This post was originally published a number of years ago. The message is simple, but it can such an effective way to reduce stress that I wanted to share it with you again today. I pray that it will help make your day just a little easier!
All addictions do basically the same thing. They push unwanted thoughts, feelings and memories temporarily out of our awareness. Many of those thoughts and feelings come from, or are exacerbated by, what we perceive as stress in our lives.
What is stressful is not the same for everyone. Our brains are continually scanning the world around us. It’s looking for anything it perceives could be a threat to OUR personal well-being and determining whether we have the resources to effectively deal with it or not. If, because of our past experiences or beliefs, our brain concludes that a situation may be more than we can manage, it tags it as dangerous. That label causes us to feel anxiety and stress and activates a variety of body responses to prepare us to carry out the fight, flight, or freeze response our brain believes will save us. If, on the other hand, our brain decides that our skills and resources are most likely sufficient to handle the threat, even something that would normally be extremely stressful to others, will not have the same effect on us.
The Effects of Stress
When we feel stressed, our body increases its production of certain chemicals in our body. These chemicals trigger the increased heart rate, blood pressure, muscle tension and alertness that we will need to respond to the perceived danger. In addition, it slows down things like our digestion and immune systems that won’t be helpful in protecting us in a dangerous or challenging situation. This insures that all our energy and resources can be directed toward those things that will.
In truly dangerous situations, this is a short term response that gets us to a place of safety. But if, because of unresolved issues, we are under perpetual stress and begin to live full-time in a place of heightened readiness, it will, over time, “burn out” our body.
A Simple Antidote for Stress
The recovery process will, ultimately, help you resolve the core issues that cause many of these stress responses. But, until then, there’s a very simple exercise that can help you reduce stress and the effect it has on your body.
One of the best ways to lower your stress levels is to practice deep breathing. It sounds too easy to be of help, but you may be surprised.
- Close your eyes,
- Breathe in deeply through your nose as you count to six.
- Hold the breath in to the count of three
- Slowly exhale through your mouth, while you count to six.
- Relax for a few seconds and repeat until your are feeling calmer.
- Pay attention to any areas of your body that feel particularly stressed.
- Deliberately try to relax those muscles as you continue to breathe.
Interestingly enough, studies show that this kind of slow, intentional breathing—in through your nose, out through your mouth—actually cools down your brain, allowing you to think more clearly and solve problems better.
Next time you feel the stress building, stop and take a few minutes to breathe! Learning how to proactively handle stress can actually be a baby-step in reducing your desire to act out.
“But I have calmed and quieted myself. I am like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child I am content.” Psalm 131:2
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