One of the things I have discovered through helping people manage stress, is that it really helps if you know what causes stress and what is going on in your body when you get stressed. This helps in three ways:
- By knowing how stress is caused, we can change the trigger points and reverse the whole chain reaction;
- Understanding the physiological response allows you to help your body rebalance after a stressful situation; and
- By being aware of your stress patterns, you can monitor your stress levels and take action to minimise the impact stress has on your health and well-being.
Stress starts in the mind with a thought. When we are stressed, it is because we have chosen to interpret a particular event (whether that be a situation or a person) as a threat. This assessment of the current situation generates a negative emotional response, which in turn causes changes in the body. This very natural reaction prepares us to deal with that threat.
It's a bit like building a wall of pictures. The subconscious mind will present each memory like a brick in the wall. As the wall is built from various memories (some positive and some negative), we respond to the overall impression of that wall. If the emotional response is negative, the body goes on alert. Non-critical physiological responses, such as digestion, are shut down. Critical responses, such as pumping oxygenated blood to the arms and legs in preparation for fight or flight, are ramped up. Chemicals, such as adrenaline and nor-adrenaline, are produced to fuel us for the required response.
In times past, when we were hunters and gatherers, it was this exact response that kept us alive. If we were trekking through the jungle and came across a tiger, we needed to decide immediately if this situation was a threat. Once we had decided that this was indeed a threat, the body would go on "red alert" and we would fight the tiger or run away. And herein lies the modern dilemma. We are still coming across those "tigers" in everyday life. The difference is now we can't choose to fight or flee.
Imagine you are in a high-powered board meeting fighting for the survival of your project. You can't respond by punching somebody or doing five laps around the Boardroom. However, your mind and body are still using that process that in times past, kept you alive. Rather than responding to these perceived threats, modern day living requires us to bury our “killer instinct” so that it can be unleashed at an appropriate time and in an appropriate manner.
In effect, we carry the unreleased hunter or runner around with us. The body adapts to this added weight by holding on. We notice this holding on as tension or tightness in the neck or back, for example. Over time, this tension builds up and we find ourselves experiencing symptoms associated with stress. We need to find an outlet for releasing this pressure that has built up in the body. Fight or flight was the release valve. It’s time to build in a modern-day equivalent.
What could you do right now, or over the course of this next week, to help your body release tension? Here are a few ideas:
- Enjoy a complementary therapy session such as massage, shiatsu or acupuncture;
- Take part in a fun class at the gym;
- Find something to laugh about (no tiny laughs though, we need those big belly-aching guffaws)
- Learn tai chi, chi kung or yoga;
- Make a decision to change how we perceive things (this stops the whole chain reaction);
- Spend some time with your pet (pat the cat or take the dog out for a walk);
- Gentle exercise such as swimming is great, or if you enjoy it, go for a run.
No matter how busy you are this week, it’s really important to choose something, just one thing, and stick to it. It will make a world of difference. Not only will you be helping your body let off some steam, you will also be affirming that you value yourself enough to take care of your body.
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