|
On...
Stress
One of the severest detriments to a healthy brain and nervous
system, and an obstacle to soul expression, is stress. Modern
life is characterized by more stress than we have ever
experienced before. There are phones, faxes, computers, TVs,
voice mail, portable players of all kinds, car radios, traffic,
machines, and a whole lot of other stimuli that reach us daily
and create a burden on our nervous system, sending out spurts of
a damaging hormone, cortisol, through our body all through the
day. Life is easier than ever before, but the stressors in
modern life are dramatically increased from times past. Cortisol
toxicity is probably one of the primary causes of Alzheimer’s
disease, according to some authorities. Our chance of developing
Alzheimers doubles every five years after age 60. 50% of North
Americans by age 85 suffer from Alzheimers.
Experience is necessary in order for us to learn how to express
our true identity, the soul within. Therefore all experiences
need to be assimilated by soul in order that integration in our
identity can be experienced. Stress is due to being excessively
stimulated without assimilating the experiences. A study was
done to determine how many advertisements the average American
sees each day, including logos and labels. It was found to be an
incredible 16,000!! Every one of these registers on our brain
and nervous system, causing some degree of stress.
The automatic physical stress response that we have is a
wonderful tool, but it is designed by nature for overcoming
short-term problems. When we experience the stress response day
after day, year after year, without doing anything to assimilate
the experiences we are having and making sense of them, the
stress produces toxic effects which gradually injure and kill
billions of our brain cells.
While the stress response is a positive one – to help us cope
with a challenge – it has some negative side effects. It can
literally poison the brain because it causes excessive secretion
of the adrenal hormone cortisol which is released along with
adrenaline. It stays in our system longer than the adrenaline
and gives the hippocampus (the brain’s memory center for
short-term and some long-term memories) as well as other parts
of the brain, a highly destructive toxic bath. Among other
things this creates a great deal of inflammation in the brain
which results in reducing cognitive function.
The stress response developed very early in our evolution when
threats were all physical and required a physical response.
Today more of our threats are mental and emotional and do not
require a physical response. They require a mental response. The
primary mental response required is to understand the meaning of
what we are experiencing, and then accepting the necessity for
the experience. This helps to reduce the stress. When this kind
of mental response is accompanied by physical exercise, daily
relaxation and proper nutrition we have an excellent combination
for stress reduction.
Because of all the challenges, changes and choices we need to
make in our daily lives there is an increase of mental stress
which weakens our bodies, such as through suppressed immune
system functioning. When the stressful stimulus is physical and
our response is physical, we usually burn off our stress
response through running or some sort of physical activity. When
the stress is non-physical, the reaction is there (i.e., we
secrete adrenaline and cortisol) and its effects linger in our
system, slowly weakening it.
|
Exercises:
Our only alternative is to shut off the chronic
stress response. But how do we do this? Here are several
suggestions:
a.) Try not to overreact emotionally. Use your
logical mind (neocortex) to talk sense to your emotional
limbic system. Remember that emotions are based in the
brain – in the limbic system, a rather primitive part of
our brain. The more synaptic connections we have to this
part of the brain, the easier it will be to control it.
Emotional reactions occur in the limbic brain first –
and then are expressed through any of the five lower
chakras, depending on what the issue is. The three lower
chakras are part of the animal human. Becoming a soul
conscious human requires connection to the heart, throat
and brow chakras. This is only possible when we
establish a degree of self control.
b.) Avoid potentially stressful situations, and keep
your life as relaxed as possible.
c.) Make biochemical changes in your life, such as
reducing your intake of caffeine and other excessive
stimulants.
d.) Use specific supplements to keep the stress down,
such as B vitamins and appropriate herbs.
e.) Create positive thoughts and attitudes which will
produce calming and uplifting biochemical reactions in
the body.
f.) Practice some form of stress release such as
yoga, breathing, exercise or deep relaxation.
g.) Take 15-20 minutes of ‘down time’ each day. The
brain needs to rest from thinking when it is producing
beta waves, and from sensory input. The latest idea in
the corporate world is to give employees this down time
either at their desks or in specially designed quiet
rooms. In our own private lives we need to structure
this in our homes away from telephones, people and
media.
h.) Practice meditation. When properly practiced,
meditation will enable the soul to assimilate and
synthesize the experience that is causing the stress,
thus eliminating the stress. The result is a different
perspective on that which was causing the stress. Since
stress is always caused by a perception of threat in
some way, if we change the perception we remove the
inner cause of the stress reaction. |
Andrew and Bonnie Schneider are now offering personal interactive email
coaching for the 4 Level Soul Journey program. Connect weekly
with Andrew and Bonnie on how to develop soul consciousness.
Read more about this personal coaching from Andrew and Bonnie
Schneider by
clicking here.
This is one of 150 Soul Perspective articles.
For more articles visit
Soul Perspectives
Index.
Andrew and Bonnie Schneider are now offering personal interactive email coaching for the 4 Level Soul Journey program. Connect weekly with Andrew and Bonnie on how to develop soul consciousness. Read more about this personal coaching from Andrew and Bonnie Schneider by clicking here.
|
