Life in Full Color

Back in college, one of the topics in my classes (I'm a psychology major, by the way) that really got me interested was the Elisabeth Kübler-Ross model (of coping with dying). This is what most people would know as The 5 Stages of Grief.

The model was based on the interviews she conducted with her dying patients – those with terminal illnesses – and she came up with five stages to describe the emotional and psychological responses that most individuals go through when coping with it.

However, I have realized that the 5 stages of grief isn't only for people who are dying of terminal illness. It's also applicable for people who have "died" emotionally – those who have faced losing something or someone so dear to them, those going through a divorce, drug addiction, diagnosed with infertility, and so on.

The Five Stages of Grief, a.k.a. D-A-B-D-A is a very good tool in overcoming grief – and if you know how the process goes, you are more likely to overcome it sooner, avoiding a "relapse" to earlier stages –which obviously would make you go through the whole thing all over again.

D – Denial
photo courtesy of: http://www.kevscartoons.com/

I have never been much of reader, but nevertheless I still read some books – as long as what I'm reading is interesting, for me (at the very least).

And then I stumbled upon this one book, by accident.

photo courtesy of: http://themindperspective.files.wordpress.com/

1. 
   
   Eat.
   
   photo courtesy of: http://www.senioru.appstate.edu/Images/Etiquette2008/Dining/eating.jpg
   I said eat, not binge.
   Your brain and your moods are connected – they're linked. So dieting won't help much here. However, don't binge because binging will cause you to gain that excess weight and that will be a new addition to your collection of stressful moments.
   Eating foods that you want lightens up your mood and makes you feel happier and more relaxed.
   For instance, have about 1 square of chocolate daily – this will keep your moods up, but your weight low. Remember, the more you work, the more frequent you should eat (in small amounts).
   If your work is all about physical labor, that's tiring – but jobs that require the use of mental efforts – that's more exhausting.
   So eat up and stay happy.
   
   
2. 
   
   Take a break, go on a vacation.
   
   photo courtesy of: http://www.marshapappas.com/my_images/
   
   Okay, I said, go on a vacation. Don't go on leave from work and stay at home.
   You need a fresh, new environment – a breaker from your usual sights and surroundings.
   Go somewhere – go to the beach, go on a road trip to another city, go to the mountains, etc… A quick getaway can be as short as a 2-night-3-day trip, or if you can, go longer.
   Just make sure you leave the office behind. Don't go on vacation if your mind is not with you on vacation.
   
   
3. 
   
   Laughter is the best medicine.
   
   photo courtesy of: http://www.cirkla.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/
   One of the best stress relievers: laughter.
   Hang out with some friends and catch up – there are sure to be a lot of fun moments to talk and laugh about. Or go and see a funny movie – you'll feel tons better after the movie.
   Laugh – it cures.
   
   
4. 
   
   Indulge in foods that fight stress.
   
   photo courtesy of: http://www.debbieseymour.com/
   photo courtesy of: http://www.healthjockey.com/images/salmon-omega3.jpg
   Luckily, nature created its own stress antidote: bananas, leafy greens, oily fish, nutrient-dense nuts, mangoes, and avocado.
   Bananas is packed with vitamin B which keeps your blood pressure and stress hormones at bay during stressful situations.
   Leafy greens have relaxing and calming effects on the body.
   Nuts have high content of zinc, magnesium, and vitamins B and E.
   Mangoes are packed with several vitamins and sucrose – healthy sugars to keep your mood up.
   Avocado lowers blood pressure (just like bananas' potassium content) and it has healthy fat.
   Oily fish, which means it is packed with Omega 3 fatty acids boost your brain's happy chemicals (serotonin) and regulates stress hormones (cortisol).
   
   
5. 
   
   Move it, shake it off.
   
   photo courtesy of: http://www.playlaughsingdance.com/images/
   If you're stressed, go for a run, hit the gym, get on that bike, dance in your bedroom like no one's watching, etc…
   When you move – a lot, your body releases endorphins (happy hormones) to combat the "tiring" feeling that activity brings.
6. 
   
   Let it out.
   
   photo courtesy of: http://images2.fanpop.com/images/photos/
   This one is a quick fix that may need some of the five suggestions above as follow up action.
   If you had a bad day, or you have some things bothering you, let it out.
   Vent it out by talking to friends about it, family members too. If you are not the "sharing" type, you can unload it all in a journal or diary – it transfers thoughts from your mind to paper and your mind has less load to carry and can function better – clearly.

• Eustress (Euphoric stress a.k.a. natural highs) 

Imagine this, you're planning and organizing your upcoming wedding – sure it's stressful because it's not relaxing and lazing around the beach – but it's fun!

• Distress (Disturbing stress a.k.a. hellhole moment)

Imagine this, you're planning your upcoming wedding and you're not really into it because you're unsure of your decision and you just feel pressured to do so because you're a couple of months pregnant --- nightmare! Isn't it?

But if the wedding is something you don't want or just half-heartedly want, then the slightest problem that may crop up will be magnified into a crushing size.   Because the situation is not at all convenient for you. 

In my 26 years of existence, I have finally come up with my own definition of "friends" :

Friends /frends/ n. A group of people that highly resembles a box of chocolates; all sweet but each with their own personal signature.

Friends are blessings... they make life so much brighter ;)

I sure am glad to have friends like mine!