Tag: Coping with stress

Five Reasons Why It’s Worthwhile to Smile

smilesNineteenth century novelist George Eliot once said, “Wear a smile and have friends; wear a scowl and have wrinkles.”

Yet smiling is more than just a way to convince your mother that you really did enjoy that meatloaf surprise. Even the smallest upward lip curve—whether or not it’s sincerely delivered—has far-reaching emotional and physical benefits.

Here are five advantages of turning that frown upside down:

1. Studies have shown that smiling lowers blood pressure. If you need some instant Zen, then all you have to do is smile. Chanting is optional (especially if you’re standing in line at the grocery store). Continue reading Five Reasons Why It’s Worthwhile to Smile

A Stress Free Smile, the Gift to Give

It seems like there’s always something to be stressed about, whether it’s related to school, work, relationships, smiling womanfinances, or *gulp*, the holiday season. Between cooking, traveling, shopping, and hosting friends and family in our homes, we get no time to just sit down and relax. What is supposed to be “the most wonderful time of the year” can quickly become the most stressful time of the year.

So does that mean we should just give in and spend our holidays overwhelmed by stress and anxiety? No! This is the time of year to celebrate life, to leave our worries behind, and to enjoy the people we love—and ourselves.

Say Goodbye to Stress with a Smile

Not only is it easier to smile than frown, but smiling actually makes us feel happier. According to scientific studies, when we smile, we stimulate muscles in our face. These muscles then stimulate a specific area of the brain that causes us to feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Continue reading A Stress Free Smile, the Gift to Give

Save Your Teeth by Coping with Stress

stressDo you ever feel like circumstances are spinning out of your control? You’re not the only one. If there’s one thing we all have in common fairly often, it’s that stressful situations can occupy our minds and sap our energy. Not only that, stress can actually compromise your health. If you are stressed, it’s more likely that you’ll grind your teeth during sleep. While this bit of information has been around for a while, a recent study shed light on new piece of the teeth-grinding puzzle.

The article published in journal Head and Face Medicine shows that some ways of coping with stress can be healthier for your teeth and jaw than others. Those people who deal with stress by attempting to ignore their problems or internalize them are at higher risk for teeth grinding, also called bruxism. The study found that heavy grinders often used what were termed “negative” coping methods, like ignoring the causes of stress instead of working through problems directly. Continue reading Save Your Teeth by Coping with Stress