There is a lot of talk about stress (the epidemic of modern society), but its mechanism is generally not known. You will be surprised to know how much this reaction affects you. Fortunately, you have simple and concrete ways to manage it and enjoy your work. Get to know them!
What is stress?
"Stress" is the term with which the researcher Hans Selye labeled, in 1936, what he called "a general adaptation syndrome": an instinctive and natural reaction, which allows the organism to face any type of increased demand, real or imaginary. Stress is not a "bad" thing, it is necessary to survive, because, faced with a sudden event such as an accident, the body is automatically prepared to face it. After the problem, the organism recovers its normality, through another complex set of adjustments.
When is stress activated?
Facing apparently simple incidents (such as an unidentifiable noise), difficult situations (divorce, moving, unemployment, exams), imaginary events (future work, the possibility of an operation) or daily events considered traumatic (a very demanding job, environment family with little gratification or support, assumptions of theft or violence).
What physical consequences does it cause?
Sleep disorders, digestive problems, ulcers, changes in sexual behavior, tachycardia, hypertension, heart attacks, contractures, back pain, fatigue, depression, changes in emotional life, aging, anxiety and panic disorders, hair loss, rheumatoid arthritis, memory damage, fat deposits in the hips, weak immune system, dysfunctions in the reproductive system. Many, isn't it?
What physical reactions occur when this syndrome appears?
- The frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex is activated when faced with a potential threat. The hypothalamus stimulates the pituitary and the adrenal glands, which secrete adrenaline (and then cortisol). The brain produces endorphins, which decrease pain, and the amygdala sends nerve impulses, which condition the individual response. The hair stands on end. The pupils dilate. The blood increases the ability to clot and the immune system prepares, in case there is an injury. The intercostal muscles allow the chest to widen, to increase the volume of air. The bronchi dilate, to take more oxygen. Breathing accelerates to keep the brain alert. The heart is enlarged to increase the blood supply. Blood pressure rises. The muscles contract, preparing for action.The peripheral blood vessels constrict, to reduce the risk of bleeding. The other vessels dilate. The liver releases glucose (fuel for the muscles).
Did you imagine so many? How is it possible that a natural mechanism that helps you react to increased demand ends up being the cause of disease? The very old system is designed to respond by fighting or fleeing. When this is not possible, all that enormous unfolding of your organism is not consumed in the reaction, causing diseases.
Is stress itself the producer of these problems?
No, it is, rather, the complex interaction between the demands of the external world and the capacity of each person to face potential threats. This ability may be influenced by hereditary factors and childhood experiences; by diet, physical activity and sleep patterns; by the economic situation and the social level and by the accumulation of pressures, to the point of overloading the system.
Stress is a process of "balance through change" or allostasis, launched when we were inhabitants of a world in contact with natural hazards, such as the threat of a wild animal. The “dangers” of the concrete jungle are other, but, in most cases, the stress mechanism (fight or flight) does not work, because generally neither of these two behaviors are operational or you are immobilized by fear (not only in the face of external events, but as a constant internal state) either you cannot contact or express your emotions or you do not trust yourself or the environment.
When stress is very severe or continuous, it turns into distress. Then, the system (finely calibrated) is altered, overloaded and stops working properly, causing all kinds of damage, different according to each personality. This is worsened by the way the distress is responded to: eating a lot and / or poorly, drinking, not exercising, working more, etc.
Eutrés, the opposite of this chronic stress, consists of a positive and serene attitude, which helps to navigate changes as stimulating opportunities in life, taken with creativity and optimism.
A quick way to focus:
- Sitting or standing, as you prefer: Join or clasp your hands, stretch your arms as far as you can and lower your head; Pleasantly elongate your back. Stretch upward, opening your armpits. Don't forget to breathe. Lean your torso slightly to the left and right, as if you want to loosen your waist. Do not force or demand your body: do it gently and pleasantly. Put your hands behind and stretch your arms, opening your chest. Stretch your legs, first with your feet pointing in front (with which you stretch the front part) and then with your feet up (so you stretch the back).Stroke the floor with your feet a few times, releasing the rest of the tension and connecting with your body and your energy. Wide yawn (absorbs air as if you were a vacuum cleaner and, if you can, exhale with "noise", download it!);if not, you can make gestures with your face, opening your mouth wide.Continue standing (with the right spine and feet firmly seated on the floor) or sit comfortably: feet apart, resting on the ground, back straight (not stiff), well back in the seat. In both cases, the shoulders are loose, the chest is open, the brow is relaxed, the jaw is loose (it separates the lips and the teeth: it is impossible to relax with the jaw clenched). Little by little, let the breath expand, becoming deep and slow. Imagine that, with each exhalation, you release the emotional and mental tensions. Trust your intention to release everything you unnecessarily carry in your body and mind. Feel the stillness settle in you, as the breath and energy expand more and more. Say: "HERE AND NOW,I AM… (your name) AND I HAVE THE FULL POWER OF ALL MY RESOURCES AND POSSIBILITIES ”.
Dramatize situations and realize what is required of you in each circumstance. Learn to trust in the process of Life (which leads you to your best learning and growth) and to trust in yourself: You are a diamond: shine !.
