July 1, 2015, Editors Edition
Nationally Recognized
Psychotherapist Bill Benson, LMFT, LPCC Questions the Commonly Held Definition
of Stress
For years,
health care professionals (including many therapists) have advised their
patients to live as stress-free as possible. They’ve cautioned: “Stress
kills.”
Recent
findings, however, indicate stress is not the lethal culprit we once
thought it to be. Science now confirms it is our negatively held beliefs about
stress that damage our bodies and (over time) may spell our demise. In other
words, it is not the actual events in our lives but how we perceive these
occurrences that determines our emotional and, ultimately, our physical
outcomes.
When we struggle with situations, our veins and
vessels constrict – and this kinetic tension taxes our bodies, triggers
inflammation, weakens arteries and veins, and leads to disease (dis-ease). It’s
now clear that struggle, not stress, is the Grim Reaper’s best friend….
One popular form
of Struggle is worry. This emotional
state is especially damaging because worry is future-focused. Sure, we all need
to plan ahead, but thoughts of “what if this happens” or “what if that happens”
tend to trigger anxiety responses that are not based on anything that’s
factually unfolding. There is nothing anyone can do about things that have yet
to (and may never) happen. We are essentially emotionally shadowboxing here because
these ruminations are creating fears that are, more often than not, false alarms
(False Evidence Appearing Real). A lawyer friend of
mine once stated that many of her clients wasted a lot of time worrying about
things that, statistically, will never take place. Let me repeat: an attorney -
a person whose financial stability
involves mitigating risk – admitted this to me.
There is
hope, however. By training ourselves to identify, and then reframe our thoughts
during challenging situations, we can actually circumnavigate negative
biological chain reactions. In fact, we can actually use stress to enhance our emotional health.
The key to the
beneficial use of stress lies within our collective chemistries. Oxytocin, a naturally produced brain-based
hormone, fuels our nurturing desire. Oxytocin is sometimes referred to as “the
hug drug” because babies (in constant need of care) bathe in the stuff: When a
baby is hungry it cries - and then receives food from an alerted caregiver. Oxytocin
released because the baby is stressed.
The current Pixar
movie Inside Out is an insightful
portrayal of how our brains affect on our emotions and actions. By the film’s
finale, we learn that the main character’s sadness provides a vital trigger for
her reaching out for a solution to her troubles. We can note her film journey in
this way: Stressful events => sadness => Oxytocin release =>
desire to bond => seeking help and reassurance => a happy ending.
It has been
hypothesized that oxytocin release during stressful situations serves to dampen
physiological stress levels.1 Its presence has both direct and
indirect inhibitory effects on the (central) amygdala.2 The amygdala
is our biological “fight or flight” alarm clock – Oxytocin, therefore, allows
us to hit snooze on our panic buttons when our misguided thoughts create worry
and fear. Instead of running away from our troubles, we, instead, seek help in
solving them. What’s more, this process is a win-win scenario for everyone
involved, because helping others also releases feel-good oxytocin. This is the
reason band together when crisis arises and why those who volunteer tend to become
emotionally healthier.3
Stress Management
Stress
doesn’t have to involve worry or trigger high blood pressure. It is not the stress
but the way we perceive this emotion that creates the distinction between
health and horror. Consider this: When we jog a mile, pick up a dumbbell or
take a yoga class, we are actually stressing our bodies. Yet, these experiences
yield a positive result: The physical stress builds our muscles and releases
pent-up energy. If we approach these activities from a relaxed psychological
perspective our hearts (which have oxytocin receptors) drink-in this healthy
chemical – creating a sense of well-being.
Instead of “stressing
out,” decide to embrace your challenges with optimism and ease – and don’t
be afraid to ask for help. You have the power to create the perspective that will
produce oxytocin - and keep you healthy and happy for years to come.
1.
Psychoneuroendocrinology
Journal, September 2013, Volume 38, Issue 9, ,The role of oxytocin
in social bonding, stress regulation and mental health: An update on the
moderating effects of context and interindividual differences.
Pages 1883–1894.
2.
LeDoux, 1994, The
amygdala: contributions to fear and stress. Semin.
Neurosci.
1994; 6: 231–237
3.
Emotional
Mojo Newsletter, Health Benefits of Volunteering, March 2014.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Bill
Benson is a Board certified Behavioral Scientist and Licensed Psychotherapist.
Bill pioneered The Mental Gym, a
counseling practice that has trained thousands to build, and then maintain
healthier perspectives and emotional muscle.
A go-to expert in the Psychology field, Bill
has appeared on a variety of television programs, including Fox's Good Day LA, CBS' Woman to Woman, and NBC's Tonight
Show.
Bill is a recurring panelist for Huffington Post Live and co-hosted 250
episodes of the cable talk show Doc Talk.
Bill is a published writer, covering creative
solutions to life’s challenges. He and his work have been featured in
newspapers and radio programs across America.
For Keynote speaker appearances or media
support please contact Gary S. Monroe, MERG Digital Marketing & PR. info@mergdigital.com mergdigital.com 310.945.7414
Media Contact:
The Mental
Gym
1041 North
Formosa Avenue
Formosa
Building – Suite 9
West
Hollywood, CA 90046
USA
Website:- http://www.thementalgym.org/
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