How It Begins

A stress habit starts as a conscious reaction to some outside stimulus.  For example, the stress you feel while you are stuck in traffic when on your way to an important meeting. While you sit in your car and fume, your brain is busy tagging that experience as a stressor and establishing an associated memory in which it equates traffic with stress.  Then, whenever you are caught in traffic (even if you are not in a hurry), your brain recalls the associated memory and you register a stress response.

Unless you aware this is happening, and unless you tell your brain to stop, the process will repeat.  On each repetition, it finds a shorter route through your brain circuitry, allowing it to occur faster each time.   Within a short while, the process has transformed your original conscious stress reaction into an automatic unconscious reaction — and you have yourself a stress habit.  Continuing with our example, this is why you might stress out so easily whenever you sit in traffic, or get stressed just thinking about traffic.

Does Any of This Sound Familiar?
The type of people most likely to develop stress habits fall into two basic groups. Let us refer to them as Group A, the people who seem to feed off stress; and Group B, the people who seem to fall victim to it.  Each group has a specific set of habits, although it is possible for a person to exhibit symptoms of both groups.

The stress habits of the people in Group A include believing they work best when under pressure or in a crisis mode; being impatient; disliking situations in which they are not in control; and becoming easily annoyed by situations other people usually take in stride.  They will often talk about how busy they are and yet they will seldom turn down an opportunity to take on more work or responsibility.  However, their eagerness does not necessarily result in positive outcomes.

The stress habits of people in Group B include using stress as a way of compensating for feelings of fear or inadequacy; becoming easily distressed or overwhelmed; being   reluctant to initiate solutions to their problems; and having a tendency to employ unhealthy coping strategies, such as over-eating or self-medicating, on a regular basis.  They also develop mindsets that become increasingly constrictive, making them prone to focus on obstacles or difficulties as opposed to opportunities and benefits.

Such a Bad Habit
As with most habits, the longer you have a stress habit it the harder it is to break and the worse it becomes.  As your stress level increases, so does the threat it poses to your physical health and well-being.  A high stress level also adversely affects on your emotional and behavioral functioning.  It diverts your attention, skews your perspective, restricts your thinking, and promotes regressive, passive aggressive, or avoidance behaviors.

You can never derive any real benefit from a stress habit since both its short-term and long-term effects are either self-destructive or self-defeating.  Nothing good can come from relinquishing your self-control over to the effects of stress or making stress a staple of your life.

But Here is a Good Idea
It is very difficult to notice when your brain initiates a stress habit.  However, now, you at least know what signs to look for so you can tell your brain to stop! If you have a stress habit, I urge you to get the help you need to get rid of it. Think about how foolish it is to have this habit and how it is actually making you miserable.  Stop being your own worst enemy!  Besides, with all the stress that exists in our environment or naturally occurs in your life, why in the world would you want any more?

This book is a terrific read but, more importantly, offers tremendous insight into how we think of “happiness.”  It helps the read gain a fresh and realistic perspective on what real happiness is all about and how we “find” it.   Interesting and great fun to read, the scientific research included in the book make is required reading for anyone who ever spends even a moment wondering about life. 

PBS aficionados are, no doubt, familiar with Dr. Dyer’s teleseminars and lectures on health, healing and spiritualism.  However, this is one of his earlier works (reprinted several times), that discusses issues such as self-esteem, owning one’s emotions, and building confidence.  The book also offers advice and exercises aimed at eliminated problems in these areas.  It is a perfect primer for anyone interested in getting the basics for managing his or her own life.  The fact that the book is still being printed is proof of its value.

You don’t have to be into neurobiology to find this book interesting.  Written to help people conquer anxiety, depression, obsessiveness, anger, and impulsive, the book is a testament as to how/why making changes in your life requires changing the way you think.  It also offers extremely helpful suggestions and advice as to how to change your thinking.  Among other things, this book is a valuable tool for anyone looking to break a bad habit.  Even just the images of the effects cigarettes, drugs and alcohol have on the brain are enough to help anyone re-think their habits.

As Dr. Gupta says, “the goal of this book is to help you extend your active life.” This book is an excellent resource for information on how to live a truly healthy life.  Don’t let the title dissuade you from reading this book.  This book is not just for those of us who are past the midpoint in our lifespan.   It’s about aging successfully period.  Let’s face it, everyone is constantly aging.  You are aging right now as you read this paragraph.  I highly recommend it for anyone looking to improve his or her overall health.

Spend two delightful hours in a combination of restorative postures, easeful stretching and realignment through the Anusara principles of alignment, mindful breathing, and meditation.  Rejuvenate mind, body, and spirit to better serve yourself, your family, and all around you.  Wonderful for practitioners of all levels, including pre-natal. The Saturday Serenity workshop is held the third Saturday of each month.

Visit www.yoga@capitolhillyoga.com or call 202.448.9680 for more info and TO REGISTER.

Visit www.circleyoga.com or call 202.686.1104 for more info and TO REGISTER.

Upcoming Session Dates: Saturday, February 13, 20, 27 & March 6 from 12:15-1:30pm
 

Future Session Dates: Saturday, March 27, April 3, 10 & 17 from 12:15-1:30pm

GO TO yoga@capitolhillyoga.com or call 202.448.9680 for more info and TO REGISTER.

Go to www.circleyoga.com or call 202.686.1104 for more info and TO REGISTER.