Many experts believe that psychological stress plays a part in many illnesses. Psychological stress decreases immunity and makes people more susceptible to disease. In my personal opinion, chronic unmanaged stress can have a very damaging effect on a person’s mental and physical health. It is crucial to learn ways to mitigate stress in our personal and professional lives. Sometimes that means putting ourselves first. Our creative mind can also be our biggest ally. And we have to be prepared to rethink traditional ideas about what really puts our bodies under stress and what doesn’t.
According to the University of Maryland Medical Centre website, emotional stress can be from external sources like toxic friendships or from internal psychological sources. It states that humans are the only species that has internal stress factors. According to this website “Chronic stress may blunt the immune system’s response to certain infections.” Also, anxiety and depression can be the result of an inability to adapt to stress.
It is very important to manage stress in our own lives and to find ways to get valuable downtime. It can save our health and maybe even our lives. Recently I have been attending an amazing series of art classes where we are encouraged to just scribble, draw or paint how we are feeling in the moment. During the sessions, we do deep relaxation with beautiful guided meditation tapes. It is an absolute joy to feel so deeply tranquil and calm. In my hectic frazzled daily routine, I welcome any soothing oasis where I can calm down. That type of relaxation exercise is very helpful to do every day. Mindfulness is a new form of winding down where the focus is on the present moment.
One of my favourite internet resources is www.morethan medication.ca. It offers very creative and innovative ways to reduce stress. For instance, just “change your scenery”: get out of the house and take yourself out for a picnic or a movie. Another idea is to be adventurous – Try something totally off-the-wall and brave, like exploring a secret different area of town. Or simply give yourself permission to be lazy, waste time and do nothing for a while!
Gabor Mate is a psychiatrist, author and inspirational speaker. He provides caring healing kindness to addicts and other destitute people in Vancouver’s notorious Downtown Eastside. A while back I was fortunate to see his lecture in Victoria based on his new book, When the Body Says No. His talk was electrifying. Gabor’s insights were brilliant and controversial, going against conventional thinking. He talked about the primal connection between stress and health. What shook my mind was Gabor’s perspective on the life-saving and crucial importance of self-love and how sometimes we need to put ourselves first. This doctor and humanitarian believes that it is taking care of others at the expense of ourselves and own health that causes us the most stress and shortens our lives. Heady stuff.
Even anger is losing its dark back-alley reputation and gaining new respect. Standard thinking is that uncontrolled anger can cause stress and exacerbate heart problems – and in many cases that is true. But new research shows that getting angry can be good for you. The UK website, Daily Mail, cites a recent experiment where anger reduced the negative impacts of stress and increased activity in parts of the brain involved in positive emotions. And in LiveScience.com: “People who respond to stressful situations with short-term anger or indignation have a sense of control and optimism that lacks in those who respond with fear.” A 2003 study in Psychosomatic Medicine found that occasional expressions of anger was associated with decreased risk of stroke and heart disease (which are usually related to stress levels). Needless to say, it is important to always maintain reasonable and rational self-control when angry. It is not the anger itself that can cause problems – it is the way that we release it.
Laughing is one of the best stress busters around. Taking a humorous not-so-serious take on the roller coaster of daily life will make this ride a lot easier folks!
So, turn off that smart phone, take a hot bath and think about absolutely nothing. Get creative and keep an open mind about reducing stress in your life. If it works, do it! Please remember to take good loving care of yourself. It might just extend your life!
By Doreen Marion Gee