Financial stress and marriage
A  healthy marriage is good for a couple’s mental and physical health. In Western cultures like the US, more than 90 percent of people marry by age 50 however about 40 percent to 50 percent of married couples in the US end up in divorce. And one of the leading causes of divorce is financial stress. Actually some even claim that financial stress is the number one cause of divorce and divorce is also the number one reason for people filing bankruptcy. How exactly does financial stress affect a marriage?

Effect of Financial Stress in a Couple’s Sex Life and Love Life

All marriages are burdened with some sort of financial stress. Financial stress in a marriage can actually result in another type of stress known as chronic stress. Chronic stress happens when a married couple suffers from insufficient funds to cover debt over a long period of time and when married partners suffer from chronic stress for quite a long time this can diminish their sexual desire.
A lack of sexual desire between a married couple leads to a lack of intimacy in marriage which only increases their even more.
When a woman suffers from chronic stress, it can actually prevent her from achieving orgasm while chronic stress in men can cause temporary impotence.

Financial Stress and Fights

Married partners who are under a lot of financial stress can cause them to react angrily towards each other, using hurtful words and loud voices with the slightest provocation. And at times, people who are struggling with financial stress tend to drink alcohol more often, abuse drugs and/or smoke more. This unhealthy action only decreases a married couple’s available funds to pay incoming bills causing more financial stress. All of these stress coping behaviors tend to result in increased arguments between the married couple. They may blame each other for the financial problems, causing ongoing arguments and these conflicts provoke a chain reaction that results in a decrease in socializing together with friends and family. In short, financial stress can lead to two other type of stress called emotional stress and social stress.

Financial Stress and its Link to Health Problems

According to various stress studies, ongoing chronic stress in a marriage can increases each partner’s risk of serious health problems. Various stress studies confirm that stress and depression have a relation to each other as well as stress and heart disease and stress and obesity. The effects of chronic stress tend to sneak up on individuals and can cause a decrease in productivity at work, crying spells, increased fatigue, anxiety, and withdrawal from each other and friends. Severely high cortisol levels caused by chronic stress, according to the American Institute of Stress, can also result in higher incidence of miscarriage.
The health problems from chronic financial stress can be long-lasting, especially if exacerbated by unhealthy stress coping techniques like alcohol, drugs or nicotine. All of these health problems and financial worries usually result in couples spending less time together. This fact makes financial stress a leading cause of marital conflict and divorce.

Effect of Financial Stress to Fertility

Financial stress affects fertility because stress hormones affect the hypothalamus gland which produces reproductive hormones. When either partner suffers from infertility, it also increases stress in marriage as they feel the pressure and frustration of not having a baby even when they desire to have one. And when there’s a huge desire to have a child, they can increase their expenses as they seek medical treatment which results in more financial stress.

Stress is very wide spread today due to our busy lifestyle and poor eating habits and although it’s normal to feel stress or anxious from time to time, if you feel anxious without a reason and if these worries persist and affect your day to day life, you may have generalized anxiety disorder. Symptoms may include restlessness, feeling tense or on edge, irritability, impatience, or poor concentration. People may also notice changes in their physical health such as headaches, jaw pain, muscle tension, difficulty falling or staying asleep, dry mouth, fatigue, chest tightness, indigestion, bloating, excessive sweating and headache.

This article is courtesy of our friends at www.iFoundTheCure.com. Please visit them for many natural ways to solve health issues!

Natural Remedies for Anxiety

Listed below are some of the natural remedies that are being explored for anxiety:

Natural Remedy #1: Passionflower Herbal Remedy
One of the natural cures for anxiety is passionflower, considered to be an herbal remedy, otherwise known as naturopathy. Two studies involving 198 people examined the effectiveness of passionflower as an herbal remedy, a natural cure for anxiety. One study found this herbal remedy to be comparable to benzodiazepine drug health supplement. There was also improvement in job performance with using passionflower as a natural cure for anxiety and there was also less drowsiness with passionflower as a natural remedy compared with the drug supplement mexazolam, however, neither was statistically significant.

