There are two modes of operation in life: fight or flight and rest and digest. If you are like me, you spend a lot of time in fight or flight. Managing crisis after crisis, moving from one stressful event to the next. Keeping your body in constant fight or flight mode keeps your adrenaline flowing as a stress response because your body believes that you are in danger. Your body believes what your mind tells it to believe. Our stressful lifestyles are keeping our bodies in a constant state of alert. This leads to chronic and acute health issues because our bodies are not designed to sustain this long term.
The opposite of fight or flight is rest and digest. When I read this for the first time, I realized that what I thought had been normal had actually been my body's response to being in constant fight or flight mode. My issue was pooping. For 6 years I was constipated, having bowel movements so hard that it was causing fissures and bleeding. The worst of it started after the birth of my first son so I attributed it to the post pregnancy recovery. What I did not realize was that having a new baby was a really stressful life event and for the months and years that followed I was in a near-constant state of sleep deprived stress and my body was ready to fight.
No life is free from stress and this is not be the goal. Learning to deal with and manage stress in a healthy way is achievable. Reduce stress where you can and learn to interpret your world through a rest and digest lens rather than a fight or flight lens. The story that our brain tells about a situation is what our body reacts to. It's not the actual situation that is causing the stress. It's our reaction to it. Schedule a free consultation today to discuss how effectively manage the stress in your life.
Here a couple things that worked for me to reframe my world in a way that allowed me poop productively.
Acceptance
Knowing and accepting your reality are two very different things. What is happening is meant for you. The good, the bad and the ugly. Not sure how to move from knowing to accepting. Let's talk.
2. Rest
It might be a nap or a pedicure or a coffee with a friend. Find what feeds your soul and schedule time for that. Put it on your calendar so everyone knows that this is your time. Rest in any way that revitalizes you and allows you to show up in the present moment with purpose and energy.
This is still a really hard concept for me. I am not my title or my salary. I am not my net worth or my social media feed. But if those things are not me, then who am I? This takes a lot of work, patience and self-discovery. Give yourself time to work on discovering the true essence and beauty of you.
4. Breathe
Our body responds physically and emotionally to our breathing. When we are stressed our breathing patterns change. Take control of your breathing and your body and mind will follow.
Whether you are chronically ill or in optimal health, start now on productively managing stress to improve your health and maintain a healthy mind-body connection. Contact me to learn more.
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