Stress versus control

Deer sees lion. Stress causes a survival response in the body. Increased heart rate, adrenaline, blood pressure, or muscle tension serve to make us more alert, stronger, more able to meet new challenges, like the “fight or flight” response.

Stress steals our energy to fight disease and function at full strength. The more stress, the weaker our immune system. So, here's some kinds of stresses to be aware so you can think of how to decrease or eliminate them and free up energy to live life free of sickness.

Mental-emotional stress is thought of most often when stress is mentioned. Unemployment, deadlines, anger, family issues etc. are mental-emotional stressors.

Physical stresses include pain, sleep issues, injuries, thermal extremes, dental work, surgery and either too much or too little exercise. These physical stresses draw energy and focus from the body’s normal functioning balance.

Chemicals and toxic stressors in our environment like air pollution, agricultural pesticides, or household fumes from cleaning chemicals also drain the body’s recourses. Drugs and medications (both over-the-counter and prescription), hair products and cosmetics, insect repellent or other things put on the skin also have toxins that cause chemical stress and imbalance.

Nutritional stressors can over-lap with chemical stress with food additives like MSG, artificial flavors and colors. Sweeteners like high-fructose corn syrup, and aspartame stress the blood-sugar balance and give the liver and pancreas a lot of extra work. White flour converts straight to sugar and spikes the blood sugar level as well. Starving or over-eating both cause stress.

So what can we do? It is stressful just to sit and read the lists of things that stress us! Well, do you want to know the secret? This is powerful. FOCUS ON WHAT YOU HAVE CONTROL OVER.

When a deer sees a lion and “stresses”, the fight or flight reaction is triggered. ACTION is the solution, and the deer has control over where it runs.

Take action. Deal with stress and then relax and get back to normal functioning, then the body can recover and stay healthy. Think about what is stressing you and what you can do about it.

Do something fun for excercize. Meditate, pace yourself, stop and breathe deep before reacting to a surprise. Take control over your thoughts. Laugh every day. Be calm. Let that call go to voice mail if it stresses you to be interrupted at that moment.

Physically, you can control appropriate clothing for the weather. Set up good sleeping and eating habits. What would relieve physical stress to YOU?

You can controll what you put into your mouth. Read labels, avoid foods and personal care products with chemical additives. Be more careful of drugs and unnatural medications and pestacides on your veggies. Learn what kind of supplements you need to balance yourself.

The very act of consciously thinking of what you have control over and what you can do will decrease stress. Take action today, it feels great. http://opp.sunrider.com/sherribowthorpe/