Stress Can Be Usefull (never thought I would say that)

[Jean]

Sharing a thought:

Stress can help us, sounds strange but consider the following, cavemen depended upon their physcial reaction to stress in order to survive. When confronted with anything that posed a threat the body's reaction to stress allowed the cavemen to be alert, focused and ready to "fight"...(is this sounding familiar to anyone)?

It is this survival response to stess that we still feel today when forced to deal with stress. Stress can be usefull (never thought I would say that).

Consider this: In nature, the continual wind on a tree can cause it to become very strong. This ever present stress forces the tree to stay grounded and dig deep to remain firmly planted in the ground.

Wanted to share this thought to all - especially to those memebers who are feeling high levels of stress. Our members are certainly strong fighters.

Love to all,
Jean

[SoCalGal]

I always say that if stress kills you I'd be long dead.

I mean that with all sincerity. I am fired up-a live wire-type A+++passionate-I over react-I worry-I stress-I drey-I agonize-but I also get things accomplished!

Have I mellowed in 50 years? I sure hope so but I've co-existed with stress my whole life. To me - life is kind of stressful (what an understatement).

That's my story and I'm stickin' to it:)

[kcherub]

You are absolutely correct on the caveman thing--people been stressing for centuries!

When I started having panic attacks, I needed to know what caused them. So, I looked up the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems and how they worked. A caveman's flight or flight response was how it was explained...

Legs feeling like jell-o? Rushing blood so that you could run away faster (from the T-Rex--okay, I am not sure that cavemen and T-Rexs co-existed, but it's a good visual).

Eyesight getting funky? Cornea opening to let in more light so that you can see where you are running!

Hands getting sweaty? Harder for a saber-toothed tiger to hold on to your arm.

Heart beating 90 miles a minute? A rush of adrenaline to, once again, help you run away (from the pteradactyl this time).

It's funny how it all works, and pretty interesting. For me, knowing what the systems were doing and how they worked with each other, helped me to stop being anxious about being anxious!

I swear, a panic attack is the most cardiac workout I get these days. Tee-hee.

[Bill]

Really good post, Jean. Got us thinking, and I think you are right. Flori and Krista, you guys have made very good points, too. Interesting. Peace and Love, Bill

[harrie]

I think there is a difference between acute stress and chronic stress. With acute stress I feel there are physiological changes that occur giving a person added energy, mental sharpness and strength. I think chronic stress has the potential of becoming physiologically debilitating and immune compromising. Therefore, I think it is wise to be able to analyse the acute stress in a way in which it does not become chronic if possible.

[kcherub]

Haaay, Harrie!

I agree. Mine used to be "normal", then "problematic", then "normal", then "uh-oh problematic" (that's the BC diagnosis), and now it's just part of life and seems pretty normal for all that I worry about! :)

Take care,

[fullofbeans]

humm ..sorry but I will have to add to your thoughts from a biologist point of view:

In biology the stress stimulus which causes teh 'fight or flight' answer is indeed a useful survival tool..except that in todays society we are not fighting nor flying away instead we internalise...and that is not good (chronic stress). Sport is a good release .

Wind "stress" is a physical force, when you train at the gym you become physically stronger. It has nothing to do with psychological stress.

[Jean]

Fullofbeans,
Yes, of course you are correct - from a biologist point of view....

My post was purely inspirational - the members have expierenced so much loss in the past few weeks and
it has been very sad and stressful to all. My post was meant to be inspirational in nature ...to help lighten up
the heavy hearts of many of us and those who are fighting so hard each day.

I do believe that even in todays world (cancer dx. or not) people face many problems and not everyone internalises stress. There are those who are motivated by it, become stronger, even angry which is a good emotion, like I am angry at cancer - and want to kick it in the pants for good.

As Flori stated she lives with stress as part of life (cancer or not) maybe Darwins
therory must be employed a bit also....in any event, it is an interesting topic
how different people respond to stress. Some fight back while others maybe more fragile in temperment do not? In life and business I see many different forms and levels of stress. Some handle it better than others...as I said my post was intended for pure inspirational intentions. Also my admiration to those members who are our heros....and are like the tree that digs in deep and stands strong and tall.

Jean

[harrie]

Krista, to me that was the roller coaster ride. Going from "normal" to crisis, then dealing with the problem, then accepting or working with the situation ( the point when attitude plays an active role in determining whether the situation is acute stress or chronic stress or a recognizable situation that is being dealt with)

[harrie]

Fullofbeans, a response to your post about psychological vs physiological stress....
Would you not agree though that psychological stress certainly has a physiological impact on the body? Like for example, under stress, different chemicals are released in various parts of the body, not to mention impacting the immune system. Also, muscles and circulation are effected by mental stress.
I agree, the stress one's body endures during workouts in the gym is a type of stress on the body, but to me that does not mean that psychological, mental, stress does not have its own physiological impaction.
What do you think?