Do you have stress in your life? Are you joking?

     I remember vividly going to get a massage one day and the massage therapist asked me if I had stress in my life.  Are you joking?  I have a life don't I?  Who doesn't have stress in their life?  Everyone has some form of stress in their life.  The body's stress reaction is meant to protect us.  When we are constantly on alert due to stress our health can pay the price.  So what can we do?
     Stress is our bodies "fight or flight" reaction.  According to The Mayo Clinic, when we encounter perceived threats our "hypothalamus, a tiny region at the base of your brain, sets off an alarm system in your body".  Our body sends a combination of nerve and hormonal systems which prompts our adrenal glands to release a surge of hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol.
     Adrenaline increases your heart rate, elevates your blood pressure and boosts energy supplies.  Cortisol (the primary stress hormone) increases sugars (glucose) in the bloodstream.  Cortisol also "alters immune system responses and suppresses the digestive system, the reproductive system and growth processes".
     Some stress in our lives in normal and even helpful.  The problems begin when stress becomes a constant in our lives.  If stress is always present and we are constantly feeling stressed, tense, nervous, or on edge, we have a problem.  The "long-term activation of the stress-response system - and the subsequent overexposure to cortisol and other stress hormones - can disrupt almost all your body's processes".  This puts you at risk for heart disease, sleep problems, digestive problems, depression, obesity, memory impairment, and worsening of skin conditions (eczema).
     People relate to stress in different ways.  Genetics do play a part in the stress response.  Overactive or underactive stress responses may stem from slight differences in genes.  Some people may trace strong stress reactions to early environmental factors.  People who are exposed to extremely stressful events as children tend to be very vulnerable to stress as adults.
     As we take a look at the stress in our lives it is important to remember that we are unable to take care of those around us without caring for ourselves first.  When we enter emergency situations we must take care of ourselves first then tend to those around us.  The truth is in our real lives we have a tendency to put everyone around us first and ourselves last.  We must begin to take care of ourselves in order to become better caretakers of others.
     What can we do?  Eat a healthy diet, get regular exercise, get plenty of sleep, practice relaxation exercises, or take up a new hobby.  Go out with your friends and do something fun!  Have a sense of humor.  Embrace religion.  Have fun.  Laugh out loud.  Live each day to the MAX!!!!
     Today I played golf by myself.  I enjoyed the beautiful outdoors and laughed everytime I hit the ball badly (which was a lot)!  Today I spent time working on myself so that I can help my family!  Stress?  Yes I have stress!  The key is to learn how to live with it!

Blessings -

Emmie