Tag: #scienceofemotions

Has anyone else noticed that over the last year, we have been 💯 inundated with messages of fear? Politics.  Pandemics.  Mass shootings. (Oh my!) 

Hostility among social groups, friends, and even our loved ones is rampant as many hold differing views on nearly every subject that anyone is talking about right now.  Even some celebrities are jumping on the bandwagon of spreading hate and malcontent. 

 I recently came across Jim Carey’s awful “political art” letter to Melania Trump, calling her the “Worst First Lady”.  Seeing it made me feel sick to my stomach.  

I didn’t particularly like Melania Trump, and I really didn’t like her husband – but who knows why she made the decisions she did?  I can only imagine how hard it would be to be married to DT, Amiright?   But I guess the main question is, who are we to judge so harshly?  How would any of us feel if that kind of vitriol was directed at us?

But there are plenty of other subjects to keep us in a state of angst.

Presidents.  Vaccinations.  Border control. Masks.   

Stay at home.  Get outside.  

Open businesses fully.  Close businesses fully.  

Get rid of guns.  More guns, greater control. 

Black Lives Matter.  All lives matter. 

All Cops Are Bastards.  Law enforcement saves lives.  

De-fund police.  More funding for police to provide better training.  

Avoid social interaction.  We need greater social interaction for emotional and physical wellness.

Peaceful protests.  Out of control riots.

Democrat.  Republican.  Conservative.  Liberal.  Boomer.  Gen Z.   Millennial.  

Save the environment.  F#ck the environment.  

Save the trees.  Raze forests to buy more sh#t from Amazon.  

The list goes on, but you get the point.  Nearly everyone I speak to believes we are in crisis.  Most believe this is a tipping point and many think the world is heading to hell in a handbag.  

I’ve spoken to many Christians who believe we are in the “End Times” as foretold by Revelations.  Shoot, I’ve spoken to agnostics and atheists who think we are in the end times.  Well, maybe we are, maybe we aren’t.  Doesn’t the bible also say “But of that day and hour no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.”? (Matthew 24:36)  

So why assume or speculate?  Because some part of us loves the fear.  Loves the drama.  Loves the angst.  Or, if we don’t love it, at least we accept it as “the way it is”.   We become accustomed to this “new way of being” and those new neurological patterns become habits.  

But habits that include daily fear, anxiety, anger, or depression can not lead to an improvement in our circumstances.  In fact, living in the toxic environment of chronic stress impacts our physical and emotional well-being, compromises our immune system, depresses neurological function, and, from the level of frequency, our ability to create a good life.  

This isn’t just woo-woo or psychobabble.  Wondering about the science of that statement?  Let’s break it down.  

One of the major responses to various stressful conditions is the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis  

This is a cycle that begins with the Hypothalamus, (part of the brain responsible for stress control) where it sends signals to the Pituitary Gland (Conduit for chemical messengers that send information to cells throughout the body) that there is environmental stress.  The pituitary gland sends these messengers to the Adrenal Gland, which starts pumping out stress hormones such as Adrenaline and Cortisol.  

This relay of information is based on the bodies’ primitive flight or fight response.  Whether the threat/stress is a saber-toothed lion, a cruel comment on social media, the news’ constant fear-mongering, or an argument about whether Trump or Biden will go down in history as the best – or the worst – president in history, the physiologic response is the same.  

But let’s get back to how the HPA axis affects our body.  As Adrenaline and Cortisol are pumped into the bloodstream, blood flow is re-directed from our gut and vital organs to our external limbs (fight or flight, right?  Fists or feet)  

Now, we generally know that the fight or flight response is a vital and necessary aspect of the survival of the human species.  But thousands of years ago, it might be necessary to fight or run from a threat every once in a while.  But we are living in a time when stress is constant and chronic, which means we are activating the HPA Axis on the daily.  Not good. 

Over time, the nourishment of our vital organs, immune system, and brain become inhibited.  Really, really not good.  

Add to this the fact that many of us have been isolated from our friends and loved ones (seniors and children/teens being the hardest affected by this) which also activates the HPA Axis. 

(Studies have shown that in the absence of affection/love, vital statistics decrease by an average of 30%😳😳) 

Is it any wonder that so many become sick, depressed, or angry?

When we become habituated in an emotional response, that response is programmed into our subconscious as a behavior, and that behavior becomes our personality, for better or for worse.  So occasional frustration becomes habitual anger which becomes an angry, abusive person.  

Yuck, right?  

But when we habituate gratitude and joy, the same happens.  Moments of gratitude turn to contentment, which becomes a happy, healthy human. 

 And who doesn’t want to be a happy, healthy human?

If we become aware of our emotional state – and the huge impact it has on our physical health, the vast majority of us would choose joy over frustration and anger.  

Vibrant health over Dis-ease. 

Love over hate.  

Peace over war and bitterness.  

Creation over destruction.  

So here is an alternative to creating a happier reality:  The next time you find yourself reacting to the media, or social media, or someone’s differing political or other views, just stop for a moment.  Take a big breath and step back from that knee-jerk reaction. Remind yourself of the harm you are doing to yourself and others.

 Remind yourself that you ”have a precious human life and will not waste it.”

Then step back into the conversation with kindness. Agree to disagree.  Value others for their uniqueness and differences.   

Curate the news you expose yourself to or shut it off completely. 

Avoid toxic people or those that try to engage you in argument, even if those people are close to you.  You can love someone from a distance while choosing to create better for yourself.  

Seek social media presences and outlets that lift others rather than tear them down.   

Find healthy habits to substitute those that perpetuate toxic cycles.  Re-programming means overlaying old neurological programs.  

Feed yourself nourishing foods rather than junk.  Eat some good, dark chocolate.  

Cut back on the caffeine.  

Take Epsom salts baths.

Get outside and get some exercise, not only reaping the stress-busting perks of good physical fitness but also the myriad benefits of being in nature.  (See past blog on Shinrin-Yoku/Forest Bathing) 

But most of all, choose to celebrate this life rather than criticize and worry about things out of our control.  Look for the good rather than the ugly.  See the flowers over the weeds.  Or pull the weeds and plant some flowers! 

This is your garden, beloved. Do you want paradise or purgatory? Your choice. 💖

Much love;

– Terah