Mind and Spirit

Mental and spiritual disquietude (stress, anger, worry, restlessness, hatred, hopelessness, nervousness, ingratitude, contention, and negative attitudes) may create as much risk for cardiovascular disease and other diseases as cholesterol or smoking. Forty-three percent of all adults suffer adverse health effects from stress. Seventy-five to ninety percent of all doctor’s-office visits are for stress-related ailments and complaints. Stress is linked to six of the leading causes of death: heart disease, cancer, lung ailments, accidents, cirrhosis of the liver, and suicide. Stress is known to trigger the release of certain hormones that cause the heartbeat to speed up; blood pressure to increase; breath to quicken, and for the muscular system to move into a tensed and ready state, similar to an animal that readies itself to flee from danger.

Various factors cause stress including the state of the world, country, or community, in which you live; unpredictable events such as 9/11, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, and so forth; the environment in which you work; the actual work you do; family life; the effects of poor health habits or irresponsible behavior; a perfectionist mentality versus a healthy progressive mentality; a tendency to take on more than can be accomplished; negative or pessimistic attitudes; setting unrealistic expectations; an unforgiving attitude; persistent personal weaknesses, and unresolved experiences which are burdensome to your soul.

Chronic stress is associated with unrelenting demands such as financial worries, unemployment, dysfunctional family relationships, caring for a chronically ill person, unhappy career choices, perfectionism tied to unrealistic expectations of self and so forth.

Acute stress is caused by things such as a car accident, or extreme events such as parachute jumping, encountering a wild animal such as a bear, or other frightful encounters or events.

Stress can lead to a loss of objectivity, confusion, inability to concentrate, a shortened attention span, problems with memory, difficulty with making decisions, poor judgment, inability to slow down thought processes, and misunderstanding what others are trying to tell you.

Stress can also lead to physical symptoms such as muscle tension and pain, sleep disturbances, headaches, chest pain, irregular heart beat, high blood pressure, weight gain or loss, shortness of breath, skin problems, weakened immune system, and hair loss.

It can lead to emotional symptoms such as sudden shifts in moods, restlessness and uneasiness, frustration, anger, resentment, irritability, jealousy, oversensitivity or over reactivity to situations, feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, fear of failure, depression, apathy, loss of interest in hobbies, fun, and enjoyment, and unexplained worry or desires to cry.

Stress may also be recognized by behavioral symptoms such as overdoing exercise, change in eating habits to eating more or less than usual, oversleeping or not sleeping, isolating self from other people, staying home from work or other responsibilities, becoming bossy or inflexible, losing temper, becoming angry, argumentative, or violent, and taking inappropriate and illogical risks.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) declared stress a hazard of the workplace. In terms of lost man hours due to absenteeism, reduced productivity and workers' compensation benefits, stress costs American industry more than $300 billion annually. The lifetime prevalence of an emotional disorder experienced by most individuals is more than 50%, often due to chronic, untreated stress reactions. In addition to dietary factors, a leading cause for poor health is the chronic mental and emotional state known as stress.

Everyone experiences some of the above symptoms from time to time. If they are chronic, they worsen health and shorten life. Your stress management aim should be to enjoy a happy and peaceful state that produces happy emotions of well-being. This will trigger healthful chemical reactions in the body that uplift and enhance the metabolic processes and lead to increased health and longevity.

The following are a few basic stress management steps that may help:
• Getting enough restful sleep, which rebuilds the mind and body and helps prepare you to meet life’s challenges.
• Exercising at least 30 minutes a day, six days a week enjoying activities that you love and look forward to doing.
• Reducing or eliminating the intake of stimulants such as caffeine, sugar, alcohol, or any substances that cause you to feel high one moment and crash a short time later.
• Reducing or eliminating the intake of mind-numbing substances such as alcohol or drugs which don’t actually alleviate stress or solve the problems that are causing you stress.
• Employing the dietary principles taught in this book.
• Involving yourself in some leisurely activity each day that helps you unwind and refocus.
• Having support from a friend, spouse, clergy, or otherwise that can help you see things clearly, overcome confusion, and be able to focus on problem solving.

In addition to the general steps mentioned above, in the lives of most centenarians, as well as in my own life, specific habits have played distinct roles in overcoming stress and improving one’s state of mind, outlook, emotional peace, and tranquility. In most people’s lives, these habits are at least as significant as dietary lifestyle change. We recommend you read the 12 Habits of Peaceful living in Original Fast Foods (pp.211-223), as well as the article at the following web address:
http://sabbathgems.blogspot.com/2010/10/sabbath-gem-3-faith-its-basis-its-power.html

Attaining a peaceful and loving state is essential to good health.

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ENDNOTES:
American Heart Association, http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4750
ABC News Health, Stressed Out and Sick About It, http://abcnews.go.com/Health/MinuteClinic/story?id=493978
WebMD Medical Reference in collaboration with the Cleveland Clinic, http://my.webmd.com/content/pages/7/1674_52147.htm