July 30, 2010
Feel Blessed, Not Stressed
Too much stress can overload our nervous systems, too little can leave us flat.
In the distant past, stress was a lifesaver. An increase in the brain's blood flow improved decision-making, such as finding a hiding place outside the gaze of a velociraptor. Blood sugar rose to furnish energy to get there quickly, and more blood was made available to the arms and legs for strength. Clotting occurred faster to prevent blood loss in case … well ...
The Bad News
The problem is many of those adaptations are left over in modern man, and they are deteriorating our quality of life. Surveys reveal that Americans think they are now under more stress than even a decade ago, and the evidence is mounting.
"There are more than 150 clinical studies that demonstrate a clear connection between stress, poor health and disease," reports ReZoom's wellness expert Dr. Mark Houston. "The mind-body connection is very strong, such that good or bad outcomes are associated with stress or lack of stress."
To make matters worse, beginning in the 1960s, there came a demand to self-actualize, tune in, drop out and locate our inner bliss — now. The demand for the perfect life tightened the violin strings, and the music we hoped would soothe us became loud and dissonant. "Be here now" turned into "Be here now, or else."
An increase in levels of stress hormones such as catecholamines and corticosteroids, Houston points out, suppresses the immune system and leaves the body vulnerable to a host of illnesses including infection, cancer and other diseases.
"Corticosteroids also increase the risk of dementia and memory loss by disruption and damage to a part of the brain called the hippocampus," notes Houston.
Making things more complex, he states, is that these increases in stress hormones are proportional to the degree and duration of stress that, if unchecked, will take their toll.
"These and other stress hormones increase the heart rate and constrict arteries in the heart and systemic circulation that will increase the risk of angina, heart attack, hypertension and stroke," Houston says, adding that one's personality and "adaptive responses" have similar relationships to our health.
The Good News
Learning what aspects of our lives we have control over and what aspects of our thinking we can retrain is half the battle. If thinking about finances has us wringing our hands, it stands to reason that learning how to not think about our finances will help us relax.
"The good news is that relaxation, meditation, exercise, good attitudes, laughter and spirituality, close relationships with family and friends, and other stress reducers, will reverse all the hormonal and physiologic dysfunction and improve health," Houston says.
More sage advice on managing stress by making lifestyle changes includes the basics such as eating well, taking personal time, getting enough sleep and learning time-management skills.
More salve for mind & body:
(login / or create an account to comment)