Depression and Stress

One of the greatest challenges we all face has to do with stress; it does not have to be with major traumas’ in life but with life in general, with the daily pressure that we so often face.

Doctors report that up to 90 percent of patients they see come with stress-related complaints. Science has shown that when we are stressed, we release certain hormones that can affect various organs in our bodies.

Over long periods of time, the organs can be weakened by these hormones, making them more susceptible to disease.

Stress for instance, can release adrenaline, which causes the heart to beat faster and more powerfully, leading to palpitations. some stress hormones cause  the blood vessel to constrict, causing hyper tension. Stress can induce shallow and rapid breathing, even hyper ventilation. stress can result in diversion of blood from the stomach, causing digestive problems.(who has not felt what fear ,anxiety and worry can do to the stomach?)

STRESS

Stress touches everyone. Demands at work, family crises, guilt, and uncertainty about the future, dissatisfaction with the past-these all are hard enough.

Optimism and hope often are crowded out of our lives by our busy schedules. We can become so focussed on things and work , even good and necessary activities and we loose out on how we can grow up in all aspects of our lives.

Researchers; Thomas H. Holmes and Richard H.Rahe developed the social readjustment rating scale, which lists life events with corresponding stress values for each: the death of spouse    --- 100, personal injury or illness--- 53,change in residence;etc.

A person accumulating 200 or more points at any given time runs 50 percent chance of becoming ill, some one accruing 300 or more will reach a point of crisis.

Moderate amount of stress are necessary to increase performance, but beyond a point, stress becomes a health hazard.

How to manage stress

1.       Bringing relief to others.

 Fundamentally being selfless. In majority of cases, the pressure brought about by work, relationships , money, etc., is self centred. Focusing on others (rather than on oneself ) is a good way to remove personal pressure.

Emotions

­As humans, we are the most rational of all the world’s created beings. Marvellous as they are, frogs, dogs, cats and donkeys don’t have our capacity to reason. Yet, even with all our powers of logic and rationality, we’re also emotional beings. One could argue, justifiably, that emotions rule our lives to much greater extent than reason does or ever could.

So often , instead of being in control of our emotions, they control us, even to the point of pushing us into radically wrong choices that cause us even more grief and sorrow .Fortunately, that that doesn’t always need to be the case.

Emotions are vital part of human personality. They can be powerful   motivators, both for good and evil. And depending on the emotions they can make us happy, sad, fearful, or joyous.

Positive emotions can bring feelings of satisfaction and well being; negative ones tend to cause anguish and pain.

The water of life

Water?  Yes, we are truly aquatic beings, in the sense that our bodies are made up of about 60 percent water. Our brains believe it or not, are about 85 percent water. Even our hard bones are about 10 to 15 percent water

Full of wonder and mystery, water is foundational to all physical life. Without it, we could not exist. As you read on we will take a look at both the spiritual and physical aspect of this truly essential liquid.

As creatures, we need water in order to survive. In fact, every body cell, tissue, and organ needs water to function.

         i.            Water helps to regulate  body temperature, transports nutrients and oxygen to cells

       ii.            Water removes waste, prevents constipation, moistens tissues, cushions joints, and keeps blood flowing throughout the body.

Physical fitness

This article about Physical fitness is aimed at improving your health and wellness.

Across the centuries, humans have been fascinated with athletics, and many have marvelled at feats of the athlete. Who hasn’t at times been envious of what these people have done with their bodies? And yet what ever their natural abilities, most of these people achieved what they did through sheer hard work.

From merely looking at their facial expressions, one easily can form an incorrect expression of how much ( or little) joggers, cyclists, and runners are enjoying them selves. It may at times appear that the whole endeavour is a punishment. There are however many benefits of persisting with an exercise programme. These will be discussed as you read on.

The benefits come from the determined application and discipline required to perform the exercise itself. There are certain rules to be adhered to. Regularity of exercise is essential. There must be a goal and some times even a prize. We need to cast off activities and distractions that keep us from growing in grace and prioritize our goals if we are going to finish strong.