Stress Management

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I won't waste any time. The source of stress is resistance. Natural resistance is like the friction that enables us to walk across the ground, the momentum that keeps a baseball on its course and not wandering all over the place, the tendency of habits to maintain themselves and of memories to hold their pat-tern. Natural resistance produces the healthy cycle of life in which things tend to hold their pattern, but are flexible enough to adapt and change.

Generally speaking, there are four kinds of resistance: physical resistance, emotional resistance, mental resistance and spiritual resistance. When the body experiences stress, five things happen almost simultaneously:

Sugar is released into the bloodstream. The natural purpose is to provide energy for action and in the natural cycle just the right amount of energy is released to deal with the situation experienced. If the release and relaxation parts of the cycle are interrupted, more sugar is released than is needed, and disharmony occurs. A little bit of vigorous physical movement will help use up the extra sugar.

The thymus gland contracts. Related to growth in chil­dren, this large gland in the center of the chest behind the breastbone is related to the immune system in adults. A natural contraction and release is intended to stimulate the production of white blood cells, but sustained con-traction inhibits them and adds to feelings of anxiety. Lightly tapping your chest with your fingers will help the, thymus relax.

Muscles tense. The purpose is to strengthen and stimulate the cells in preparation for appropriate action. The relax­ation part of the cycle allows them to recharge. Body builders know that muscles are strengthened and increased by repetitions of tension and relaxation. Sustained muscle tension will cause cells to break down, toxins to accumulate, and oxygen and nutrient supplies to diminish.

Pain apparently is due not only to muscular tension impinging on nerves, but also a lack of oxygen at the cell level. Muscles, by the way, are not just those big masses of flesh that move your body. Your nerves and your internal organs are also sheathed in muscle tissue. Stretching and brisk, self-applied massage will help relieve muscular tension.

Capillaries dilate. Capillaries are the very small veins and arteries that carry blood directly to and from your cells. They are sort of like a tubular net that allows the oxygen and nutrients of the bloodstream to seep through and nourish the cells. Under stress the holes in the net expand and plasma, the clear watery substance that carries the blood and nutrients, pours through faster. The purpose, when the relaxation part of the cycle is operating, is to feed the cells faster and cleanse them quickly, washing toxins into the lymph system where they can be carried away and discharged.

Under sustained tension, lymph movement is slowed down and plasma and proteins accumulate between the cells, causing a buildup of toxins, pressure, and swelling, as well as inhibiting the cells' supplies of nutrients and oxygen. Under extreme stress, such as injury or shock, the net opens so wide that blood corpuscles spill out, causing black-and-blue marks and/ or pallor (unnatural paleness). Due to this effect, very severe shock may even require blood transfusions as the corpuscles continue to spill out of the stressed capillaries. Gentle massage, except where there is injury, is also helpful for this condition.

Cells release toxins. Our cells are releasing toxins all the time as a natural part of their regular activity. Under stress their activity increases (as long as tension doesn't inhibit it) and so does the amount of toxins they release. The natural process is for these toxins to be washed clear by the plasma and carted off by the lymph system to be discharged through perspiration, respiration, and elimination.

When sustained tension inhibits the cleansing of toxins they build up locally, poisoning the local cells and finding their way into the bloodstream through the dilated capillaries, where they can affect the brain and the glands. This is one reason why some people get dizzy or irritated when they are beginning to relax, through mas­sage or some other means, after a long state of tension. Deep breathing, which stimulates the lymph system and discharges toxins itself, is very helpful.

The effects of stress described above occur all over the body to some degree, but most especially in those areas directly affected by the stress. Since all conditions of sickness in the body are stress related, according to ancient spiritual teaching found in many parts of the world, knowing the source of stress will be highly useful in helping to bring about a healing.