Stress. We read about it, hear about it, and talk about it. Lately, when I hear or read about stress (estres – I’m learning Spanish, and now when I say or think certain words the Spanish translation pops up in my brain. Estres.) I hear/read about primitive times when we had to run from a lion, a SaberTooth Tiger, or a dinosaur. No, that’s wrong. That’s me referencing the movie Jurassic Park, which was fiction. As far as I know, dinosaurs and humans weren’t hanging out on the planet at the same time.
So, anyhoo, the experts will tell you that your body moves into Fight/Flight/Freeze causing stress (estres if you’re Spanish) and it’s mostly not life or death and the FFF response isn’t helping. In fact, it’s harming because you experience surges of things that are supposed to help you flee or fight, but in fact bring on – what we all dearly love – early aging.
I’m talking about stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, rapid heart rate, higher blood pressure, muscle tension and things that contribute to chronic pain, heart disease, digestive issues and a weakened immune system.
So. It’s not good.
But, here is the thing. You may not be encountering a SaberTooth anything, but what is causing your stress might be something really, well, stressful – estresful if you’re Spanish. Okay, that’s probably wrong.
And yet, even if the thing bringing your cortisol up is really not good, really troubling in fact, high cortisol isn’t going to solve it.
What is cortisol? Hang on. I’m checking. Okay, I’m back. Corisol is a stress hormone that, when elevated, leads to fat, low immunity, mood disorders, and more. It lost me at fat if I’m being honest.
My point? Yes, I had one when I started. Let me think if I can remember what it was.
Oh yeah. Sometimes the thing or things causing you to feel stress are equal in devastating effects to that of a big hyena (I was tiring of the saber-toothed analogy). So, I mean, they are stressful. Your body and mind aren’t always lying to you. Sometimes, life’s suckishness rears it’s head and stress is kind of an appropriate response. But also, the stress can kill you. And, if it doesn’t kill you, it can age you. And, make you fat. Dammit.
Life is dramatic. Things can seem like a lot. Things can BE a lot.
So, what are we to do? Allow the corisol to run willy nilly and have its way with us? I suggest we acknowledge that whatever we are experiencing that is causing us to feel stress does (maybe. for now.) suck. Also, we can probably find at least one thing that makes us happy – your dog, a cup of tea and a book, a hug. And, then, smile. Or don’t. And move forward.
Acknowledge the stress bringer’s largess. I really wanted to say largeness, but it doesn’t sound as good as largess and might not be word, so I went with largess. Oh, maybe stress brings some Largess – maybe what is bringing you stress is also bringing opportunity… largess.
Or, maybe it just sucks. In any case, breathe. Take a moment for gratitude.
And walk into the world feeling its JOY. Joy allows us to live in a world with saber-toothed tigers, large hyenas, and devastating challenges swirling all around us.
Joy is the antidote.
It’s not the only antidote.
There are many antidotes to stress. I guess.
But, for today, my pick is Joy.