Life in the 21^st Century

How to find Health and Wellness through the Relaxation Response

By: Jeff Laughlin, MS

Since before humans walked upright, there has been the fight-or-flight response –that sudden charge you’ve felt at frightening moments in your life. Perhaps it wrapped an icy hand around you when you were cut off suddenly by a bad driver. Or maybe time stood still as you leaped from your chair to escape a torrent of hot coffee gushing across the diner table and toward you.  

Whatever the circumstances, your fight-or-flight mechanism kicked in because your brain perceived danger. It told your adrenal gland to pump adrenaline and cortisol hormones into your body – which is like gulping a power drink and a shot of espresso at once. The combination boosts your speed, strength and focus so you can either stand and fight, or hightail it out of there.

Modern Improvements

"Humans have always been under stress. There's always been famine, pestilence, interpersonal problems. But what's different about modern-day life is the sheer amount of information and number of circumstances to which we have to adjust^[1].” Herbert Benson, MD is a pioneer in the field of mind/body medicine and the Director Emeritus of the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital.

As Benson says, humans have always faced stresses that triggered fight-or-flight responses – increased adrenaline and cortisol. But today, we deal with blurred boundaries induced by cell phones, PDAs, etc. (when and where does your work day end?), while trying to meet unreasonable expectations about response time and knowledge level created by things like the Internet and “wireless hot spots” (you can’t even get a cup of coffee without logging on). Add to that things like a world market where your job can be shipped to a third world country, and a volatile stock market. . . .

The list goes on and on. But the point is this. Any of the situations listed above can (and do) drive up stress levels. And because the stresses never really go away, your body holds onto adrenaline and cortisol far longer than is healthy. The result can be high blood pressure and increased heart rate. Your immune system and digestive system can be damaged. It can also suppress or alter your reproductive and growth systems.

What happens to your body?

If kept under stress for weeks or months or longer, you can suffer:

·                     Hypertension

·                     Heart disease

·                     Stroke

·                     Obesity

·                     Inability to get pregnant

·                     Insomnia

·                     Illness

·                     Depression

·                     And more. . .

What can you do?

Fortunately, there are some things you can do to reduce stress. The first thing you can do is “Turn off”. Turn off your cell phone, your PDA, your car radio and your television. Give yourself permission to stop checking e-mail 10 times an hour. Give your mind and body a chance to recharge and replenish.

The next thing you can do is COUNTER the effects of past and current stress levels.  According to Dr. Benson, the relaxation response is the physiological counterpart to the stress response^[2]. In other words, if you do things like eating a balanced diet, exercising 30 – 60 minutes a day, and enjoying time with friends and family (unplugged, if possible), you can reduce stress and its effects.

One highly effective relaxation therapy called REST (Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique) or “Floating” has been proven not only to reduce current stress levels, but to have lasting stress-relief effects.

How does it work?

In essence, you lie in a shallow pool of saltwater – that creates a zero gravity effect. With the water temperature and the room temperature set precisely at 93.5 degrees Fahrenheit, you lie weightless, warm and at ease. You may want to listen to music under dim lights. Or you may choose to relax in complete silence and darkness. Whatever you choose, the curative abilities of saltwater, warmth, and quiet (time away from bleating digital devices), will lower the production of cortisol and adrenaline in your body while increasing endorphins and improving circulation. Your blood pressure is lowered and heart rate slows, while your immune system gets a boost.

You will feel depression and anxiety lift, pain and headaches disappear, and your body will feel stronger and looser. Ultimately, your mind and body will be better prepared to deal with the mental and physical stresses of life in the 21^st Century.

Information for this article came from these additional sources:

Stress: Unhealthy response to the pressures of life; The Mayo Clinic www.mayoclinic.com  and http://www.floatationtankassociation.net/node/50

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