NOW WE KNOW WHY…YOU’RE SO STRESSED-OUT

It has been said by some wise guru on a mountain top, probably in India: If stress doesn’t kill you, it will make you stronger. There is a lot of capital “T” Truth in that statement. But why, you might ask, am I so stressed-out much of the time? And, do I have to get close to losing my “marbles” before learning to cope with stress and life? Allow me to play the modern-day-on-the-computer USA guru and answer these questions.

The brain and body’s Stress Management System (SMS) evolved when we were prehistoric, hanging around caves and ferocious man-eating animals. Thus it paid off to have a very “nervous” nervous system. The SMS overreacted to all threats outside of the cave but immediately relaxed when we were in the safe comfort of our homes. It turned “on” when we needed to be aroused and “off” when it was time to relax. A perfectly balanced system, if you will.

These days, the “on” switch is still very active, but we’ve lost the natural ability to turn the system “off”. Somewhere along the way of becoming “modern”, the SMS got overwhelmed. Think about the big “T’s” in our lives, that is TV, traffic, tariffs, terrorism, even too many tweets. Thus, we are walking the streets of our lives considerably out of balance. That’s why you’re so stressed-out. And that’s why you feel like you’re on the brink of losing your “marbles”. (A good analogy for brain cells: One bangs against another through neurotransmitters like serotonin and noradrenalin and a host of unpredictable, excitable reactions occur).

Okay, have I gotten your attention? Good! Stress research has come a long way in the last few decades since I wrote my first book, From Panic to Power: The Positive Use of Stress (Performance Management Publications, Atlanta, Ga.) It delineated case after case of the brain’s ability to have negative effects on the body. Unfortunately, there were more than a few professionals who were not impressed. “It cannot be” they said.

So here’s the good news: The naysayers, for the most part, have been convinced. When you go to your doc, he/she is now likely to say: “Your medical tests are within normal limits. I think you’re having a stress problem. Here’s an expert I want you to see”. Hooray!!! We’ve come a very long way.

So how are these scientific breakthroughs in stress management going to help you? First, if your doc says “go get professional help”, follow the advice. There a plenty of savvy counselors, Psychologist and Physicians who specialize in stress management these days. Call your local and state professional associations for a referral. Really, that’s a good idea.

Secondly, future blogs will focus on stress management techniques that can help: relaxation training, thought modification, assertiveness training, and many others.

And third, as I’ve stated before, I will help you distinguish between problems that are amenable to advice and self help versus those that absolutely require a professional. In the meantime, thanks for paying attention, and may your habits be calming and health-enhancing.