Getting stressed is a natural human response. If we are out in the wilds and encounter a tiger we get stressed. Our pulse, blood pressure and blood sugar increase rapidly, pumping high energy blood under high pressure into our muscles. We will be able to run faster than ever.

At the same time to save energy we reduce energy for our immune system, digestion, long term healing, day dreaming, positive thinking and any other functions that are not essential as part of our fight or flight response.

Modern causes of stress

The problem we all have is that we cannot recognise the difference between real immediate danger and other forms of non-physically motivated stress. We may have similar stress responses when encountering a very difficult boss as coming face to face with a wild bear. So according to Mind, common modern stressors include;

• Being under lots of pressure
• Facing big changes
• Worrying about something
• Not having much or any control over the outcome of a situation
• Having responsibilities that you’re finding overwhelming
• Not having enough work, activities or change in your life
• Times of uncertainty

Fortunately these are partially perceptual and our own attitude to life can prevent these becoming harmfully stressful.

Stress and health

The NHS claim that common stress related illnesses include;

• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Digestive issues
• Headaches
• Mild to moderate depression
• Asthma
• Some kinds of cancer

Feng shui and stress

So how does feng shui reduce stress? The idea is that we can create environments where we naturally feel more relaxed. A typical list would include;

• Plants – we respond well to plants and flowers in room.
• Aquariums and water features – recent research suggests that fish are most relaxing for us.
• Images – landscapes and portraits have been found to be more calming images.
• Colours – generally pastel shades of blue and green are most peaceful.
• Where we sit within a room – our relationship to a room will alter the way we feel there. Generally it is better to face into the room with a view of the windows.
• Views – some research have suggested that those with a view to nature recover quicker in hospitals.
• Natural light – exposure to sunlight can alter our moods and a lack of sunlight may increase the risk of mild depression in some people.
• Acoustics – rooms with hard shiny surfaces can create strong echoes that become an irritant, especially as we get older.
• Lighting – strong, direct lighting can effect our mood and research has suggested it may reduce our quality of sleep.

More than that our home can serve as a place that helps us be more organised, encourage greater self-esteem, and reinforce positive behaviour. For example a meditation, yoga or exercise space can encourage us to change our lifestyle.

Using feng shui we can create an audit to find out how well our home is at helping deal with challenges in life whilst remaining calm, solution orientated, constructive and resourceful.