A balanced mind can transform a potentially stressful situation for some, into an opportunity that others may find enjoyable and rewarding.

What triggers the stress response is what one feels, about approaching changes, and how well we feel we are equipped to deal with those changes. A strong meridian system will lead to a strong body and mind, less susceptible to succumbing to stress, and better able to recover from the effects of stress both physically and mentally.

Many people however, without realizing why, are struggling with day-to-day activities, a situation requiring even the slightest increase in performance, may be too much for the person to cope with, triggering the fight or flight stress response.

In an analogy where the body’s stress response is compared to driving your car in first gear. First gear is selected when moving off from a stationary position, or when driving up steep inclines, the lower gear uses more fuel, but is more powerful.

If a stressful situation or a steep hill comes along, the amygdala alerts the hypothalamus that something scary might be about to happen. The adrenal glands release epinephrine (also known as adrenaline) which puts the body into first gear, the sympathetic nervous system becomes active and prepares the body for a situation that requires increased physical and mental performance, like quickly moving out of the way of danger, or a fight for survival.

Adrenaline causes the heart to beat faster, increasing circulation, breathing becomes more rapid, vasodilation occurs in parts of the body, supplying more blood and oxygen to the brain increasing alertness, improving decision making and quick thinking, as well as heightening our senses. More blood and oxygen is also supplied to skeletal muscles, which contract more forcibly making us stronger. Blood pressure rises and more fuel in the form of glucose and fats are released into the bloodstream, making more energy available.

Vasoconstriction causes blood to be rooted away from the digestive system to the muscles, as parasympathetic nervous system activities, such as rest and digest, are seen as a second priority. Activity in the digestive system slows down, and secretions of salivary glands, stomach acid, and digestive juices decrease.

The Hypothalamic Pituitary, Adrenal (HPA) system is activated when the situation is still threatening. A hormonal cascade starting with the hypothalamus, involving the pituitary gland, and ending with the adrenal glands, which release cortisol into the bloodstream. The (HPA) system keeps the body revved up, and on high alert. The immune system is activated and the liver releases glucose into the bloodstream. Once the danger has passed, the parasympathetic system takes over and calms the body down.

The stress response although useful in certain situations, especially when physical activity is called for, to avoid or confront danger to protect one’s life, is however detrimental to health over an extended period of time, as organs and systems necessary for immediate survival are given priority, while other equally necessary, less urgent bodily functions like digestion and absorption of nutrients are put on hold. It makes sense that the stress response is meant only for emergencies, in temporary situations.

Functioning in this heightened state of physical readiness for too long can lead to stress related illnesses, as the body becomes overworked and depleted of essential vitamins and minerals, the immune system might fail leaving the body vulnerable to disease, infection and cancer.

Chronic stress and overexposure to stress hormones like cortisol and epinephrine may strain the heart, raise blood pressure, contribute to obesity, and the accumulation of unhealthy abdominal fat, cause problems with the digestive system, promote diabetes, cause muscle pain, headaches and migraines, hormonal problems, respiratory problems including asthma and feeling run down and fatigued. Psychological effects of stress include depression, anxiety and mood disorders. Stress also aggravates existing health conditions.

Continual activation of the sympathetic nervous system can be compared to driving too fast up a hill in first gear, or pushing the car’s engine over the red line, by allowing the rpm to go too high. If this happens too often, or for too long, you would be putting an enormous amount of wear and tear on your car, which could lead to engine failure.

A strong meridian system energetically leads blood, oxygen and nutrients to all cells tissues and organs, and gives them energy to function, this ensures the efficient removal of metabolic waste as well as a speedy response from the immune system to any invading pathogens. Overall contributing to the body’s resilience.

Good nutrition is essential to power the meridian system, which in turn is imperative to good health. Both physically and mentally. The stomach and digestive system are central to the absorption of nutrients, but are put under strain having to deal with unnatural foods.

