By Linda M. Rio, M.A.
Marriage & Family Therapist
PNA Deputy Director
 

For as much bad press the word “stress” gets in our world these days you’d think it is something to be avoided like the plague or swine flu! But you may be surprised to know that stress is not inherently bad and, in fact, can help save your life.

Stress is nature’s self-defense system. It is our body’s way of warning us that danger is approaching. Stress cannot be avoided and should not because then we’d be defenseless so could be harmed. Our body’s defense system has been a part of the human body for millions of years and not an invention of modern times, busy work schedules, a response to screaming kids or bosses.

What is a part of our busy world is that most of us do not properly monitor and manage our stress levels. Some stress cannot be avoided but what we do have the ability to do is counteract the difficult times of our lives with things that de-stress. I like to imagine a thermometer. Most of us have a body temperature around 98.6 degrees. We know that if we have a temperature of 102 we are ill so we do things like drink fluids, go to a doctor, take medicine…but most importantly we rest! Rest gives the body the energy to fight infection and repair itself. Stress is like an infection that spikes a fever. In order to allow for the stress level to lower we need to do things to help it…including rest. For mental and emotional stress the rest can come in a variety of forms like meditation, reading, viewing beautiful art, listening to soothing music. Physical exercise is also a key component to “brining the stress temperature down”.

Since stress is intended to help us defend ourselves it does have a direct effect on our bodies. In the most severe of cases stress has been shown to contribute to the development of such things as heart disease, headache, and, of course, pituitary tumors and other hormonal disorders! So, to counteract the physical and emotional effects of stress do physical exercise to help release the energy that is built-up in the body and intended to fight-off danger. In years gone by people had lots of physical work to do on farms and working in homes and factories. Today so many work hours and hours at a desk in front of a computer screen that the stress gets built-up. In a modern world we don’t have as many natural ways to release our everyday stresses so we need to develop methods like going to the gym regularly, taking dance classes, taking daily walks around the block, swimming, riding bikes with our kids, hiking etc.

I teach and then assign my clients breathing exercises. Breathing might seem natural and a totally unconscious but when we are stressed our breath becomes constricted and therefore less efficient. Learning to breathe more efficiently helps reduce stress. Yoga stresses proper breathing techniques along with many meditation methods as well.

Also, don’t forget to smile and laugh. Just practicing smiling, even if you don’t feel great, can cause others to smile back at us. So go out there and release that stress to stay healthy and live longer and happier lives!