STRESS

What is stress?

The word stress has become very commonly used in this very highly technological society in which we now live. But, in, fact stress is not the cause – stress is a symptom – pressure is the cause.

Stress means the inability to cope with pressure. Stress manifests in very different ways according to personality – metabolism – up-bringing – cultural differences – changes in weather – light – and many kinds of evolving, progressing problems.

Pressure is important in encouraging us to succeed and develop ourselves in ways which exceed our highest aspirations. Yet in today’s modern world, pressure can be coming from so many angles, at so many different times, it is difficult to cope. Therefore, getting to know yourself, getting to know the kind of lifestyle that suits you – the kind of personality you are and what you want out of your life, will enable you to cope with the pressures of modern life.

The Mind

When the mind is overwhelmed by pressure, by too many thoughts, confused, irritable, it is difficult for the body to function harmoniously and to find balance. In order to think clearly, we need to empty the mind.

Endorphins

Excellent tools for managing stress are meditation and visualisation. META, (loving kindness meditation), and other breath work, and Yoga work will help you in coping with the pressures in your body and mind.

When the mind is relaxed, certain neural-chemicals are released that change the rhythms within our bodies. This is not just a hypothetical point. These chemicals exist. Amongst the most well known are Endorphins. These are the pleasure-giving hormones that are secreted when the body is exercised, with a lot of oxygen going through the brain.
They are not only giving pleasure by heightening our awareness, but are also natural pain killers. The excretion of Endorphins helps to balance pressure in the body and alleviate stress.

How stress manifests

Let us take a look at the various ways stress manifests. There are various effects of anxiety attacks:

• palpitations
• weakness in the legs
• shortness of breath
• insomnia
• hair loss
• indigestion
• diarrhoea
• migraines and headaches
• being quick to anger and easily frustrated
• being lethargic
• unable to raise your energy to meet the magnitude of a situation

There are so many kinds of stress related disorders.

Creative Play

Creative play touches on many aspects of human life. There are hobbies, sports of many kinds such as

• swimming
• golf
• aerobics
• gymnastics
• playing music etc.

There are many ways in which we as human beings relax ourselves.

Deep relaxation

Within this area of creative play, we must also consider deep relaxation. Without time to really let go of tension, consciously, – not just by going to sleep and closing your eyes and blacking out, but by consciously, part by part, relaxing every muscle group and function in the body, we cannot really get in tune with the areas of tension.

CONSCIOUSNESS HEALS

The more conscious we are of areas of tension in the body, and the more conscious we are as we let go of this tension, the less likely it is to spring back. We imbue our body and mind with an awareness of the pressures that uproot the cause and give space for insight – clarity and more harmony and balance.

Meditation

Meditation is fundamentally a state of deep relaxation: – of deep repose – when you are neither doing or not doing – just resting in full awareness of your breath and the functions of your body.

SUPPLEMENTS

There are supplements that we can also take. When you are under pressure, the body and mind uses up far more energy. Energy is a symbol meaning resources. If we are using more of our body resources, we need to replenish them. Within us we have a natural amount of vitamins and minerals, but we need to build a reservoir of these essential vitamins so that when in times of stress, we do not weaken the immune system and end up getting ill or run down.

The vital vitamins you can use are: a Vitamin B Complex, a combination of B1 – B12 – and B6; mega-doses of Vitamin C – since they are in the front line of the immune system, combating superficial viruses; and Zinc – for healing tissue – and checking out your iodine level for the Thyroid Gland – balancing your weight and the burning up of the cholesterol in the body

When we perceive any mental or physical challenge, major or minor, a part of our brain causes the release of a hormone, ADRENALIN, into the blood. This, in turn, puts a whole lot of organs in the body on full alert. Adrenalin provides our bodies with the strength, energy and clear thinking necessary to meet the challenge.

Result – 

SKIN
Sweating increases – Blood moved away in case of injury during challenge

LUNGS
Faster breathing for more supply of oxygen

HEART
Beats faster – blood vessels widen and blood pressure increases to improve blood supply

LIVER 
Blood sugar is released for increased energy

DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Shuts down to save energy, and allows blood supply to where most needed.

