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BRIARCLIFF MANOR, N.Y. The Briarcliff Manor Public Library enlisted a local expert Tuesday night to help get members of the community free from stress.
Stress is one of the most common underlying causes of many health ailments, said Dr. Steven Goodstein, who works as a chiropractor and nutritionist in Briarcliff Manor. And one of the main misconceptions about stress is that there is nothing we can do about it. But there are a lot of things people can do.
In addition to his local practice, Goodstein volunteers as a wellness consultant for the Foundation of Wellness Professionals, a nonprofit organization that provides workshops around the country. Goodstein has give the presentation throughout Westchester County but said it was special to bring it to his neighbors.
In the library presentation, Goodstein said one key is remembering that outside stressors cannot always be controlled, but our reactions to them can change.
There are always going to be stress in our lives, he said. I like to look at it as its not so much what we can do to change the outside world, but what we can do to change ourselves.
Although sleep, digestion, immunity, heart functions and neurological issues can affect stress, Goodstein said its often difficult to pinpoint causes.
Stress can affect many different parts of the body in so many different ways, and it can be released through exercise, sleep, diet and other means, too, he said. But sometimes it becomes a vicious cycle. We spend a third of our lives sleeping so if thats not going well, youre really adding a lot of stress.
Like most problems, stress can be made worse by ignoring the issues, Goodstein said.
The first step is to recognize that you need outside help, he said. The first thing we all try to do is fix it ourselves. Its like fixing something in your car. If something goes wrong, you try to fix it yourself. And if you cant, then you need to take it to a mechanic. Our bodies are the same way. You need to get help if what youre doing isnt working.
The library was pleased to bring Goodsteins program to residents, said Melinda Greenblatt, program director at the Briarcliff Manor Public Library.
We are trying to offer programs that appeal to all segments of the Briarcliff community, and we feel health is a topic of interest to people of all ages, Greenblatt said. We certainly want to highlight the talents of people in the Briarcliff community."
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