Living Life in the Fast Lane

Modern life can be stress-full in different areas of life such as relationships (family, friends, romance), work, environments and random dramatic situations, sometimes not just from one area but multiple stress from different areas of life all at once.

We live in a world that is so over-stimulating with digital devices, media and opinions that it is too easy to not check in own mental state. It is very common when times get stress-full to distract mind by looking outside of self, instead of regulating thinking and behaviour.

When a person is stressed, even if it’s not articulated or explained, it will always be expressed through negative, aggressive or low vibrational behaviour, for example, poor communication, excessive alcohol drinking, smoking or eating.

If a person is not conscious, disconnected from self and lacks self-awareness, the symptoms of stress can be easily missed, buried and normalised.

Excessive stress can put pressure on the mind, body, emotions and spirit. It will cause disorders in mental, physical, emotional and spirit health which may then develop into dis-ease.

Stress triggers a number of hormones that are responses to protect self in an emergency but a stress-full life means that stress hormones may be active even after the emergency or easily triggered.

Types of stress hormones include:

– cortisol rests in the brain and can affect moods. It is also a steroid that can release anti-inflammatory properties to protect the immune system, it also affects blood sugar levels, blood pressure and memory function. This hormone works with a number of glands in the brain. The cortisol receptors are found in body cells. In times of stress, the body produces more cortisol to respond to “fight or flight” mode by reducing normal responses because the rush of cortisol response is to protect self.

– norepinephrine releases a biological chemical when relevant glands, cortisol and adrenaline become active. When the brain senses stress, this hormone has a high impact on brain and body to prepare for a danger reaction. It alerts the mind by presenting as increased alertness, sweaty palms. faster heartbeat and head rush because the blood circulates faster. This hormone can contribute to health issues, if its levels are too high from chronic stress. The low levels may trigger depression or autoimmune diseases. There are ways to restore the balance such as meditation, rest and holistic lifestyle.

– adrenaline is a hormone that is active when a person feels fear-full, stress, anxiety or when safety is at risk. It stimulates the sympathetic nervous system so the body prepares to fight or flight in dangerous situations. Symptoms include extreme alertness, a rush that fuels strength to fight or leave the situation quickly.

Common symptoms of stress are loss of concentration, anxiety, body pain from inflammation, overthinking, overactivity, poor decision making, breathing problems, chronic survival mode and difficulty sleeping. If you feel these symptoms regularly over a long period of time, then your mind and body are probably overstimulated with chronic stress.

Self care and knowing self as well as own behaviours allows self to develop self awareness and recognise triggers so that stress-full situations can be controlled by having a conscious plan of action as a response rather than a reaction, which may be exaggerated and prolong the hormonal unbalance. Emotions can also cause stress so a positive coping strategy will empower self to prevent over-reaction.