American psychiatrist and family physician Lawson Wulsin said The Daily Mail says physical contact, playing with pets, eating socially, yoga and meditation help reduce dangerous levels of chronic stress.
The doctor said that high levels of stress are one of the reasons for the development of diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Stress also has a devastating effect on mental health.
To protect yourself from stress, Vulsin recommends adopting healthy habits that help increase the levels of the oxytocin hormone in the body. It sharpens one’s attention to social cues, suppresses nervous and muscular tension, and also has a calming effect, helping people connect with others.
According to the doctor, physical contact with other people or pets increases oxytocin production. This hormone is also synthesized when a person spends time in a group, for example, having dinner with friends or family. Another way to stimulate the production of this hormone is to exercise. They can be high density or low density.
Meditation can also help you relax. However, such practices can cause increased anxiety in some people, so the psychiatrist recommends considering more active, calming activities such as yoga.
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