Stress is unfortunately a part of life. We all go through it at some point in our lives, but it’s how we deal with it that really matters. Some stress can be beneficial and motivate us to accomplish demanding tasks. Our bodies are designed to chemically and physically react when faced with a situation that we deem confrontational or hazardous. The "fight or flight" response kicks in as a defense mechanism when faced with danger. This goes back to caveman days when a man was approached by a wild animal, he either had to fight the animal or run for his life in order to survive. It is in our biological drive to survive and procreate. The human body is actually genius in the way it prepares for these altercations.
During these times, the brain neurons begin to fire and chemicals like adrenaline and cortisol are released into the bloodstream. These stress hormones cause the body to react dramatically. The pupils dilate and you begin to have tunnel vision. Hearing is diminished. Your heart begins to beat faster and blood pressure starts to increase. Breathing increases and muscles become tense. The mouth goes dry and digestion begins to slow. Energy is used toward muscles needed for the “fight or flight” and those not needed relax, which can cause diarrhea, urination or defecation. The blood vessels are constricting and oxygenated blood is being diverted from the extremities to the major organs. This causes the hands and feet to become cold and clammy. There is trouble focusing, processing information, making rational decisions, and memory loss.
This defense mechanism, that once helped to protect and preserve us from predators, has now become a common occurrence for most Americans. We are faced with the daily stresses of the modern world and the body adapts by being in a constant “fight or flight" response. Continuously being bombarded with stress hormones takes its toll on the body. Prolonged stress suppresses the immune system, which can accelerate the disease process and predispose us to certain illnesses. It also affects the mind. Our focus is directed elsewhere and we are not operating at our full potential. Constant stress is displayed by anger, negativity, sadness, fear and depression. Eventually it will lead the person to burnout.
Some ways of handling stress, are to address your perception of it. Try to perceive things differently. Look at things through a different positive light instead of a negative one. Learn from your mistakes and see stress as a learning tool. Perceive stress as a challenge for self-improvement. We also need to prioritize stress. A friend once told me regarding marriage, you have to pick and choose your battles. Some are just not worth getting upset about. There’s a great book out there "Dont Sweat the Small Stuff" by Richard Karlson that addresses some of these issues. We also need to examine our "locus of control". Who has control over events that happen in our lives? If your locus of control is from an outside source you may start to show learned helplessness. A very basic and important role in managing stress, is to simply breathe slowly and deeply. This tricks the body into calming down and moving into the parasympathetic mode.
Another great website regarding managing stress is http://www.thebodysoulconnection.com/EducationCenter/fight.html. Please take the time to read and breathe yourself into a healthy mind, body, and soul.
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