What is Stress
What is Stress?
We know that the pressures of contemporary society and the juggling between our many roles and commitments, both in the realm of work and our personal lives, accompanied by the ongoing barrage of technology we are exposed to, place significant demands upon us, both physically and emotionally. Burnout and stress related illnesses have become increasingly prevalent.
Our current tendency seems to be to define ourselves by that which we accomplish and produce in the external world which is accompanied by a “forgetting” of who we are and our intrinsic value simply as human beings
and not only as human doings.
We now know that stress contributes significantly to various health conditions, including heart disease, digestive disturbances, compromised immune systems, high blood pressure, chronic pain, anxiety and panic disorders, amongst others so our challenge clearly becomes one of how we can best take care of ourselves and maintain wellness. The good news is that this is entirely possible.
What is Stress?
Hans Seyle, a Hungarian endocrinologist, explored the physiological responses to stressful conditions in laboratory experiments. He observed that unmanaged stress causes significant damage to the endocrine system, the cardiovascular system, the immune system and the nervous system. It also increases blood pressure and blood sugar levels and heightens the perception of pain.
The definition of stress that Hans Seyle is known for that was instrumental in shifting our perception of stress is the following:
‘Stress is the nonspecific response of the organism to any pressure or demand’
This is significant as it clarifies that triggers and events are not the actual cause of stress but rather is influenced by our perceptions and responses to them. Stress, therefore, is the total response (mind and body) to whatever triggers we are exposed to.
This understanding is empowering as it sheds light on the fact that in any moment and at any time, we can Choose
our response to whatever comes our way rather than be a victim of circumstances.
Viktor Frankl, an Austrian psychiatrist and author of the book Man’s search for Meaning,
lost his entire family and barely survived the horrors of the Nazi concentration camps of WW II. He embodied this approach in the midst of the most brutal of experiences. He wrote as follows:
“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing; the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way’’
Our relationship to stressful triggers can either be Reactive, unconscious, automatic and conditioned or Responsive; grounded in the present moment, awake and aware. Given that our default mode is to move automatically into reactivity, the mind is in need of some kind of training that assists us in waking up to what is happening while it is happening. In this state of wakeful awareness, connected to our minds and bodies, we can respond with greater wisdom and effectiveness. This is where the practice of mindfulness can be powerful in navigating life challenges.
The Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program (MBSR), Mindfulness Based Yoga Sessions, Psychotherapy, Meditation Retreats and Professional Trainings
offered by Living Arts can support you in cultivating this responsive awareness, both in your formal practice and in your daily life where we need it the most.
