Toxic Relationships are Ruining Your Skin

 

HOW TO TELL IF YOUR RELATIONSHIP IS TOXIC

 

So, what exactly is a toxic relationship and how do you spot one? Toxic relationships have a few common identifiers but they're basically anything that is toxic or harmful to your overall well-being. They can take many forms, being a family member, close friend, co-worker, or even a significant other. Most likely if you are in a toxic relationship you will feel:

 

• Drained after spending time with that person
• Wrapped up in their problems rather than focused on your own
• Worse than before you spent time with that person (anxious, upset, jealous)
• Constantly let down by that person's actions (unappreciated)
• Like you are constantly walking on eggshells
• That everything is controlled by one person (where to eat, watch, what to do, even money)
• Like you fight regularly, and your fights never get fully resolved
• Constantly teased or nagged
• Chronically stressed! (I cannot stress this enough -- see what I did there)

 

Obviously, none of these things seem enjoyable, and you would think that it would be easy to spot or leave a relationship like the one defined above. However, sometimes certain identifiers fly under the radar for a long period of time or leaving the situation isn't  so simple. Most of the time, toxicity doesn't go from 0 to 100 overnight, and that's why it can be extremely hard to fully identify or understand where or why toxic relationships begin.

 

 INFLAMMATION, ADRENAL FATIGUE AND ACNE

 

Toxic relationships that create unnecessary stress, can have a serious impairment on both your inflammation levels and your adrenal glands. Two key functions to your overall health, and most noticeably your  skin. Acne is, after all, an inflammatory skin disease. These high levels of chronic inflammation can set you up for adult acne (among other illnesses). This constant up and down relationship can trigger a long-term fight or flight response, resulting in higher cortisol levels and adrenal fatigue. If you're experiencing adrenal fatigue, you may have:

 

• Acne
• Hormonal Imbalance
• Lack of energy
• Brain fog
• Dark under eyes
• Tiredness after exercising
• Multiple Food Allergies
• Depression or Anxiety
• Decreased ability to handle stress
• Low Blood Sugar
• Insomnia
• Joint Pain
• Low sex drive
• Weight gain

 

So how does this happen exactly? Think of a stressful time in your life, however that stressful time (or relationship) never ends but instead continues for months to years on end- over and over again. Adrenal fatigue can be due to either ongoing emotional or physical trauma. This constant state of stress keeps your body in fight or flight mode and leads to inconsistent cortisol levels, sometimes being too high and other times too low.

 

Those suffering with adrenal fatigue may not have enough DHEA, which is basically the parent hormone that creates all other hormones. This can impact how your entire body functions, thus the symptoms listed above. But not to fret, adrenal fatigue is not permanent in any way, shape or form! It's totally reversible when the right steps are taken to heal, starting with removing yourself from toxic relationships and ridding your life of excess stress.

 
3 STEPS TO HEAL FROM A TOXIC RELATIONSHIP AND ADRENAL FATIGUE

 

While healing isn't going to happen overnight, you will find that immediately removing yourself from the toxic situation or relationship will put your mind and body at ease. While it's best not to stay in any detrimental relationship, there are those which we may not be able to avoid, like a family member or a co-worker for example. If you can't immediately remove yourself from the situation, three majorly important things you can do to heal yourself from adrenal fatigue are cleaning up your diet, taking adrenal supporting herbs, and reducing the overall amount of stress in your life!

 

BEGIN AN ADRENAL SUPPORTING DIET

 

Start by nixing all the "bad stuff". Cigarettes, booze, caffeine, excess sugar and sweeteners, and overly processed foods. It may also be a good idea to cut dairy or gluten temporarily from your diet, as these foods can lead to higher levels of inflammation throughout the body. Luckily, you still get to eat all the "good stuff". Avocado (of course), free range meats, fatty fish like salmon, walnuts and almonds, pumpkin, chia, or flax seeds, and fermented foods are all great for supporting healthy adrenal function. Celery juice is rich in micronutrients and can also help to heal the adrenal glands.

