Stress and its Effect on Your Body

Stress, whether physical, mental or emotional, takes a toll on us. The issue is often exacerbated when we live with Kennedy's Disease (SBMA). If we are not careful, we can find ourselves putting ourselves down because of the loss of capabilities or the fear of placing burdens on loves ones.

Headspace.Com has an article on "How do you speak to yourself." It emphasizes the importance of being kind to yourself.

"It never ceases to amaze me just how unkind we can be to ourselves. And then we wonder why we are unhappy with no peace of mind. But how can we expect anything else when we talk to ourselves harshly? How can the mind be settled and calm when we are constantly being hard on ourselves?..."

"...If you’re not too sure what healthy mind chatter sounds like, then I think the following can be a useful rule of thumb: Pay attention to any negative inner-chatter. Now, if you said the same thing and spoke the same way to a close friend, how would you expect them to react? Likewise, if they said the same thing to you, or spoke in that tone of voice, how would it make you feel? The answers will provide a fair idea about how much the mind needs softening up."

It is important to recognize what pushes our buttons and why it does. The old saying of "counting to ten" is true for handling stress also. Take a step back - and take several deep breaths - inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth. The practice will help calm the mind as well as the body.

Photo:  Elsa Rodrigues‎ - Beyond the Far Side 

to

Get Energized

Living with Kennedy’s Disease is not only difficult for the person with the condition, it also wears on the caregivers and other family members.  The stress caused by the progressive disorder can take its toll on everyone.  When this happens, we find ourselves tired and more irritable with no way to find relief.

We’ve all been there at one time or another when everything becomes effort and there is little joy in life.  That’s is when we need an attitude adjustment.  Saying it is easy.  The difficulty is in the doing.

I read an interesting article in the Human Active Outlook magazine the other day.  It was titled, “Switch off energy zappers and Switch on energy boosters” and was written by Kelly Traver and Amy Avery.

The article had some good information on how to improve your overall energy. 

• Eating the right foods and being conscious of what and when you are eating is a good first step.
• Drinking plenty of non-sweetened beverages (e.g. water) helps because dehydration makes you feel tired.
• Get eight hours of sleep every night to release stress and renew your energy.
• develop regular bedtime habits.
• Don’t watch TV in bed.
• Make your room comfortable, slightly cool and dark.
• Find activities that are stimulating and fun.  Participate in activities that you enjoy being around.
• Exercise helps your brain produce feel-good chemicals that help bring up your energy and improve your mood.
• Takeaway some of your daily routines.
• Remove some of your daily responsibilities by either delegating them or spreading them out to every other day.
• Schedule time for yourself.  Do something you enjoy and it will help renew your energy and attitude.
• Don’t fan the flames.  Inflamed cells within the body can cause fatigue. 
• Inflamed cells are damaged, swollen or weakened due to stress. 
• This inflammation is behind almost every chronic disease including heart disease, cancer and arthritis.

The article also provided tips for anyone, including caregivers, on how to get (and stay) energized.  Yes, several items mentioned are included in the list above.

1. Think about your own life and goals.  Focusing on other things that are important can re-energize you.
2. Count your blessings.  Take note of things and people that are good in your life.  Record them in a gratitude journal or make it part of your daily prayer or meditation.
3. Find ways to manage stress, exercise daily, and get a good night’s rest.
4. Learn to accept things that you cannot change.  This can be difficult (especially when dealing with a progressive disorder), and it might take some time to change your way of thinking.  Dwelling on things you have no control over can cause stress and zap your energy.  Instead, put that energy into things that make you happy.
5. Surround yourself with loving, positive friends.  Your body and brain will respond in a physical way by producing natural chemicals that make you happy.
6. Laugh every day.  Laughter is the best medicine.  “Research shows that happy, optimistic people are healthier, recover more quickly, have fewer health complications, and live longer,” explains Betsy Nota-Kirby, Director of Wellness at LifeSynch.

The last section was titled “Turbo Boost It” and it provided the two best, cheapest, and easiest ways to boost your energy, reduce stress and ease a variety of symptoms.

1. Exercise
2. Sleep

  That’s right (#3 above), exercise regularly and  get your sleep.  “Both work on your body and your brain to make you as healthy as possible.”

It’s your choice; Christmas Spirit or Stress

I love Christmas.  I begin singing carols and Christmas/winter songs around Thanksgiving and do not stop until after New Year’s Day.  When my wife becomes a little tired of me singing the same song all day long, she gives me a whack across the back of my head to have me move on to another song.:-)

Some people get all caught up in the holiday spirit in another way – STRESS.  We had our first experiences with this type of spirit on Saturday afternoon.



We were shopping and our last stop was CostCo.  We were the third card in line trying to turn across traffic that was heavy at times.  The first car was being overly cautious in making the turn, but we were not in any hurry.  The last car in our line (#5) was becoming a little perturbed waiting and began to honk its horn.  While we waited, about every two-to-three seconds the horn would sound.  My wife looked over and said, “Merry Christmas.” 

As we pulled in we noticed the parking lot was packed.  I dropped my wife off at the front door and continued my search for a handicap space.  Since I bought the VMI van, I have to be more patient looking for a space because of the side entrance and ramp.  After a couple of trips around the lot I spotted a man in a scooter and his wife heading towards the parking lot.

I followed the two and saw he was parked in the perfect spot.  I put my flashers on and patiently waited while they loaded up their purchases and the scooter.  As the van backed out of the space, I slowly started pulling forward.  All of a sudden a woman in a sub-compact shot around my van and slipped into the space.



Initially I was dumbfounded because I could not believe anyone would do that.  Then, even more surprising, she got out of her car and jogged toward the entrance without placing a handicap placard on her mirror (there was no handicap license plate either).  I was ready to roll down my window and say something when my wife’s earlier comment (Merry Christmas) flashed into my mind.  I just smiled at that thought and drove on looking for another space.

Normally, I would have said something and might even have reported her for taking a handicap space without the proper placard or plate.  The occurrence might also have ruined our shopping experience.  For some reason my wife’s comment made me consider that perhaps this woman needed that space more than me this day.  And, besides, it just was not worth becoming upset over it.

Why was this story important enough to share today?  Because my normal reaction would have been a lot different (negative) and it might have ruined that moment.  It sure proved once again that we are responsible for our own actions and reactions.  And, the only handicap in life is a bad attitude.

Would my becoming angry or frustrated served any purpose?  Would I have ruined our outing by sharing this frustration with my wife?  Would any negative response at all be reflective of the true spirit of Christmas?  No, I do not think so.

As it worked out, I found another space and we finished our day in a positive mood.  I hope the next time something negative happens that I will remember my wife’s comment, “Merry Christmas.”