Stress Reaction and Mindfulness

Stress Reaction and Mindfulness

Understanding how a stressed out nervous system can effect your mind, body, and spirit.

When we perceive something to be a threat either actual or perceived the hypothalamus and pituitary glands send an ALARM to the adrenal glands.

The biological basis to this system starts in the HYPOTHALAMUS and the PITUITARY GLANDS. 
These two things try to maintain homeostasis in the body. 
Some things they help regulate are:
blood pressure
heart rate
mood
metabolism
sleep

The adrenal glands play a part in keeping the body in homeostasis as well. However, this is the part of the body that can set off the ALARM system so we can fight or flight in a situation that is too threatening.  This process activates the SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM. Many of us live in a very sympathetic nervous system state. 

What happens to our bodies when we live here is that our bodies start to break down. Too much external stress leads to internal dis ease in the body.
cardiovascular
autoimmune
nervous system
immune system

This then can lead to MALADAPTIVE coping. A lot of people end up trying to cope with all this stress by engaging in destructive behaviors:
Overworking
Hyperactivity
Overeating
Alcohol
Drugs
Cigarettes
Caffeine

Then what happens is the body starts breaking down even more and people may start to feel:
physical and psychological exhaustion
Loss of Drive
Depressed
Anxiety
Panic
Heart Attack
Cancer
Genetic Predisposition

Practicing mindfulness, meditation, yoga, exercise, eating healthy whole foods can help to relieve the body of all this stress. By practicing this you are activating the PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM which naturally works at calming the body down. When the body is under too much stress it can not do this very natural thing. 

By changing your thoughts and practicing mindfulness, meditation, as well as yoga, you activate the healing chemicals in your body. These chemicals not only heal your body and mind, they also heal the very ESSENCE of you. They heal the very SPIRIT and SOUL that lives within in you.
You can HEAL your mind, body, and spirit by the thoughts you choose to think.

"Be HAPPY everyday

Saturate your mind in 

HAPPY

LOVING 

JOYFUL

HARMONIOUS  

thoughts

and you will

HEAL"

~Melissa Samartano

Dr. Melissa Samartano, PhD.,LMHC
Holistic Counseling Center
Raynham, MA 02767
Cell# 401-263-1599
Office# 508-819-0441
http://holistichealingmindbodyspirit.com
http://holisticcounselingcenter.blogspot.com/?m=1