Hi kids,
This morning Mama Vic is going discuss why you must get a handle on stress. Stress causes your body to produce excess cortisol which can lead to a trip into hell for your health. To be clear cortisol is a necessary hormone. It’s the stress induced excess of cortisol that causes problems.
The only time you need those stress induced surges of cortisol racing around in your bloodstream is when you’re being chased by a saber tooth tiger or running out of a burning building. Sadly, many of us in modern society think our way into a state of chronic stress through the emotions of fear and anger (termed the flight or fight response).
There are hundreds of human and animal studies demonstrating the negative effects excess cortisol has on us. You can read all about it with a simple Google search if you choose to. However, just to name a few, excess cortisol has been linked to: bone loss, decreased collagen production, particularly in the skin (think wrinkles ladies), slow healing from injury, high blood pressure, weight gain, memory problems and so forth.
Let’s examine the two main causes of stress
Fear
Fear or the flight response: What are you afraid of? Losing a job? Not finding a job? Losing someone you love? Death? Disease? Being unable to pay your bills? Fear is a normal human emotion and has been instrumental in helping to keep our species alive for thousands of years, but dwelling on potential futures either good or bad is not only fruitless it’s a sure path to cortisol overload.
Life is going to slap you around because that’s what life is all about. It does that to us all. By living in the now with the idea that you’ll tackle life’s problems when they arrive will help you be successful in eliminating all those unnecessary fears. (Believe me Mama Vic knows this first hand.)Now that doesn’t mean if say, there’s talk about a big layoff where you work, that you shouldn’t start looking for another job and stashing money aside just in case you happen to be on the chopping block. That’s being prudent. However, stress about things over which you have no control is, well, kinda’ stupid. I’m a pro at being stupid like this.
Anger
Anger or the fight response: What are you angry about? Rich people? Poor people? Greedy corporations? Political corruption? Anyone that doesn’t agree with you? Cheating mate? Terrorists? The NRA? Your jerk of a boss?
I have one question for you. Does your anger make a difference in those things that anger you? In most cases, the answer is going to be no. So what that means is the only person affected by your anger is you and your cortisol levels.
What to do
To control your stress and avoid fear and anger, realize you have 100% control of one thing. You. You’re the boss, CEO, CFO and manager of you. Your body obeys you without question. However, if you’re being a bad boss, that obedience comes with a price. Your body is designed to have a well regulated chemistry balance without your help, but when you direct it to launch excess fear and anger hormones, over time it will become fatigued and diseased.
The best way to become your own best boss is simple, but not always easy. For example, in my case I tend to worry and fret (fear) over things of which I have no control. I fret that some of my kids around the world are hungry. I grieve over the propensity of my species to squeeze the life out of the very resources we need to survive as a species. I get angry about the decimation of the rain forests. I also get angry about cruelty in any of its manifestations.
When I start to dwell on these things, I realize much of what my species does is out of my control, but I can do everything in my power and influence to change what I can. I can set an example for others. In addition I set up Mama Vic to help others have a better life. I also read about the new movers and shakers that are working to make a difference. That encourages me. Finally, I live in the now. I focus on enjoying my life’s adventure as it plays out minute to minute. That’s what I do to de-stress myself. I’m also working on getting more and better exercise, but suck at it because I have a difficult time exercising just to exercise. I clearly need to change my beliefs about that, but that’s not easy for me.
Other techniques that have proven effective in reducing stress include getting enough sleep, improving your diet, music, massage, meditation and exercise.
Whatever you decide to do, you must get a handle on stress and cortisol. Your life depends on it.
If you like this post, share it so others can benefit. Also, share ways you have found effective to reduce stress in your life.
