A new terror alert, a higher cost of living, a polluted environment, this morning’s traffic jam, this afternoon’s bout with the boss, and this evenings "discussions" with the spouse. Does this sound like a typical day? Just thinking about it can start the blood boiling. It's apparent that stress has become part of our lives and that we have little control over the majority of the situations that produce stress.
There are many negative effects of stress on the human body. High blood pressure, strokes, migraines, backaches, asthma, constipation, ulcers, menstrual pain and even Cancer are some of the known effects of continued stress. The stress process weakens the immune system which can then act as a domino effect. How many times have you felt "flustered" and lost the ability to reason while in a stressful situation. Let's look at what happens to the body and mind while under stress.
An unpleasant situation occurs; the brain activates the Pituitary gland which releases the ACTH hormone into the bloodstream. This hormone then goes to the Adrenal glands causing them to secrete various steroids into the bloodstream. Blood is diverted from our internal organs to our skeletal muscles causing a raise in blood pressure and an increase of the heart rate, breathing, and oxygen consumption. All of this and more occurs in a split second. It now becomes easier to understand why confusion or "flustering" occurs during a stressful situation.
These hormonal effects are actually a survival method that has been termed "Fight or Flight". Thousands of years ago when Prehistoric man roamed the Earth, stress was a method of survival. Being approached by a hungry Saber Toothed Tiger would have been one of the few stressful situations of the day. Realizing that this beast was sizing him up for a meal, his built in survival method would instantly initiate. Blood would be pulled from his internal organs to his skeletal system and his Adrenalin would "kick in" giving him the ability for a fight or a quick flight, (probably the latter). This effect on the body was immediate and temporary allowing him to escape, sometimes.
In the last 50 -80 years, however, Fight or Flight has turned corporate, so to speak. The Fight or Flight stress response has preserved the Human Race in terms of survival. The problem is that in today’s society, stress is almost a continuous process. A continued stress process means a continued hormonal secretion along with a steady steroid production. As stated previously, this process breaks down the immune system which of course means an increased probability of sickness.
Normally we can't change stressful situations, so how do we control stress in our lives? The first step is to realize that it is not the situation which produces stress, but our reaction to the situation. Change the reaction to a stressful situation and you change the level of stress. Relaxation of the mind is the key to controlling ones reaction and thereby reducing the toll of stress. Relaxing the mind can be achieved in a number of ways. Have you ever noticed that during a stressful situation that it is common to sigh? That is a subconscious mechanism that increases the oxygen flow in the blood to the brain. Take advantage of this consciously. The next time you feel stressed. Take a long, slow, deep breath in through your nose and exhale slowly as you can out of your mouth. The increased flow of blood and oxygen to your brain will allow you to think more dearly.
A regular exercise program increases the body's ability to ward off the effects of stress and is highly recommended by many health professionals. If you can remove yourself from the stressful situation, even for a few moments, and then return, you would have an opportunity to clear your mind and consider the options.
Experiencing nature is a wonderful way to rid stress anytime. Get outside and walk a trail, feel the sunshine and breeze, or watch the sunset. Walk a Labyrinth or do some Tai Chi, Yoga or other breathing exercises. It does not cost anything and it only takes a few minutes before one starts to feel that there are greater energies at work in this universe. What happened earlier in the office then becomes a little less powerful on our system. Find a relaxation technique that interests you and practice it daily.
Realize now that you are not a victim of circumstance but have the ability to control stress in your life. Make the effort to establish a mental relaxation technique and you will see definite positive results in your mental, physical, and emotional performance.
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