Cath Hopkinson

Transcription

1 Cath Hopkinson

2 What Is Stress? The word stress has become very commonly used in this 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 is a result of the inability to cope with pressure. Stress manifests itself in very different ways depending on personality, metabolism, upbringing cultural differences, changes in weather, light and many kinds of evolving, progressing problems. Looking at stress from a positive angle, pressure allows us to grow. Without a certain amount of pressure in our lives, we tend to not feel challenged, to not take risks and perhaps not realise the potential we have, to go beyond our everyday experience of ourselves, into limits extending beyond our everyday mind. 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, that 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 living. How Do You Respond to Pressure? How does stress manifest itself for you? Just reflect on these few points: Are you a person who needs a great deal of mental stimulation to release yourself from pressure? Some people can show stress from not having enough mental stimulation, experiencing intense boredom and lack of inspiration. This can prevent their creative energy from flowing, feeling blocked, stunted. It can cause Manic Depression. Do you get stressed in social interaction? Are you a person who perhaps likes to sit on the periphery of a party and just observe? And if you are asked to participate in some way, your heart rate increases, your breathing rate increases, the palms of your hands begin to sweat. Page2

3 Are you happier on a one to one basis? Sharing your feelings and ideas with someone you already trust. Are you a person who needs to lead? In fact, who experiences pressure and stress when they are being told what to do by somebody else, when somebody else is at the helm? Would you rather be steering the ship? Do you need to lead to relieve the pressure from your life? What turns you on and what turns you off - what are your passions in life? These are good points to reflect on in coping with the pressure in our lives. Our bodies are like barometers. Around our body we have an electromagnetic field which gives off signals to each other and from ourselves, indicating how comfortable or frustrated we are in a given situation. This field can store impulses from the nervous system, from the endocrine system, and the brain, as well as receive information from other people and other kinds of situations. This electromagnetic field is the first field of message. Before it reaches the brain, before it reaches the nervous system, it goes through this field, which is actually governed by the mind. Our thinking, our ability to be positive, our ability to stay clear above all adversity is a powerful element in overcoming stress. We are psycho-physiological beings, meaning that our mind, our psychology is intrinsically connected with our physiology, our physical body, our physical manifestation. So we begin with the mind. 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 An excellent tool for managing stress is meditation, and visualisation, loving kindness meditation, and other breath work, work will help you in coping with the pressures in Page3

4 your body and mind. When the mind is relaxed, certain neural chemicals are released that actually change the rhythms within our bodies. This is not just a hypothetical point, these chemicals actually exist. A common one that most of us know is endorphins. These are the pleasure -giving hormones that are secreted when the body is exercised, a lot of oxygen going through the brain. They are not only giving pleasure by heightening our awareness, but they are 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 Hairless 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, and it is very difficult to pinpoint them all. In modern medicine, many doctors are finding that people are no longer satisfied with being given tranquillisers antidepressants and sleeping tablets and general painkillers. They want something holistic that is going to reach them on a deeper level, and balance their energy over a much longer period of time, where the cause of their imbalance is addressed, not just a symptomatic relief that masks the problem. Balance is the key, and balance means that we attend to all the facets of our lives to create a harmonious lifestyle. Four Main Areas of Our Life Friends Our social interaction The way we care for each other Listen to each other Touch each other The giving and receiving of life In a balanced lifestyle, it is important to have friends you can share very deep feelings, with whom you can relax completely. Page4

5 Home Environment A home, ideally, should be: A sanctuary A place where you can feel spiritually nurtured Where your things are taken care of Where there is a certain order and peace around that which you created in your life. The place where you sleep and the place where your family lives with you are very special environments. But unfortunately, our homes are our battle grounds. Our homes are the places where we work out our deepest pressures and stress related symptoms. Work/Responsibilities How you earn your money your livelihood. These are the places of some of our greatest joys and challenges, and often our greatest fulfillments and achievements. Our work is an arena in which we express all our greatest aspirations. Is your work fulfilling you? Do you feel that you are in the right job? Perhaps, if you feel that you are not, find ways of adjusting your work, perhaps communicating a little more to your bosses or your workmates and creating, stylising/sculpturing your work so that it facilitates your highest aspirations in a more dynamic way. Creative Play Creative play touches on many aspects of human life. There are hobbies and sports of many kinds: Swimming Golf Pilates/Yoga Dancing Playing music etc. There are many ways in which we as human beings relax ourselves. Also our religious and spiritual involvements where we give our bodies and minds up into a state of prayer. This is a very elevating state of mind that can also relieve a tremendous amount of mental confusion and frustration. Page5

6 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. 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 This is extraordinarily nourishing to the human spirit, metabolism and body/mind. In the everyday work world, there are many things that you can do in order to make your life more harmonious and easier to cope with, particularly if you have a lot of things going on around you at once: Make notes Prioritise before you go to bed Have a picture of the day in your mind that when you Wake up in the morning you have everything planned If good ideas run through your mind, jot them down At lunchtime, it is best not to take chocolate and coffee snacks; they will only drain your kidneys, and create a false impression of Adrenalin in your body, weakening the natural production of Adrenalin when you really need it. Instead, if you are sitting in an office all day, or you have a job that is particularly pressured around many people, take a walk around the block. If there is a pool nearby, go for a swim and if there is nothing else available go and sit in your car, close your eyes and in the quiet silence of that small space just take some deep breaths and then relax. Page6