When we're experiencing tension, we often feel like these old bears that are prowling their territory. I'm not sure whether they're angry or contented from a hearty meal of berries; but I'm sure that they're mean -- just like we feel sometimes when we experience tension or are under stress. Which of the three pictures do you suppose would be most apt to describe tension or stress? The bears or the calm, beautiful sea?

 

As I pointed out, our whole person gets involved when we are under stress or are experiencing tension -- our central nervous system, our autonomic nervous system, our motor (muscle-skeletal) system and from my perspective, our spiritual "system".  Unfortunately, we can't "see" what is going on in our mind, but we can definitely see its action's results -- much like we can't see the wind, but certainly can see what it can do.  And, as long as we are on the subject, the damage that the mind can do to us is sometimes as bad as the wind can do to where it is at its worst.  There are some remarkable things happen -- almost instantaneously -- when we have an acute stressful event happen to us. And we've all experienced them.  When the "fight or fight" part of our autonomic nervous system goes into action, you'll be surprised at how many physical things happen.  Below is a partial list (still enough) of what occurs; (there's no special order to them; they just happen as they happen.)

Your Physical Reaction

 

The sympathetic function triggers an immediate release of epinephrine (adrenaline) causing your heart to beat faster, pump more blood and at a higher pressure. You breathe faster to take in more oxygen so your blood can be oxygenated sufficiently to meet your whole body's needs. Your liver increases its output of blood sugar to give nutrition to your muscles that will be needed for action. Blood flow is diverted to your brain and large muscles, and decreased in your digestive system. Your pupils dilate; some person's nostrils flare; you become more vigilant; you focus more on the immediate situation, letting other issues become secondary.  You begin to perspire to cool your body off -- which by this time is immediately ready for whatever action is needed to "protect" you from the perceived danger or stressful situation.  And, as I said, all this happens so fast that you scarcely are aware it's happened until you have a moment to realize you're in acute readiness.  All this happens automatically.  You never had to give it a thought -- decide to do it, plan it, or make ready for it.  Indeed, we are created for survival, and have been provided the equipment to do our level best to do it.  And, remarkably, not many ever appreciate how wonderful it is that we have been created to react in such a way.

 

Each of us reacts differently -- as I earlier pointed out -- because of our different "learned reactions", our different discriminations. And the above physical reactions generally describe acute physical reactions. Often our stressors are around a lot or for a long time, and we continue to react to them, making our tension or stress chronic.  This type of stress or tension -- chronic -- has deteriorating effects on our body -- especially parts of our body that have already been compromised in some way, by accidents, earlier residuals from diseases, birth defects, genetic deficiencies, etc. We are more vulnerable when we already have physical problems.  Our immune systems take quite a beating, too.  During an acute reaction, generally, our immune system goes into high action (to protect us from what may be an infection or injury-caused lesion); but when chronic stress or tension is the culprit, our immune system loses its capacity to fight off diseases -- bacteria, viruses or nasty fungi.  We tend to be more apt to contract diseases.  There are some who believe that growth is retarded if there is a chronic stress present during the growth period; some believe that cancer is allowed to progress faster or more insidiously when chronic stress is present.  Other theories abound, but we have to be careful not to get into believing them as facts; however, vigilance is the "watchword." Here are some signs that demonstrate the presence of chronic stress -- many not appreciated as signs.  They go unnoticed and we find out too late that we've had "warnings", because we paid no heed.

 

We may feel irritable -- like that one old bear that's pawing the air.

We may have trouble with sleeping -- have insomnia, or sleep too much.

Our appetite is gone; or we eat all the time -- feeling a "false" hunger.

We don't get along well with people -- have relational problems.

We feel sad or unhappy, never really joyful (this may be depression!)

We have aches or pains we can't account for -- headaches, joint pains, etc.

 

Here are some diseases or conditions that can be traced to stress (caused by or aggravated by):

 

Cardiac diseases.

Gastro-intestinal diseases.

Skeletal-muscular diseases (arthritis, neuralgia, fibromyalgia, etc.)

Possibly immune-deficiency, or over efficiency diseases like lupus, etc.

Emotional diseases (dysthymia, depression, the anxieties, etc.)

Learning difficulties; forgetting problems; concentration problems.

 

Earlier, remember I said that there was good stress as well as bad -- that it had salubrious effects on us than pejorative or bad? Well, this good stress triggers the same physiological, psychological, emotional and spiritual effects in us; still, because it is that we view the events or circumstances -- from a positive point of view -- we seem to weather the physio/chemical changes in a different way.  If it were to be summarized in a simple way why this is so, it would be that we look at the events or circumstances differently -- we have totally different attitudes toward them; also, when the "bad" is the result, many times, there are other stressful situations surrounding us -- we are in more "defenseless" positions; we are more vulnerable (like as a child is vulnerable, as is an ill person, as is one in physical distress from one of many reasons or are older and have had some or many of our faculties compromised.)  It appears to be that the difference between the two -- good stress and bad stress -- lies in the way we discriminate or "look at them." There is such a complexity to human behavior, isn't there? Who would want it otherwise, though?

 

Chronic stress is probably the greatest cause for people to see physicians. Is there any doubt that stress and tension are real problems? Being in a culture (a world, really) that is as competitive and stress-causing as ours is a real challenge to us -- and we must learn techniques to offset the problems mentioned above.  Advance on to the Relaxation Room, and maybe you can find some answers.