As we go along this path called life, we may at some points find ourselves in situations, environments, relationships, or circumstances that we consider stressful. These bumps along the road, which can, at times feel more like craters rather than just a pothole to avoid, impact us in many ways. No human is immune to times of stress. Even Queen Elizabeth II had what she phrased as her “annus horribilis”.
”1992 is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure. In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an annus horribilis”
Stress is considered part of life. But what exactly is stress?
Hans Selye, a pioneering endocrinologist, introduced the concept of “stress” in a medical context and developed the General Adaptation Syndrome model to describe the body’s response to stressors.
The physical, chemical, and biological responses in his theory of resistance or adaptation after an injury. “Stress,” Selye insisted, “is essentially the rate of all the wear and tear caused by life.”1 Selye identified these stages as alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. Understanding these different responses and how they relate to each other may help you cope with stress. The Alarm stage is the immediate response to an event, imagine being cut off while driving in heavy traffic, your heart rate and breathing increase, you may swear, and feel tense. Once the danger passes your heart rate , breathing return to normal. The fight-or-flight or freeze response that occurs in the alarm stage is for your protection. A higher hormone level of cortisone, or adrenaline is for your benefit. It provides you with energy and improves your concentration so you can focus and tackle the situation. When stress is short-term or short-lived, the alarm stage isn’t harmful.
Some stressful situations, like going through a divorce, or a high stress job continue for extended periods of time. If the stress is not resolved, your body remains on high alert, it eventually adapts and learns how to live with a higher stress level. In this stage, the body goes through changes that you may not be conscious of to cope with stress.
Your body continues to secrete the stress hormones and your blood pressure remains elevated. You may think you’re managing stress well, but your body’s physical response tells a different story. If the resistance stage continues for too long without the break needed to reset, restore and recover to offset the effects of stress, this can lead to the exhaustion stage. Resistance stage includes irritability, frustration and poor concentration. Sleep is interrupted, not as deep, and does not get to the necessary stage of cell renewal.
The exhaustion stage is the result of prolonged, chronic stress. Exhaustion stage happens when your physical, emotional and mental resources are drained to the point where you can no longer have the strength to fight stress. A little event may be what breaks the proverbial camels back. Hopelessness, fatigue, burnout, depression and anxiety are indicators, of this stage. Decreased stressed tolerance and decreased immunity also factor in. The physical effects put you at risk for stress-related illness.
When does stress become a problem? What can we do to counter the effects of stress?
The specific ranking of life events by stress level, known as the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS), was developed by psychiatrists Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe in 1967. This scale assigns Life Change Units (LCUs) to various life events to quantify their stress impact. The top 10 stress-inducing life events according to the SRRS are:
- Death of a spouse – 100 LCUs
- Divorce – 73 LCUs
- Marital separation – 65 LCUs
- Imprisonment – 63 LCUs
- Death of a close family member – 63 LCUs
- Personal injury or illness – 53 LCUs
- Marriage – 50 LCUs
- Dismissal from work – 47 LCUs
- Marital reconciliation – 45 LCUs
- Retirement – 45 LCUs
These events are considered significant stressors that may increase the risk of health issues. It’s important to note that individual responses to these events can vary, and personal coping mechanisms play a crucial role in managing stress. Remember, this prognosis may not be true in all cases for all people. It depends on the individual. The belief system they have, the support they have, and the coping mechanisms they employ. A marriage is happy occasion so why would it be on the list? A marriage brings with it change. Change is not a bad thing and is often a necessary requirement to advancement and growth. It is how we perceive change that creates either a resistance or enhancement response in us. A wedding can be stressful due to the perceived obligations, we put upon ourselves. It can also be a joyous celebration of the love we share. Eustress is a positive stress. It is performance enhancing, often a short-term experience where one has perceived control, and it improves well-being. Imagine studying for a big exam, or interview, excelling at it, and the confidence, joy and courage you receive because of your efforts. The impetus, the push either from yourself or a coach, parent, mentor, advisor, trainer is needed to get you to do the work required to reach your full potential. That is one of the reasons for deadlines. Humans are motivated by either the pleasure of reward, or by the avoidance of the pain, disappointment, or penalty or embarrassment of not doing the ‘thing’. The whole income tax system in this country is precipitated by this principle. How many people find doing their tax return to be stressful? It is the reward at the end of a challenge that we focus on. This is true of so many projects, endeavors, goals we set. There may well be frustrations along the path to the goal. Focus on the result. Jeff Kranos tell us that “Acute short-term stress in the human body confers a health benefit and activates pathways that promote longevity and resilience.” Good Stress. To build muscle, the muscle fibres need to be worked beyond their current capacity. Then rest is required, nutrition to fuel the growth of the muscle before the muscle is ready to be worked again. Good Stress.