Natural Remedy #2: Body Work
Bodywork such as massage therapy, shiatsu, and other forms of bodywork are widely used as a natural remedy to diminish muscle tension, relieve stress, and improve sleep.

Natural Remedy #3: Mind/Body Techniques
Mind/body breathing exercises, physical exercise, yoga, tai chi, self-hypnosis, meditation, and biofeedback are just some of the natural remedies used for anxiety.

Natural Remedy #4: Valerian Herbal Remedy

Another naturopathic home remedy considered as a natural cure for anxiety is the herb valerian which is best known as an herbal remedy for insomnia. This herbal remedy is usually taken an hour before bedtime. It takes about two to three weeks to work and shouldn’t be used for more than three months at a time. Side effects of this herbal remedy may include mild indigestion, headache, palpitations, and dizziness. And although valerian tea and liquid extracts are available in health food stores, most people don’t like the smell of valerian and prefer taking the capsule form of this herbal remedy.

Natural Remedy #5: Kava Herbal Remedy
Native to Polynesia, this herbal remedy has been found to have anti-anxiety effects in humans.The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), however, has issued an advisory to consumers about the potential risk of severe liver injury resulting from the use of dietary health supplements containing kava.

Natural Remedy #6: Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Health Supplements
GABA is an amino acid that is known to play a role in the physiology of anxiety. Some prescription drug supplements for anxiety work by affecting GABA receptors in the brain. The degree to which orally ingested GABA health supplements can reach the brain, however, is unknown.

Natural Remedy #7: Aromatherapy
Plant essential oils can be added to baths, massage oil, or infusers. Essential oils that are used as natural cures for anxiety and nervous tension are: bergamot, cypress, geranium, jasmine, lavender, melissa, neroli, rose, sandalwood, ylang-ylang. Lavender is the most common and forms the base of many relaxing blends.

Natural Remedy #8: Winter Cherry and Siberian Ginseng Herbal Remedies
Adrenal glands are very important in understanding anxiety since it is almost always a sign of adrenal fatigue or overload. Winter Cherry and Siberian Ginseng are two excellent herbal remedies that will support your adrenal glands and give you immediate relief. Winter cherry as an herbal remedy has been shown to have a sedating effect on the body and helps to rebuild the digestive and nervous system while siberian ginseng as an herbal remedy has been used traditionally to stimulate and nourish the adrenal glands and increase mental alertness.

Natural Remedy #9: Health Supplements to Support the Adrenal Glands
The following health supplements are also recommended as natural cures for anxiety by supporting the adrenal glands.
•     Vitamin C (2,000-4,000 mg/day)
•    Vitamin E w/mixed tocopherols (800 IU/day)
•    Vitamin B100 complex
•    Pantothenic acid (1200-1500 mg/day)
•    Magnesium citrate (800-1200 mg)
•    Liquid trace minerals
•    Adrenal Glandular

Recommended Supplements to Take

The following supplements are know to aid in the fight against Anxiety. Keep in mind that not every nutrient or supplement you swallow is absorbed by your body! Please read carefully the tab on the top of this page called HEALTH RESOURCES! It will explain to you why it is important to take the right supplements and nutrients. Our recommendations below we feel will give you the best possible nutrients and supplements on the market!

Essential Nutrients and Herbs to Take:

	Nature’s Way – Valerian Root, 530 mg, 180 capsules
	Source Naturals Gaba Calm, Orange, Tablets, 120 tablets
	Nature Made Vitamin C, 1000 mg, Premium Tablets, Value Size, 300 premium tablets
	Vitalabs Vitamin B-100 Complex, Sustained Release Tablets, 250 Tablets
	Pantothenic Acid 500 mg 250 Caps
	Solgar – Magnesium Citrate, 400 mg, 120 tablets (Multi Pack)
	Vitamin Shoppe – Trace Mineral Liquid, 8 fl oz liquid
	Natural Sources – Raw Adrenal, 60 capsules

Please check with your doctor before taking any supplements, and also read the warning labels on each product, especially if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. In addition, read the labels carefully when giving your child any natural supplement, to ensure that it is safe to give a child.

