BodyMind: How To Move In And Out Of Stress

In this blog I want to share the wonders and intricacy of the bodymind relationship. In reply to some of the comments to my blog last week, yes, absolutely spirit is an integral part of our being. However, as its affect on our health is far more subtle, I am more specifically exploring the relationship between our thoughts and our feelings and our physical health, how there is really a single mindfeelingbody. This is so often forgotten and yet it can have such a profound affect on our wellbeing.

For instance, imagine you are trying to squeeze some toothpaste out of a tube but you have forgotten to take the top off. What happens? I actually did this in one of my most unaware moments and the toothpaste soon found another way out through the bottom of the tube. It got all over me! If you do this, it may force a hole in the side, or whatever and wherever is the weakest point.

Now imagine that the tube of toothpaste is you, under pressure and beginning to experience psychological or emotional stress. But you do not take your lid off, as it were, by recognizing what is happening and making time to relax or deal with your inner conflicts. So what happens to the mental or emotional pressure building up inside you? Eventually it has to find a way out and if it can't come out through the top--by being expressed and resolved--it will come out somewhere else.

It will find the weakest point, whether through your digestive system, your nerves, immune system, behavior, or sleep patterns. Repressed or ignored it can become illness, depression, addiction or anxiety; projected outwards it becomes hostility, aggression, prejudice or fear.

The fight-or-flight stress response enables us to respond to danger if, for instance, we were on the front line of a battle or facing a large bear. And even though not many of us are often in those situations, bears do come in many shapes and sizes. Seemingly unimportant events can also cause a stress reaction, as the brain is unable to tell the difference between real and imagined threats. When you focus on your concern about what might happen it plays as much havoc with your hormones and chemical balance as it does in a real situation. Try remembering a gruesome scene from a horror movie and you will feel the muscles in your back or stomach contract. The images are just in your mind yet they trigger an instant response in your body.

Recent studies show, as if we didn't know, that job dissatisfaction, moving house, divorce and financial difficulties are at the top of the list of known stressors. But we all respond differently to circumstances: a divorce may be high on the list of stressors for one person but it may be a welcome relief to another! Life-issues that we are all subject to in one way or another are stressors for some but not for others. The difference lies in our response, for although we may have little or no control over the circumstances we are dealing with, we do have control over our reaction to them.

In other words, the cause of stress is not so much the external circumstances, such as having too many demands and not enough time to fill them. It is more our perception of the circumstances as being overwhelming; and our perception of our ability to cope, as when you feel stretched beyond what you perceive yourself to be capable of.

What you believe will color your every thought, word and action. As cell biologist Bruce Lipton says in his book, The Biology of Belief, "Our responses to environmental stimuli are indeed controlled by perceptions, but not all of our learned perceptions are accurate. Not all snakes are dangerous! Yes, perception "controls" biology, but... these perceptions can be true or false. Therefore, we would be more accurate to refer to these controlling perceptions as beliefs. Beliefs control biology!"

In other words, thinking that it is your work, family or lifestyle that is causing you stress and that if you could only change these in some way then you would be fine, is seeing the situation from the wrong perspective. Rather, it is the belief that something out there is causing you stress that is causing the stress. And although changing the circumstances certainly may help, invariably, no matter what you do, it is a change within your belief system and perception of yourself that will make the biggest difference.

When I feel myself getting stressed (and I do!) I take ten minutes to breathe and chill. Most importantly, I change the voice in my head from "I can't" to "I can." Find an affirmation that works for you in order to shift perceptions and belief patterns and to reinforce your strengths. My favorites are: "My mind is at ease and I am capable of doing everything," and "With every breath I am more relaxed and flowing through my day with ease."

Comments

[livinlife]

Beautifully brings together health and spiritualism. I believe there is something good about leading a healthy, giving and caring life! This helps put into words what I have always felt. Love the article!

[Janice Taylor - Huffpost Blogger]

Speaking of breathing and calming down, did you know that on average you take around 17,280 breaths each day? Great article, Deb!

Janice Taylor

[Geoffrey08]

Everyone needs Deb!

Just like a Mum but often wiser and she will remind you of stuff your Mum may be too shy to tell you about now that you are all grown up!

Heaven and Hell are within, it is our choice which one we choose, our learned responses to the world often cause us unwittingly to choose hell, thanks Deb for reminding me.

Your toothpaste analogy is interesting, I have proven a similar response with my health, when I suffered with asthma and allergies (supposedly allergic to just about everything) as soon as I reduced the main irritants from my diet,(mainly wheat and dairy) magically my asthma and allergies receded to the distant past!

You have inspired me to take a closer look at some of the choices I keep making in my responses to the world.

Cheers.

[Nelmsc]

Keeping stress in check can sometimes be a daily occurrence. It's extremely important to keep the stress in your life from harming your body and mind. Thanks for the information http://www.tranquilityisyours.com

[fpa12]

Deb Shapiro's article is very well written and provides much food for thought. I specially liked her metaphor of the bursting toothpaste tube with too much pressure and a closed top. She speaks about good techniques to open the top (vent your feelings). But what about ways to reduce the pressure, to cut down the stresses in our lives caused by external circumstances and by our dissatisfactions? For that, may I recommend an intriguing and helpful book, "Get Satisfied" by Carol Holst and Peter Whybrow, M.D., which includes actual stories of people who found the "satisfaction of enough" to lead happier lives.

[ken108]

Deb shines with her advice, in this way too hectic world. A wonderful addition to huffingtonpost.

[sageworks]

I just read the other day that in Hebrew there are no separate words for body and mind. There is just a person. I would assume, that Hebrew being a religious language, that would also include spirit.

[MPDuke]

This is a thoughtful and valuable reminder of our own natural resources. Thank you

[honestman]

Deb's understanding of the bodymind and her intuitive insight nwevwe ceases to astound me. Her book is refreshing. It i smy bible. As I can see what I am doing and how I can work with myself in order to lead a healthier mor productive life. I like the way Deb shows how the different parts of the body relates to our emotions and thoughts and how stress affects the whole body. Deb I have so much top learn from you. Keep teaching, keep writing, keep caring.

[ken108]

With the world spinning so fast these days, Deb's advise is timely and needed. Keep up the good work.

[Ruthy]

I was privileged to hear Deb speak just once.Now, I can read her wonderfrul blogs regularly/ She speaks as beautifully as she writes. Sincere, Knowledgeable, soft ... I listen to her when I can and read her books all day. Hope these bloogs keep up cause they keep me up.

Thanks for your insight

[ken108]

Debbie does Huffington with intelligence and style. Thanks for being so direct and genuine. You truly are a "natural" woman.

[GlennisGita]

Deb Shapiro! WOW- I love your Article!

I would not know anything about Stress in this busy
driven place of the USA! haha!

And I love your book "Your Body Speaks Your Mind"
I found your website: http://www.edanddebshapiro.com/
That is cool that you work with your husband.

Blessings on getting out this excellent information to the public!
Cheers
Glennis Gita

[katzimmer]

Thanks for this article! In a world where so many people have grown up believing that solutions to their problems are packaged, branded, and heavily advertised, it's good to read about the idea of a return to self. If we reconsider our perceptions, we empower ourselves to create our own solutions.

[krcok]

Thank you, Deb, for a well written piece on Stress Relief. I know 'chilling out' and taking time to breath, etc. are a necessity in a busy day. I just don't always remember to do that, I hope today I will thanks to you and your reminder.
I'm a big fan of you and your books.