By: Batumba Tak
General Secretary
The St. Kitts-Nevis Trades & Labour Union
The Problem Of Stress
In the words of Mac Miller, “Someone told me sleep was the cousin of death and followin’ the dollar finds nothin’ but stress.”
In my previous article, I mentioned that during my recent illness I was completely stressed out mentally, physically and emotionally.
Well in today’s article, I am thanking all those persons publicly through this media house who visited and prayed for me because I fully believe that their prayer worked, and if truth be told I believe in the power of prayer.
In addition, I am also thanking the Nurses at the Sir Joseph Nathaniel France General Hospital who have helped me and others through our illnesses. They are doing a tremendous job and we all must thank them by encouraging them. Nurses keep up the good works for all of us will continue praying for all of you.
But number one of all I am thanking my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for not only keeping me, but for being with me always, just like He promised that He will never leave nor forsake me.
Jay Winner, MD, author of Take the stress out of your Life, and director of the stress Management Program for Sansum Clinic in Santa Barbara, California says “Stress doesn’t only make us feelawful emotionally, but it can also exacerbate just about any health condition we can think of.”
In addition, recent studies have found that there are many health problem related to stress thus stress seems to worsen or increase the risk of conditions like obesity, heart disease, Alzheimer disease, diabetes, depression, gastrointestinal problems and asthma.
Let us now continue from where we left off in our previous article.
Regardless if the stress is in the body or in the mind, the same physiological reaction takes place in the body, and the most noticeable effect of any type of stress is a marked increase of hormone secretion in the body.
The Health Experts have said that the hormone known as ACTH (or adrenocorticotropic hormone) is released in large quantities whenever stress is present.
However, this ACTH substance activates the secretion of cortisol. Cortisol in turn, enhances the production of adrenal androgens in the adrenal cortex.
In addition, the net effect of all these secretions caused by stress is to provide a sharp and immediate stimulus to the adrenal glands.
Thus, the adrenal glands sit right above the kidneys, and control many functions. Though I am pretty sure that we have heard of athletes or other people speak off “adrenalin rush.”
What some people might not know is that adrenalin is the most powerful stimulant known because stress causes adrenaline to be released and we consequently feel “stimulated.”
However, if we are constantly over stimulated by stress, we become burnt-out and incapable of responding to the stressful situations.
Therefore when some people drive in heavy city traffic or experience other intensely ‘stress-full situations their adrenal glands may actually “ache” or hurt from the constant stimulation being received.
Thus, an older gentleman, like myself, who complained of lower backaches while commuting in rush-hour traffic believed he had kidney problems. But in reality, his adrenal glands were just being overworked by the stress of commuter traffic.
Therefore, this is the danger in the stress reaction. Moreover, you can be under stress or over stimulated almost continuously.
However, please keep in mind that no one can run on “high” speed all the time, and the body eventually suffers. It is fully believed that this type of stress can provoke this adrenal reaction is widely varied.
Researchers have also discovered, however, that the following situations are sufficiently“Stressful” to spark a high ACTH release, which means the body becomes highly stimulated.
Below please find some types of stress that caused Physiological reaction:
- Intense heat or cold.
- Injections of any sort.
- Surgical operations.
- Trauma of any type (physical or emotional).
- Any debilitating body crisis.
- Emotional outbursts or anxiety attacks.
However it seems as if stress is all around us, and its sustained effects can wear us down and make us vulnerable to negative thoughts and poor living habits. But keep the faith, there is plenty of hope.
Finally, the Health Experts have clearly state that the life science program which is based entirely upon our natural adaptations, provides the correct basis for living that allows us to with stand stress far better than if we transgress our own biological requirements and nature.
The Health Expert also say that the life science approach to stress management even long-term and emotional stress is three-fold; Exercise, Diet, and Relaxation.
Thus, these are three of the very essentials of health and well-being. So let us practice them and see how they will help us overcome stress in our daily life.
As time and space is of the utmost importance we will stop here for today, but shall continue in our next article by looking at stress management.
As I take my leave for today, I leave you with a quote by Amit Ray, Om Chanting and meditation, and a song by Suzy Kassem.
“If you want to conquer the anxiety of life, live in the moment, live in the breath.”– Amit Ray, Om Chanting and Meditation.
Apply Within
By: Suzy Kassem.
You once tell me,
You wanted to find,
Yourself in the world,
And I told you to,
First apply within,
To discover the world,
Within you.
You once told me,
You wanted to save,
The world from all its wars,
And I told you to,
First save yourself,
From the world,
And all the wars,
You put yourself,
Through.