Stress can come from a variety of different sources. It is pretty much impossible to get through life without experiencing it at some point. Ultimately, life without stress would be extremely boring. Stress is a by-product of change, and change, even when difficult, is what makes life exciting and challenging.

Of course, some changes can create too much stress. If such stress isn’t dealt with in a positive way, it can lead to serious physical and emotional problems.

To not let stressful situations get out of hand, it is important that you, your parents, and other adults in your life learn how to recognize the symptoms of stress and acknowledge that the stress you are experiencing constitutes a real problem. Many elements in your life can be the cause of your stress: your family; your friends; a relationship; school; a job; living in a violent environment; crises such as death, illness, divorce and pregnancy; and disasters such as fires or hurricanes.
What is essential is to find a way of dealing with your stress in a constructive manner that corresponds to your personality and your needs. A variety of techniques exist that can help you.

Using your mind, you can try to focus on the positive side of the changes you are going through. You can learn to rationalize your problems and, drawing from past experiences, you can learn to keep them in perspective. You can also put your body to work. Eating well, exercising, and learning relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and yoga can ease stress and make you feel better both physically and mentally.
It is essential not to withdraww from people around you. A big mistake is keeping your problems to yourself. Find a person or several people that you trust, respect, and feel comfortable talking to. Let them know how you feel and what you’re going through, and don’t be afraid to ask for their help. If you can’t speak to family or friends, know that there are plenty of other people—relatives, counselors, therapists, a family doctor, clergy members, hot lines, as well as support groups—all of whom can help you cope with your stress.

Even though they might make you feel better initially, drugs, tobacco, and alcohol are not useful options for combating stress. These substances might mask your problems, but they won’t solve them. Often they only create new, more serious ones that will establish negative patterns of dealing with stressful situations in the future.
You can use past experience as a guideline for coping as well. What has worked in the past and what has not? Accept that you can’t solve every problem. Take into account your own physical and emotional limitations and have reasonable expectations.

An assignment or deadline can cause stress for one person and be a challenge and motivating factor for another. Some people view stressors as challenges rather than obstacles. These people probably have a positive attitude, and they are able to work out satisfactory alternatives to problems. They probably feel as though they are in control of events. Some people can find good even in a situation they don’t like, such as a job.

If you have ever had a bad day, when everything seems to go wrong, you may notice that some of the things causing you stress on that day did not bother you in the past. How you view a stressor has an effect on your ability to cope. You can’t always change a stressor or get rid of it, but you can change your perception of the stressor and your reaction to it.

No one can be completely free of stress, so it is important to learn how to cope with it.

1)Coping with stress can reduce or eliminate the physical and emotional symptoms associated with stress. Stress is more than just an emotional annoyance; if you do not reduce or eliminate your stressor, you may encounter serious physical problems. If a stressor is removed or reduced, your body can resist further damage and begin to repair whatever damage has already occurred. Otherwise your body may develop physical problems. If you have physical problems that are caused by stress, you may spend a lot of time and money trying to treat the symptoms of these problems.

2)Coping with the stress directly may eliminate many symptoms. Besides physical problems, not coping with stress can also cause a decline in school or job performance and an increase in personal conflicts.

3)Coping with stress can prevent the development of more serious symptoms of stress. If you are under constant stress, your body’s natural defenses are weakened and you can become sick. If left unmanaged, stress can eventually lead to mental illness or complete physical exhaustion.

4)Coping with stress can build your self-esteem. When you are under stress, you often feel a loss of control, and your self-esteem decreases. By coping with stress, you can gain some control over your response to stress even if you can’t completely control the cause of stress. In taking action, you gain confidence and boost your self-esteem by demonstrating to yourself that you are not helpless.

5)Coping with stress is an important tool for living successfully. As a teenager, you confront stressful situations just as adults do. Now is the time to learn how to cope with stress and to learn skills that you will use as an adult.