Emotional Stress responses can show themselves in a number of symptoms
Emotional Stress responses can show themselves in a number of symptoms
By Viola Woolcott
In one way or another we all experience stress. No one is immune to it. We have different triggers that start off our stress alarms. Some of them are of personal nature and they can be very overwhelming.
In a way it all depends on how we react to the challenging situation we find ourselves in. I know, it is hard to believe, but it isn’t really the situation we are stressed over, it is our perception of it all and how we react to it emotionally.
For most of us it isn’t easy to deal with a stress situation, because of how we were ‘programmed’ when we were very young and now we respond in a certain way to certain stimuli. We can overcome those programmed patterns, once we become consciously aware of them. By becoming consciously aware of them, they won’t continue to repeat themselves.
Emotional Stress responses can show themselves in a number of symptoms, from physical responses such as headaches and muscle tension to fear and anger to frustration and defensiveness, to name but a few. We have trained our bodies to respond in a particular way, so it will always go along with what the mind tells it to do. To some people it may feel uncomfortable, but by catching ourselves the moment it begins, by becoming consciously aware of our thought patterns we can teach ourselves to react in a different manner to personal triggers created solely by our minds. Since our bodies respond to thoughts, I think that we need to start listening and talking to our bodies internally.
When the situation arises, when feelings of anger, of fear are coming up, stop and ask yourself why you are feeling this way. Take responsibility for your emotional reactions. Don’t pass the blame to another person or something else. Even if you feel that you have every right to be angry at another person, you have to be the one in control of yourself. A situation, or another person can only make you angry, if you allow them to. It is always your choice and you who is in control of that.
It doesn’t matter where and what situation you find yourself in, take a moment, stop whatever it is you are doing and get in touch with your mind/body connection. You can take control of your physical responses to stress. Muscle soreness as well as tension headaches can be managed by allowing your body to relax. React in a different way. Don’t let your emotions be in control of you.
Our thoughts play a very powerful part in the responses of our body, but than our body doesn’t know how to be in charge until we teach it so. It reacts in the same way that you instruct it to. Telling your body that you will do things different on this occasion will start a chain reaction within yourself. Taking control will lead of your emotional responses, will result in better stress management, which results to a healthy, well-balanced nervous system, with less anxiety and negative physical symptoms.
How our bodies respond is dictated by the thought process in our minds. The mind and body are not separate and it takes effort on your part to reprogram the connection between mind and body. We can all change this programming if we are patient, stay focused and are consciously aware of the signals we are sending to our bodies.
Don’t give up, keep at it! Take conscious action to change it. With strong intentions and focus you will be very likely to succeed.
Telling your body that you will do things different this time will start a chain reaction within yourself. Taking control of our emotional responses, will result in better stress management, which results in a healthy, well-balanced nervous system.
Filed under: Mind | Body | Spirit on November 30th, 2007
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