Stress

By Shawn Vuong


The human stress response is a balance of two delicate systems, the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous systems.  The sympathetic system gives us that boost of energy and anxiousness we get before something big is about to happen or if we are surprised.  Our hearts beat quicker, we breathe faster, our pupils dilate, and our muscles prime for action.  This is the acute stress response that has helped us through our hunting and gathering years.  After that stress our parasympathetic response takes over.  It is known as the rest and digest system.  Usually after a big meal you'll feel pretty tired, that's your parasympathetic response at work.  


The problem becomes when stresses become a long-term issue.  Money, work, kids, relationships, and time all can add up and continuously stress us out.  This is bad, because this stimulates our sympathetic nervous system for a long period of time.  This system was not meant to be chronically simulated, and because of this we see the harmful effects of stress on the body. 


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By Richard P. Holm MD


Whose life is not stressful? The one who says she or he is not stressed has blindfolds on, or hasn’t lived long enough. A definition for stress is needed. What is stress? The dictionary says that it is a state of mental, emotional, or physical strain resulting from adverse or demanding situations.


The other evening I turned and asked my wife what she thought was the most stressful thing. We both agreed that it is to watch our children (and parents, for that matter) individually struggle with their own challenges in life… as we stand helplessly on the sideline, without the ability, or the right, to intervene or fix what’s happening. I know that at some point children should be left to learn from their own mistakes.


Knowing when to or NOT to step in is addressed in the Serenity Prayer: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. The prayer makes it seems so clear but the difficult part of the serenity prayer is the wisdom comment. When do you take the challenge to change something versus when do you leave it alone?


In the same vein, a recent study showed that men who bottle up their anger over unfair treatment at work and who are unable or not allowed to express their resentment over conflicts, are more than twice as likely to have a heart attack and/or die than those who can vent or manage such work-stress. I would never suggest people should let anger and temper rage, but unhappy-at-work people should either try to make appropriate changes there or switch jobs. No job is worth holding emotions in and dying young.


Whether it is children or a job that is making life stressful, may we all discover serenity and find the wisdom to change what we can, and let go when we must.