BLADDER & RECTUM
Muscles relax

MUSCLES
Tension increases – blood supply increases

ACKNOWLEDGING TENSION

This is because the body is the storehouse of all our subconscious and conscious material. The body has its own way of memorising and storing events, creating patterns of posture and habitual behaviour that will remain with us until we consciously change those imprints.

This is very much the same way as the cells of the computer disc store data that remains until we re-programme the database. Our body-mind mechanism can be viewed as a database that has the added advantage of the ability to be aware of itself and choose what is the best for the growth and development of the whole person.

We say that an elephant never forgets! In the same way, the body never forgets and cannot lie. Its responses are instinctual and immediate, whereas the mind will tend to create diversions and screens to mask, submerge, or filter an experience.

Learning how to relax the body and mind is a system of educating ourselves anew, that there are other ways of responding to stress than the pattern into which we appear to be locked.

CONDITIONS THAT CAN BE HELPED THROUGH THE APPLICATION OF RELAXATION THERAPY

• Insomnia
• Sciatica
• Constipation
• Migraine/Headaches
• Asthma
• Heart Palpitations
• Anxiety Attacks of all kinds
• Uncontrollable temper
• Allergies
• Indigestion
• Eating disorders such as Bulimia or Anorexia
• Obsessive behaviour
• Traumatic Shock Syndrome
• Impotence
• Frozen Shoulder
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Tinnitus
• Eczema and Psoriasis
• Heart Disease and Attacks
• Shortness of Breath
• Irritability
• P.M.T.
• Menopause
• Rheumatic pain
• Epilepsy

The human body is designed mechanically for physical activity. Essentially, this ability is for survival, that is, to permit the organism to pursue and collect food, to avoid predators, and to seek and create shelter from the elements. It is quite clear that, if we did not possess the functions of movement and were restricted, as is the plant kingdom, then we, and other animals, would not be able to survive.

The human species is less adapted than most and requires the use of intellect to guide our physical abilities, but we still have automatic and instinctual responses to threatening situations which need outlets.
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Some examples of Aerobic exercises are:

• Aerobics
• Fast Walking
• Swimming
• Cycling
• Jogging
• Dancing
• Running
• any continuous activity or sport

ANAEROBIC EXERCISE

These exercises are more intense and of shorter duration, in the form of short bursts in conjunction with recovery intervals. Although still requiring air, they are based on oxygen stored in the blood to promote muscular efficiency and the elimination of waste products. As fitness increases, the intensity will increase and the recovery intervals will shorten, enabling more activity to be accomplished in a shorter period of time.

Some examples of Anaerobic exercises are:

• Sprint Running
• Interval Training
• Weight Training

Hormone release can yield very positive results. The injection of adrenalin from the adrenal glands located on the kidneys is designed to give instant physical energy and mental clarity.

Cortisol (similar to synthetic cortisone) is released from the outer part of the adrenal glands to increase the availability of glucose to the muscles, and reduces the reaction to injury.

Similarly, endorphins are released by the brain with pain-killing and tranquillising properties. These processes evolved to aid our ancestors in the quest for survival and they are still very useful to us now.

They can be activated in times of stress or intense physical activity. Unfortunately, if these secretions are not utilised by physical actions, the accumulated amount over a period of time can lead to toxicity and disease of the circulatory system.

In the days of buses being manned by drivers and conductors, it was found that despite the fact that they both suffered similar stress levels, the drivers suffered a much higher incidence of heart disease due to their relative inactivity. The conductors were able to dissipate the hormonal releases through the active nature of their job.

This build-up of hormones is thought to play a major part in certain stress related diseases.

Exercise releases tensions which are caused by blocked energy. Consequently, in its basic analogy exercise can ease:

• Pressure
• Burden
• Strain
• Trauma
• Worry
• Anxiety

Therefore, exercise has a bearing on our Physiological Efficiency – our Emotional Psychological and Physical well-being.