Stress Management
Natural Stress
Stress is the inherent mechanism by which we perform meaningful activities. Without incentive in the form of stressors or conflict, nothing stands to prevent the body from completely shutting down. This "natural" stress exists in all different forms at all different levels, and it is unique in each individual’s makeup. Genetic and epigenetic disposition push some to be more sensitive towards their environment and more susceptible to external stressors. For these people, small amounts of stimulation produces an intense response in the form of stress.
Amplified or Pathological Stress
Everyone is probably familiar with “amplified stress” which exceeds the typical levels of natural stress. This “reactionary stress” is simply the body turning up stress levels in certain parts of our physiology to better cope with a trigger. Doing so is the body’s method of calling for a more active response during a demanding situation. However, extended environmental stressors can make things worse for the body.
The same genetic and epigenetic disposition of a person also plays a role in the way one perceives amplified stress. But beyond one’s individual makeup comes the common practice of investing too much thought into stress, which only makes it more harmful towards the body. As tension continues to build, our bodies create free radicals, which are the precursors to many diseases.
MindScape addresses stress by looking to better the management and distribution of stress in the body. One thing we can do with MindScape is to reduce the belief systems that inhibit a healthy relationship with our environments. Perhaps the biggest part of mitigating stress, however, involves helping people manage it themselves by making them aware of the areas in their life where stress triggers can be found.
Beliefs and Stress
The cingulate gyrus (center portion of the Brain) is where we hold our assumptions about life, our belief systems and our indoctrinations. How strongly we are indoctrinated in any concept or dogma is directly related to the amount of thought we put into it. Whenever we dwell on a certain subject, we lay down a vast array of neural connections in associated brain parts which becomes our “programming.” Likewise, by no longer thinking about an object or concept, those nerve fibers begin to die, and the neural connections are no longer supported. Thoughts are simply information. They can be reprioritized and de-amplified. By training your mind to go in directions other that your habitual thought patterns, you create different physiological reactions. This will alter the way you respond to things, people and situations.
1. No activity at any level of existence occurs without stress. This is the natural stress that keeps the universe moving and our bodies alive.
3. Whenever we add our reactive
thinking to a naturally occurring
stress, we amplify it. It is this
“amplified stress” that leads to i
mbalance and disease.
5. When people are continually exposed to the same stress triggers, any measures to balance and calm their system will usually be temporary. For lasting results, changing the situation is necessary. This may involve changing their attitude toward the situation or completely removing themselves from it.
6. Profound stress is created by attaching our identity to our collection of intellectual thought processes.
8. MindScape address pathological belief systems which amplify stress in relationships, work and different aspects of life through the active memory technique and through consciousness work.
2. Some people react to environmental stressors more sensitively than others. This is natural stress, and it is unique to each person’s disposition.
4. The biggest part of reducing stress is helping people to highlight their stress triggers and then discussing how to take practical action towards them.
7. Every thought process has an associated biochemical reaction in the body as well as a neural map. These lead to our habituated reactions to life. Changing our thinking, or detaching from thoughts, will alter our biochemistry and neuroanatomy.