could be disconnected from your feelings. On the other hand, if your anxiety is pretty intense and long-lasting, you could have an Anxiety Disorder. That could lead to phobias that interfere with everyday life. In these cases, you need professional help.

You also need to learn to better manage stress. The human body is designed to handle stress. Positive stress keeps us alert and ready to avoid danger. However, stress becomes negative when we face continuous challenges without relief or relaxation between challenges. This results in being overworked and a build-up of stress-related tension.

Continued stress without relief leads to distress – a negative stress reaction. This can include headaches, an upset stomach, high blood pressure, chest pain, and problems sleeping.

Research suggests that stress can bring on or worsen certain symptoms of disease. It can play a part in diabetes, skin conditions, asthma, and arthritis. It’s estimated that 43% of all adults suffer negative health effects from stress. And 75% to 90% of all doctor’s office visits are for stress-related ailments and complaints.

Besides physical fall-out, stress can cause restlessness, a lack of motivation or focus, irritability, sadness and depression. Some respond by overeating or undereating. Others misuse drugs and alcohol. Still others withdrawal socially and isolate.

But it doesn’t have to be that way! New Leaf Center is presenting a one-day experiential workshop to explore the best ways to reduce anxiety. Workshop participants will learn and practice proven methods to manage stress in the daily pressures and busyness of life.

The day covers:

• An overview of anxiety and how stress affects us
• The ABCs of physical health – exercise, nutrition, sleep hygiene and play
• Using the breath to regulate your body’s response to stress
• Engaging in simple self-soothing exercises to calm your body
• Harnessing the power of presence with mindfulness practices
• Challenging limiting beliefs by re-scripting your self-talk
• Releasing pent-up stress through artwork
• Accessing the healing power of connection through your support system
• Tapping the spiritual resources of meditation, guided imagery and prayer

Don’t miss this opportunity to find out what stress management tools work best for you. Give yourself the gift of inner peace!

WHEN:
Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Dates to be announced.

WHERE:
New Leaf Center

FACILITATOR:
Jackie MacKay, M.A., LMHC, NCC, Licensed Mental Health Counselor

COST:
$195 per person (Light lunch included)

Read what past participants
say about this workshop.