When we are stressed, cortisol released during the stress response causes the body to crave high carbohydrate, sugar loaded foods, to replenish energy lost during the stress response, Foods like this, are easily available, are often acidic in nature, and do not provide long lasting, sustained energy.

The physiological effects or stress affect our decision making skills and make it harder to make good food choices, according to an article by Shana Lebowitz entitled “9 ways too much stress screws up your life”.

These foods strain the stomach and the digestive system, as they are acid forming, lack enzymes, and have harmful additives and toxins, making them energy poor and difficult for the body to metabolise, creating congestions and causing a lack of energy along the meridians. Congestions on the stomach meridians may cause conditions like acid reflux, irritable bowel disease, problems with the ovaries and acne, to name but a few, which are often related to symptoms of stress.

The stomach meridian travels through all major organs in the abdominal cavity, and so is even more significant, as it can have an effect on any of these organs and systems. A weak or congested stomach meridian, could result in disorders or dysfunctions in any of these organs, and conditions with the lungs, ascending and descending colon, and heart could develop.

Sugar loaded foodstuffs, high in acidity, which supply quick energy, and give us a lift, when we feel our energy is low, especially, if we are feeling the effects of chronic stress, may burden the pancreas. Congestions along the meridian pathway could cause disorders like menstrual abnormalities and problems with the uterus. On the Internal meridian, more serious conditions like thyroid problems, heart palpitation and diabetes may develop to name but a few, which are often associated with stress.

Chronic stress often leaves a person feeling tired and fatigued, in order to feel energized stimulants like coffee and tea are relied on to boost energy. This may lead to the overconsumption of liquids. Hot drinks, like coffee and normal tea, are acid forming and burden the kidneys and bladder, which are forced to work much harder to filter extra fluid and maintain the correct pH balance in the blood. Unfiltered toxins left behind in the blood, that the kidneys could not deal with, settle in the tissues, and along all the meridian pathways. To name but a few conditions that may develop along the kidney and bladder meridians, headaches on the forehead and crown, baldness, neck and shoulder tension, general back disorders, hypertension, as well as panic attacks and phobic disorders, which are all symptoms associated with stress.

The liver may be under strain due to high levels of toxins in commercially available, processed foods. Medications, alcohol and other drugs that we may reach for, to cope with the feelings of stress, place an extra burden on the liver.

Congestions along the liver meridian such as sperm disorders, may cause infertility in men. While more serious conditions, along the internal liver meridian, which passes through the frontal lobe, causes depression, memory loss, mood swings and irritability, all associated with stress, and are particularly significant as they often cause a person to realise they need help.

Many of the ill health conditions associated with stress are a result of congestions, and lack of energy along the meridian system. Consequently, ill health and an unstable mood would definitely erode one's confidence about being able to handle a stressful situation, thereby making the stress response more likely.

A good strategy to cope with stress, would be to energise and unblock the body’s meridian system, which would improve health and vitality, increasing one’s ability to cope with life situations, minimizing the stress response.

Some ways to accomplish this would be, by eating healthy organic foods to supply more energy to the meridians, as well as decreasing acidity in the body, that can cause blockages along the meridians.

Limiting stimulants which contain toxins, and are acid causing in the body, which can cause blockages along the meridians.

Supporting the stomach with apple cider vinegar before meals, will aid the digestive process and decrease acidity, which causes blockages along the meridians.

Drinking less coffee and tea and fizzy cool drinks, will give the kidneys a chance to filter acidity from the blood, helping to unblock the meridians.

Some exercise, to increase circulation, would help the body to remove toxins which may be causing blockages along the meridians.

Seeking out the services of an acupuncturist or therapeutic reflexologist to stimulate and unblock the meridians.

Once the meridians are energized and unblocked, they will enable the free flow of vital energy through the body, strengthening and protecting every cell tissue and organ along their path, promoting physical and mental health. Making it easy to cope with situations in life that previously might have caused the fight or flight response.

- Chantal Victor -