19/40: Tenderness

Nearing the halfway mark of this personal 40 day journey inwards, looking at letting go of the layers of armour to learn from the tenderness beneath

What Stress Does To the Body

This morning I was reading about the effects stress has on the systems in the body.

Chronic stress leads to muscles throughout the body in a near-constant state of tension, trying to keep that armour up to guard against injury, often causing headaches and back pain and/or limb pain. This tends to be worsened by inactivity and poor posture.

Stress and heightened feelings also often lead to rapid or shallow breathing and so the oxygenation that should be happening in the body is not optimal. In severe cases hyperventilation could trigger asthma or panic attacks.

Acute stress can increase heart rate and intensify heart muscle contractions due to the effects of adrenaline, noradrenaline, and cortisol. If the stress goes on it can lead to inflammation, higher cholesterol levels, and greater risk of hypertension, heart attack, or stroke.

Increases in glucocorticoids like cortisol are meant to boost energy and improve the functioning of the immune system as well as reduce inflammation. However when communication breaks down between the so-called HPA axis (hypothalamus and pituitary/adrenal glands) and the immune system, it may contribute to chronic fatigue, diabetes, obesity, depression, and immune dysfunction.

The gut, nervous system, and reproductive system are likewise significantly vulnerable to the effects of stress. The list of ways is long and also fully outlined in the article.

Wellness Practices and Acute Stress

I can attest that getting the best sleep possible; starting the day with meditation practice and writing; walking daily and connecting with Nature; eating well and properly hydrating; unwinding during the day with music, reading, or watching a show; quality time with friends, spiritual director, and family; cuddling a pet; and practising singing can all be wonderful ways to de-stress.

As difficult as it has been recently, I can only shudder in horror to think how much worse it would be right now if not for these practices and sources of vital support.

The trouble is that just as stress impacts every system in the body, it also impacts every one of these practices. It feels like being under siege so meditation is not as restorative. Sleep is poorer. It’s harder to eat well because of distraction and the temptation to stress-eat. Time with friends and family can become whinging and worse, taking out frustrations on those one loves most.

Because I feel besieged, the tendency is to raise the armour and self-protections and even go on the attack.

Thus it becomes a point of even greater self-awareness and intentionality to find ways still to receive benefits, however suboptimal they may seem.

It feels like crawling desperately toward the next block of time off, which is my case fortunately begins in three days.

Tenderness

For me this word means a number of things at this point in time.

First the physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual feeling of tenderness in the sense that there is a lot of suffering. Muscles ache and won’t relax, the gut hurts, limbs are fatigued. In fact mind, heart, and spirit hurt and are fatigued. Tender.

The experience leads to a deeper empathy for others who are stressed and suffering at this difficult time in the world, having a tender regard.

Empathy for others reminds me to be tender toward myself as well as I am going through this.

Because This Is My First Life

I have mentioned this delightful rom-com series before. Yes, it is a lot of fun to watch and it also touches on important serious questions of interpersonal relationships and learning to become more in touch with one’s Self.

But I love the title more than anything, in English anyway. I do not know what the title is in the original language.

Because this is my first life, like every other human, I’m just figuring it out.

I’m going to make mistakes. Huge ones at times.

But it’s my first life, so I can cut myself some slack right?

And it’s your first life, so I will cut you slack too.

There, once again, is tenderness.