 

 SUPPLEMENT WITH HERBS

 

Heard of adaptogens? They basically help your body adapt to stressful events, actively lowering and managing cortisol levels. Some of the best adrenal supporting adaptogens are ashwagandha, rhodiola, reishi, cordyceps, maca, and holy basil. It may seem a bit intimidating with all the different vendors and knowledge (or lack thereof) surrounding adaptogens, but whether you’re an adaptogenic expert or just wanting to try a few out one of my all-time favorite places to buy is from Sun Potion. They're an extremely reliable source with some of the most potent adaptogenic blends I've tried. If you're just starting out and don't know which one to go with try ashwagandha orreishi, they're my favorites for relaxing your whole system and making you feel straight up Zen. 

 

You can also try using essential oils like lavender or rosemary oil to relax and unwind. Both have been proven to effectively reduce cortisol levels and oxidative stress when inhaled. Vitamin C, D, magnesium, licorice root, and B-Complex vitamins are all beneficial supplements worth mentioning due to their healing relationship with the adrenal gland.

 

REDUCE EVERYDAY STRESS

 

Well, duh. But some of us just live straight up stressful lives so if reducing the number of activities or involvements your committed too just isn't possible, you'll need to learn how to better manage and cope with the stress thrown your way.

 

Stress is the culprit for causing interrupted sleep and bad skin health. To treat both, you can include various sleep rituals into your routine. The time before sleep when you disconnect and unplug with the outside world can be used to connect with yourself.

These rituals or activities are reading a book, listening to calming music, meditating, flossing and taking a warm shower, drinking a cup of chamomile tea and others.

 

TAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF

 

Do something relaxing, read a book, take a bubble bath, put on a face mask, bake a cake. Whatever "me" time means for you. Do something for you, that you enjoy and forget about the rest of the world for a minute. All of your responsibilities will still be there when you get back. Try to do something fun or something that makes you feel good every single day!

 

GET ENOUGH SLEEP

 

This is so important, as acne and sleep have a deep relationship. When the body is deprived of sleep mainly because or stress, hormonal imbalances happen which can lead or worsen skin conditions, the most common one being acne. Inflammation is the body that first shows up on our skin in the form of red blotches. If this is not taken care of through sleep, a healthy diet, etc., the inflammation can even damage the collagen and elastin in the skin.

Our body releases Melatonin when the body is at rest. It is a natural antioxidant for our skin. It locates skin damages and tries to cure them before they can harm skin cells. Because of this, people with acne find their condition worsening when they do not get the required hours of uninterrupted sleep.

 

Our body repairs itself during sleep. Unhealthy sleep results in oxidative changes that soon lead to skin disorders. Hydration becomes another crucial factor for better sleep so that the body can repair the skin and keep acne under control. During the night, our body is more susceptible to water loss through the skin pores. The hydration, however, has to be both internal and external. For this, consider investing in night cream and substitute caffeinated drinks and alcohol with water during the hours before bed.

 

Try relaxing before bed by drinking tea, using an essential oil diffuser, and turning off all electronic devices at least two hours before. This should help you fall asleep and stay asleep. Avoid staying up late and try to get around 8 hours of solid sleep every night.

 

EXERCISE

 

Even moderate exercise like walking or yoga can be beneficial to your adrenal system.

Light jogging may be appropriate once further along a healing regimen. Yoga specifically is thought to physically lower inflammation levels and reduce stress responses within the system.

 

MINIMIZE RELATIONSHIP STRESS

 

Whatever  this means to you personally. It may be setting boundaries with a co-worker or breaking up with an emotionally abusive boyfriend. Try your best to minimize things you are aware of being emotional or physical stressors to your daily life. Reduce toxic relationships and surround yourself with loving, supportive people.

 

It can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, to a few years, but healing from a toxic or stressful relationship is possible. Healing adrenal fatigue can happen! Give it time, learn to relax, and enjoy the present moment without thinking about the future, or the past. Learn to live more freely and live in the moment of now.