We live in a hectic world. Pressures on the job, lawn needs mowing, money’s tight at the end of the month and your spouse seems more distant than usual. Familiar story? Well, for most of us, this is just part of living in the modern world – the loud, frantic, non-stop world.
Free Radicals Versus Anti-Oxidents
Numerous studies have shown that the stress of modern life can cause a variety of physical ailments. Stress is known to cause the creation of free radicals, corrosive molecules that are associated with everything from nerve deafness to the aging process itself. That’s one reason mainstream science recommends the consumption of anti-oxidants –nutrients found in foods like blueberries, leafy green vegetables, and other “health” foods” that fight the damage caused by free radicals.
But the dangers of stress, overwork, not enough sleep, fear and other negative emotions and activities have long been known to cause health problems. In fact, for thousands of years medical practitioners have known that physical health and emotional health are intricately related. In fact, think about your own life’s experiences.
It seems that you always come down with a cold when the stress in your life is at its highest. And who doesn’t have a story about a pimple appearing two days before the prom or that life-altering job interview. Coincidence?
Hardly. When the mind is under stress, anticipation anxiety or other negative outside and inside forces, the body’s immune system takes the brunt of the blow to physical health. And with a weakened immune system, non-beneficial bacteria seize the opening and invade the body in any number of ways. Stomach and GI tract pain, skin eruptions, heart disease, stroke and other life-threatening diseases are more likely to occur when the body’s immune system is at its weakest.
Thus, the importance of a balanced, healthy diet. But what about emotional good health. Chances are a leafy green salad isn’t going to improve your negative emotions, leaving you more vulnerable to everything from acne to a heart attack.
Emotional Health In a Hectic World
Today, stress is treated with a variety of medications – Prozac, Xanax, Pristique and other prescription drugs that are, at least in theory, intended to relieve stress which, in turn, strengthens the immune system and improves life’s quality.
However, these modern medical wonders come with a load of side effects – drowsiness, loss of short-term memory, constipation, blackouts – just read the warning labels. In many cases, the cure is more harmful than the condition. Yet, we can’t simply hide away from the things happening around us. We can’t exist in society without some level of stress caused by outside forces, and your interpretation of these forces.
For example, stress triggers. We all have them – the little things that set us off. For some it’s something as simple as missing a green light on the way to work. For others it’s a noisy neighbor, an annoying co-worker or a lack of purpose and direction. For some, each of these triggers stress, which creates free radicals that actually corrode the body inside and out.
On the other hand, stress also serves to motivate to do more, to achieve more lofty goals and to take chances. Stress, itself, is neutral. How your mind interprets this stress determines whether the emotion is a positive or negative force. Athletes, for example, often find themselves performing under extremely stressful conditions.
The successful athletes employ stress and turn it to their advantage. They seek out stress to motivate them in critical times. Others of us avoid stress at all costs. You won’t see these people driving across state to try the new thrill ride. You won’t see these timid people bungee jumping off a bridge. Though you might see them peeking through the curtains or working quietly in their cubicles at work.
Still Skeptical?
You aren’t alone. Many of us who grew up in the world of traditional medicine find it difficult to believe that the mind – and your emotions – can improve the health of the physical self – the body.
Studies have shown that the people who experience serious disease – cancer, for instance – have longer survival rates when they simply decide NOT to accept the diagnosis. They don’t give in to the disease. They don’t even recognize it.
And in your own experience, consider the last time you were feeling depressed, had the blues or were down in the dumps. You’re achy and feeling fatigued. The telephone rings. It’s an old friend checking in to see how you’re doing. And after a positive, emotion charged hour on the telephone, the aches are gone, the fatigue has been converted to energy and you’re ready to go. Or…
…the day starts out gray and gloomy. Showers. But then the clouds break and the sun comes out and suddenly, you’re mood changes along with your surroundings. There’s a little more zip in your step, a bigger smile on your face and the depression you felt that morning? Gone.
Here’s the point: we’re taught that traditional medicine is the source of answers to all of our medical questions – from headaches to heartaches. Take a pill.
In other parts of the world, different techniques of treatment are used – everything from a shaman shaking a sacred rattle to acupuncture to therapeutic massage. And, because patients and their associates see improvement in health, both emotional and physical, they assume these practices work to cure whatever ails them.
You’ve experienced the mind-body health relationship many times. Sometimes many times in a single day. The evidence comes from your own experience.
Now it’s time to learn to harness that mind energy to improve physical health. You know it works.
Now make it work better.
