Calm the Mind, Calm the Body. By Avinoam Lerner, CH

What is Stress? Stress is the sum of our physiological and psychological responses to changes in our environment. Stress is a normal part of life and can be helpful in many ways. When managed correctly, stress can be a motivator, a reason to take action, to pursue dreams and achieve. Art by Anne Félicité

When do stress become a problem? Stress becomes a problem when we find that we are in a persistent state of agitation, or when it turns into feelings of anger or rage. Seek professional help if: There is no break between stressors. Stress affects your ability to perform. Stress makes you feel fatigue and hopeless.

The Harmful Effect of Stress: Once stress becomes a lifestyle, it is found to be linked to many health problems such as high blood pressure, weakened immune system and addictions such as smoking, drinking, and overeating. By one estimate, 75% of visits to primary care physicians are due to stress-related disorders. You can't eliminate stress from your life, but you can learn how to manage it and reverse the damage.

Why do we stress out? There are two reasons why we get stressed: We perceive a situation to be dangerous, difficult, or painful. We don't believe we have the resources to cope. Stress affects different people in different ways, but there are some similarities such as irritability, inability to concentrate, feeling excessively tired and even having trouble sleeping.

The Problem with Perception: When objects are viewed without understanding, the mind will try to reach for something that it already recognizes, in order to process what it is viewing. That which most closely relates to the unfamiliar from our past experiences, makes up what we see when we look at things that we don’t comprehend. ~ From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The Problem with Perception (2): Perception is our understanding of the truth, limited by our own experience and familiarities. As situations arise, our perception defines our response. It’s not the situation in itself causing us stress but rather our personal interpretation. In other words, we cause our own stress. Can we change our perception? Absolutely!

The Power of Belief: Beliefs create our own personal reality. If perception is how we take outside information and process it, our beliefs system is the process itself. It is impossible for us to act in a way which is inconsistent with our beliefs.

The Power of Belief (2): In situations deemed stressful, we believe that we do not have skills and resources to cope with a situation. If we believed otherwise, it wouldn’t be stressful. Like perception, there is an implication that we are responsible for the stress we feel.

The Mind-Body Phenomenon: The Mind-Body Connection tells us that thoughts are tied to physical experiences. Different types of thoughts initiate corresponding physical reactions. We react to what we perceive and belief to be true and real at the moment with the power of mental images, memories or dreams. We can feel great stress simply by thinking of situations from the past, or anticipating the future.

Negative Stress VS Healthy Stress: Positive stress – Positive stress resembles excitement and will often serve as a motivator that moves you forward. It can force you to find a solution to a problem, finish overdue tasks, and keep you alert when you most need it. The phrase “necessity is the mother of all inventions” is based in positive stress. It perhaps explains best how positive stress gets our creative juices flowing, help us to be more focused, determined and productive.

Negative Stress VS Healthy Stress: Negative stress – Negative stress is based on fear and its characteristic are frustration, apprehension, anger and worry. In this state, you are focused on a problem, without any creative form or solution seeking. Instead of serving a purpose and ending, negative stress stays with you for a long time, even on a low intensity. It is there keeping you from full enjoyment of life.

Learning about Our Stress: Although stress is heightened in connection with particular events, negative stress is difficult to associate with a specific situation or problem. It becomes about everything and nothing, and is just attributed to a “stressful life.” This kind of prolonged stress may be dull, but it can become part of your personality. In its more intense form, it can turn into anxiety and panic attacks.

What is a Well-Being? Well-being is a term describing a state characterized by health, happiness, and prosperity. It also describes a holistic approach focusing on multiple dimensions that affect quality of life, ultimately leading to a balanced, healthy and happy you..

How to Achieve Well-Being? The Mind-Body Connection tells us that thoughts are tied to physical experiences. Different types of thoughts initiate corresponding physical reactions. We react to what we perceive and belief to be true and real at the moment with the power of mental images, memories or dreams. We can feel great stress simply by thinking of situations from the past, or anticipating the future.

Secret # 1 to Well-Being: Breath: Many of the physical sensations associated with stress are due to a lack of oxygen getting into the body. Taking a deep breath will alleviate those plus give you a moment to gather yourself.   A deep breath forces the mind to focus on physical sensations. This interrupts the thought process and gives you back control. It prevents a situation from escalating into something completely unnecessary and ineffective.

Secret # 2 to Well-Being: Expressing yourself: Often stress arises when we feel unheard or unable to express ourselves. In situations calling for your communication, it is vital to prevent yelling or talking in negative angry tones.   Try to express yourself calmly and confidently so that the person you address will remain open to the message. Some people will accept your opinion much more readily in private than in front of family members or peers.

Secret # 3 to Well-Being: Change your internal dialog - your Self-Talk: Whether in thoughts or in words and even in body posture. Remember to be your own best friend, say to yourself, "I can handle it,” "this will be over soon," or "I have faced difficult things before, and I can certainly do it again." We each have the capacity to calm ourselves and cheer ourselves up so take that responsibility for your state of mind. Don’t let a stressful moment be unchanged.

Secret # 4 to Well-Being: Let Go: Many things seem much more important than they really are. Examine the source of stress and first ask yourself: is there anything I can do to change the situation?   Second, is this a situation worth my time, effort, health?   Third, what is the price I am paying for focusing on this unsolvable or unimportant problem?

Secret # 5 to Well-Being: Forgive: Forgiving does not mean condoning. Holding a grudge or resenting someone means that you do most of the suffering.   Constantly thinking of the wrongdoing and playing the negative script over and over again in your mind results in emotional suffering.   The key to a balanced mind is forgiveness. When you forgive you make a choice to live free of judgment, criticism and self-inflicted emotional pain.

Secret # 6 to Well-Being: Laugh: More situations than you think warrant laughter. Try and find any humor in situations, when appropriate. Looking for the humor or asking yourself, “what is funny about this?” will release great tension.   You can’t laugh and be stressed out at the same time. It is physically impossible.

Thank You for Watching. For more information: Visit – www.AvinoamLerner.com Follow on Face Book at – Healing Beyond Therapy Shop – www.MindBody101.com Get Inspired – www.HealingBeyondTherapy.com