Stress Management

INNER PEACE: The opposite of inner peace is inner conflict, which always causes stress in our lives.  Inner peace is our natural state of being in the world.  When something disturbs that inner peace, we become stressed.  To the degree that we can manage or eliminate the stresses in our life is the degree to which we will experience inner peace.

WHAT IS STRESS: Stress is a psychological and physiological response to events that upset our personal balance. These events or demands are known as stressors. We usually think of stressors as being negative, such as an exhausting work schedule or a rocky relation-ship. However, anything that forces us to adjust can be a stressor. This includes positive events such as getting married or receiving a promotion. Regardless of whether an event is good or bad, if the changes strain our coping skills, the end result is the feeling of stress and the body's biological stress response.

THREE TYPES OF STRESS:

• Frustrations
• Conflicts
• Pressures  (demands placed on you by yourself or others)
  

EFFECTS OF STRESS:  (courtesy of HelpGuide.org) The stress response of the body is meant to protect and support us. When faced with a threat, whether it be to our physical safety or emotional equilibrium, the body's defenses kick into high gear in a process known as the “fight or flight” response. The sympathetic nervous system pumps out adrenaline, preparing us for emergency action. Our heart rate and blood flow to the large muscles increase, the blood vessels under the skin constrict to prevent blood loss in case of injury, the pupils dilate so we can see better, and our blood sugar ramps up, giving us an energy boost.

The problem with the stress response is that the more it is activated, the harder it is to shut off. Instead of leveling off once the crisis has passed, your stress hormones, heart rate, and blood pressure remain elevated. Extended or repeated activation of the stress response takes a heavy toll on the body. The physical wear and tear it causes includes damage to the cardiovascular system and immune system suppression. Stress compromises your ability to fight off disease and infection. It can even rewire the brain, leaving you more vulnerable to everyday pressures and mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.

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What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Stress?
Courtesy of www.HelpGuide.org

Stress affects the mind, body, and behavior in many ways. The specific signs and symptoms of stress vary from person to person, but all have the potential to harm your health, emotional well-being, and relationships with others. Below is a partial list of stress signs and symptoms that a person undergoing stress might experience.

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STRESS LEVEL ASSESSMENT:
Courtesy of The Conscious Living Foundation, www.cliving.org

In the past 12 to 24 months, which of the following major life events have taken place in your life? Write down the points next to each event that you have experienced this year. When you're done looking at the whole list, add up the points for each event.  Check your score at the bottom.

LIFE STRESS SCORES:

0-149 = Low susceptibility to stress-related illness.

150-299 = Medium susceptibility to stress-related illness.  Learn and practice relaxation and stress management skills.

300 and over = High susceptibility to stress-related illness.  Daily practice of relaxation skills is very important for your wellness. Take care of it now before a serious illness erupts or an affliction becomes worse.

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Recent research suggests that anywhere from two-thirds to 90 percent of illness is stress-related. Some of the health problems that can be caused or exacerbated by long-term stress include: Heart attack, hypertension, stroke, cancer, diabetes, depression, eating disorders, obesity, substance abuse, ulcers, memory loss, autoimmune disease, thyroid problems and more.

When stress is not properly managed everyone pays the cost. 

• Men withdraw.
• Women complain.
• Teens rebel or fight.
• Families stop talking.
• Companies go under. 
• Countries go to war.

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STRESS RELEASE:
Some common ways to relieve stress include: deep/abdominal breathing, muscle relaxation techniques, yoga, tai chi, running, swimming, aerobic exercise, and of course, making love. Pamper yourself with a warm bath or shower, aromatherapy, massage, listen to smoothing music, or go for a walk in nature.  Try taking a mini vacation by way of a guided process or meditation. Try the following exercise for a quick relief:    

• Stand Up
• Breathe deeply
• Visualize standing under a waterfall washing away tension
• Sit back down

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STRESS MANAGEMENT:
The fight or flight stress response narrows your ability to think clearly and function effectively. It can disable you physically and emotionally. The goal of stress management is to bring your nervous system back into balance, giving you a sense of calmness and control over your life.

STRESS ELIMINATION:
A certain amount of stress is healthy and necessary our in lives and motivates us to make changes and move forward.  It only becomes unhealthy when it becomes painful and we feel out of control.  The Foundation for Living Inner Peace has developed a 12-Step process for transforming pain to peace.  Following the process can virtually eliminate unhealthy stress right out of your life and bring you back to balance almost immediately. Visit the Foundation's website for details.