HEALTHY COMPUTING EMAIL TIP 568: COMPLETE THE STRESS REACTION
As you wondering how you can survive this economic downturn? Do you get tight-up in knots and feel totally stressed? The more we are stressed, the more our bodies activate the immediate survival mechanisms with less awareness of future consequences. We often quickly react and say things that we wish we had never sad or we become paralyzed and do nothing.
Regain control and shift to neutral state when you exercise and COMPLETE THE STRESS REACTION.
HOW TO COMPLETE THE STRESS REACTION:
Remind yourself that when you are stressed and feeling overwhelmed, the body's intrinsic survival mechanisms are activated--you are ready for flight, fight or freeze. At this moment we become more and more controlled by our primitive brain and it is more challenging to think, plan and create new possibilities. Under high stress our behaviors may regress (e.g., we lash out to coworkers or family members, we drink and eat away our sorrows with sweets, stimulates and alcohol) and veging out in front of the TV only increases the paralysis.
Do movement and exercise for at least twenty minutes after being stressed to reduce and complete the fight, fight or freeze response. Only after the body has completed the cycle of the alarm reaction can regeneration occur and it will be easier to engage positively with others and explore new options.