Distress on the other hand, decreases performance. It can come with emotional, physical, and mental symptoms including but not limited to, back pain, headaches, digestive issues, irritability, emotional outburst of anger, tears, sadness, apathy, lack of self-care, vision issues, sleep disturbances, mood swings, and brain fog or lack of focus or feelings of overwhelm. If we stay in Distress for too long, it can lead to more serious issues like depression, high blood pressure, adrenal, hormonal and heart concerns. Distress can lead to dis ease. Distress doesn’t allow for the rest and recovery period. Our minds, bodies and emotions need to have a rest period to renew, restore and grow.
The Good News is: You have the keys to change the outcome. Our beautiful brains have plasticity. Most our bodies cells renew daily. Your biofield contains the energy of life. It gives you the energy to live well. Bioenergy, the energy of life, provides us with the energy, needed to live. When the bioenergy is gone, the body is life-less. Bio means life. So be good to your biofield. “The body is an energy system in constant energetic interaction with its environment.” “Healing happens on a non-conscious level through a transformation of the way you think and act.” Z. Hochstatter. Our thoughts create. It is essential to watch your thoughts.
Here is a list of practical things you can do starting today to help balance your stress levels.
1: Identify whether you are stressed. Just because something is happening outside of you, does not mean you need to stress about it. You can choose whether you want it to concern you or not. 2: Identify your stressor. Is it a physical environment, work environment, personal relationship, your self-image? Are your thoughts destructive to your peace of mind? Are you at battle with your values?
3: Identify the reason for stressor. Can you change your location if it is too noisy, or the temperature is irritating? Is it an internal or external stressor? Are there steps you can take to change? Now make a plan.
4: Identify and apply an appropriate stress management strategy. You can make changes to how you are living. Sit down and write a list of what is bothering you. Leave space to write in the answers/solutions to the concerns. Make another list of how you would like your life to be. Be specific.
Ask yourself what habits are detrimental to your well-being? What are you doing to bring joy into your daily life? Can you speak with a trusted friend, counsellor or therapist?
DO some physical activity, preferably outside! Walking for 25 minutes a day has been proven to lower blood pressure and improve the metabolic rate. Look at your diet. Sugar is a killer. Sugar feeds cancer and disrupts hormones. ( I like cake on special occasions too. A delicious chocolate cake brings me joy. One of the things that make it special is that it is a special occasional treat, not a staple food:} I bless it and eat it.
Every month Rose and I offer a PureBioenergy Healing Therapy for Stress Reduction. We know that stress causes 80% or more of all illnesses. “The energy we work with is informed. It is creative. This means it has the power to create or recreate the well-being of the person. When this happens, it happens on all levels. It happens on the physical level, emotional level, mental level and spiritual level. “We don’t address the illness, we address the health.” Zoran Hochstatter – 3 Chairs. Sign up for and attend the 4 day PureBioenergy Healing Therapy Online. Experience the change that happens when you start to be healthy, happy and joyful. Private PureBioenergy Healing Therapy is available in person or by distance for specific issues or ailments as well. You can reach me at [email protected] to set up an appointment. The reason we offer a monthly PureBioenergy Healing Therapy Online is that it provides a consistent method to balance stress so you do not get to the exhaustive stage. Here is the link to be put on the mailing list for our monthly healing events.
2024 was a highly stressful year for me, and my family. I give credit to God, prayer and PureBioenergy Healing Therapy which I asked for, paid for, and received the many benefits of mental, physically, emotionally and spiritually. I am grateful for the friends that checked in, walked with me, and made me laugh along the way. Stress can make us a stronger, resilient compassionate person. We manage stress, so it does not control us.