I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and you did not allow holiday stressors get to you – things like a family member that is staying with you rather than in a hotel, the unexpected loss of a job, no money to buy presents, a car accident, getting sick, cooking….., cooking……, and more cooking!
This also means good stress as well as the bad stress. As many of you already know, the body does not make a distinction between either type. Breathing may become shallow, heart rate increases, or we begin to perspire. In some instances, we may develop low tolerance to frustration and become snappy with another person. Stress can also affect our moods and our health, which in turn can increase stress. This all may sound like a vicious cycle which could turn into a situation that becomes out-of-control.
Most stress is normal, short-term or acute, and is part of our age-old survival mechanism – the flight or fight response. If I see a car run a red light, immediately and automatically my brain and body jump into action to deal with it. My brain and body are on autopilot. Chronic stress affects us for the long term and can affect us emotionally and/or physically. This stress is ongoing and long-term and is not just a response to a recent situation, but something that happened in the past and changed our belief system and thinking. It is so pervasive and eventually becomes indiscernible.
Stress is a natural part of life and, even if we locked ourselves in a dark quiet room, we would still develop stress. The trick is learning to become aware of the stressor(s) in order to deal with it and manage it. Coping mechanisms become key in alleviating some of the symptoms of stress. Social support networks, prayer, meditation, deep breathing, cognitive-behavioral therapy, exercise, good nutrition, decreasing caffeine, sugar, alcohol and/or drug intake, and emotional freedom technique are just a few of the ways we can reduce our negative response to stress. I will write more about that in future posts.
Have a safe, healthy, and happy new year; one that’s filled with good things, ideas, and relationships.
With loving thoughts,
Sara
