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All Stressed Out?
by Dr. David L. Wick, D.C.
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Nobody really needs an introduction to stress. While true scientists resist the temptation to use words like "all" or "none" because it's virtually impossible to observe all and none, I'm going to go out on a limb and proclaim that all people know plenty about what stress is. None of us has lived without its effects.
So many books have been written on stress and reducing the effects of it, but somehow, stress still continues to plague most anyone living in this current age. Why is that?
Dr. Hans Selye was one of the best-known researchers of stress. As a matter of fact, he is largely viewed as the one who coined the term. In his research, he discovered what he called the General Adaptation Syndrome. This is the process by which the body responds to stress. G.A.S. is divided into three stages: |
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Alarm reaction when the body prepares itself for "fight or flight."
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Provided the organism survives stage one, resistance to the stress is built.
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If the stress continues for a sufficient amount of time, resistance gives way and the body eventually enters the stage of exhaustion.
As Selye defined stress, not all of it was nervous stress but rather the "nonspecific response of the body to any demand." Well, naturally, we have continued on since Selye's original definition and research of stress and have discovered many nuances that deserve notice.
More research is linking stress to modern disorders, or as one might describe it, dis-ease. People have long described how emotional stresses could lead to cardiovascular disorders, and Dr. Lee Smith, a medical professor at the University of Utah, described how "80% of gastrointestinal problems are caused by emotional stress and respond to reduced emotional stress." So how does one live a healthier, "reduced emotional stress" lifestyle?
The answer is quite simple...or is it?
One of the most important first steps in reducing one's emotional stress is realizing that stress is not an "out there" thing but and "in here" response. The very same thing that distresses one person may hardly be noticed by another. It is the belief systems of the different people that account for the stress response.
Naturally, our belief systems come from a wide variety of sources, and the study and understanding of those sources inspires much of the work of psychology. Ultimately, the key to reducing emotional stress is fortifying one's energy to appropriately respond when potential stressors are presented.
As Dr. Steven Covey (author of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People) put it, "It is not what others do or even our own mistakes that hurt us the most; it is our response to those things. Chasing after the poisonous snake that bites us will only drive the poison through our entire system. It is far better to take measures immediately to get the poison out.” (emphasis mine)
Many people resort to a long list of stress reducing activities like prayers, meditations, affirmations, chiropractic treatments, acupuncture, massages, psychotherapy, essential oils, herbs, nutrients, exercises, relaxing music, day trips to spas, and so much more. None of those activities serves as the answer for everyone, but each has possible benefits that one may wish to explore.
In order for us to have emotional stress or pain, we must give it reference points such as past or future, or what is versus what we'd like to be. Addressing this aspect of creating stress is the topic of Byron Katie's book, Loving What Is: Four questions that can change your life. As Katie says, "When you argue with reality you lose--but only 100 percent of the time." By changing the way we think about what is, we can change our stress response.
Loving What Is deserves a look by anyone who's ever held onto a belief about anything. The book may be purchased from Byron Katie's website, thework.com. The direct link to her bookstore is here. One may also find some free resources on Katie's website. Click here for a direct link to information about the four questions that can change your life. Her website also contains a worksheet that may be used to facilitate the work. Find the worksheets by clicking here.
By changing the way you think, you change the way you live. Reducing emotional stress is very important in reaching your potential for healthy living.
Additional resources:
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Franklin Covey's online (franklincovey.com) or retail stores are filled with numerous solutions to help you get more out of life while reducing stress. Also check out their stress assessment.
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©Copyright 2006 Dr. David L. Wick, D.C. All rights reserved.
This article is not intended for the diagnosis or treatment of any illness. Diagnosis and treatment of all health conditions should only be performed by your doctor of chiropractic or other licensed health care professional. Please use this article for informational purposes only. This information does not replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare provider.
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