Stress

Fight, Flight, Freeze

We’ve all heard about the fight/flight/freeze response to stress, yet there is another. Fawning is a response which involves immediately moving to try to please a person to avoid any conflict. Fawners preemptively attempt to appease the abuser by agreeing, answering what they know the parent wants to hear, or by ignoring their personal feelings and desires and do anything and everything to prevent the abuse.

• Flight – Workaholic, over thinker, anxiety, OCD, difficulty sitting still, perfectionist, avoidance, hyperactivity, sadness in loneliness
• Fight – Angry outburst, controlling, the bully, explosive behaviour, judgement, slamming doors, self harm
• Freeze – difficulty making decisions, feeling stuck dissociation, isolating, numb, shutdown, exhaustion, indecision, sleeps a lot
• Fawn – people pleaser, overwhelm, no boundaries, lack of identity, codependent, appeasing, engaging, self critical

We can react differently in different traumatic situations depending on our previous experience, knowledge and skills. In a life or death ‘alarm’ situation our basic survival instincts kick in and every system that isn’t directly needed to run (digestive, reproductive, immune) gets temporarily shut down so there is more chance of survival. Our nervous system releases a flood of hormones (adrenaline and cortisol) which prepare the body for action – our hearts pound faster, muscles tighten, senses heighten, breathing quickens and blood pressure rises. Today we may not be chased by animals with big teeth, but it doesn’t mean we aren’t experiencing stress. Todays stress can be from environment, relationships, work, finances, diet, excess exercise, EMFs, temperature, emotions or any combination.

Types of Stress

• Chronic – If a threat is long term, never-ending or inescapable then we are dealing with chronic stress. This can be a taxing job, bad marriage or childhood trauma. The body never receives a clear signal to return to normal functioning and over time, continued strain on your body from stress may contribute to serious health problems involving the immune system and heart.
• Acute stress or sudden stress – is stress that comes on quickly and resolves when the perceived or actual threat is removed. People often experience this type of stress after an unexpected life crisis like an accident, a loss, or other types of trauma.
• Episodic acute stress – is intense stress experienced on a regular basis, which can happen to law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency responders – think conflict, drama and striving for more.
• Eustress – is beneficial stress and associated with excitement or motivation, such as riding a roller coaster or going to your first day at a new job – adrenaline will be elevated.

Stress affects the mind, the body, relationships, emotional wellbeing and mental wellbeing which change the structure and neurones in the brain as well as physical health.

Physical effects of stress might include:

• Difficulty breathing
• Panic attacks
• Blurred eyesight or sore eyes
• Sleep problems
• Fatigue
• Muscle aches and headaches
• Chest pains and high blood pressure
• Digestive issues when diet hasn’t changed – indigestion, heartburn, constipation or diarrhoea
• Feeling sick, dizzy or fainting
• Sudden weight gain or weight loss
• Sensitive skin – developing rashes or itchy skin, sweating
• Changes to your period or menstrual cycle
• Existing physical health problems getting worse or chronic colds
• Ulcers
• Trembling
• Fertility problems
• Diabetes
• Hyperthyroidism
• Hair loss
• Tooth and Gum disease
• Sexual disfunction
• Weakened immune system

What are the warning signs and symptoms of emotional stress?

• Heaviness in your chest, increased heart rate or chest pain
• Shoulder, neck or back pain; general body aches and pains
• Headaches
• Grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Feeling tired, anxious, depressed

How stress can make you behave

• Find it hard to make decisions
• Unable to concentrate
• Unable to remember things, or make your memory feel slower than usual
• Constantly worry or have feelings of dread
• Snap at people
• Bite your nails
• Pick at or itch your skin
• Grind your teeth or clench your jaw
• Experience sexual problems, such as losing interest in sex or being unable to enjoy sex
• Eat too much or too little
• Smoke, use recreational drugs or drink alcohol more than you usually would
• Restless, like you can’t sit still
• Cry or feel tearful
• Spend or shop too much
• Not exercise as much as you usually would, or exercise too much
• Withdraw from people around you

The brain reactions to stress, anxiety and fear

Ways to reduce stress

Depending on the source of your stress, preferences and abilities…

• Understand what is your biggest source of stress and put a plan in place to significantly reduce or eliminate it
• Get active. Virtually any form of physical activity can act as a stress reliever
• Eat healthy, support yourself with supplements – when under stress the body chews through certain vitamins
• Reduce or stop unhealthy habits – minimise screen time and caffeine
• Meditate and practice mindfulness
• Laugh more
• Connect with others and nature
• Sunlight
• Assert yourself, have the hard conversation and create clear boundaries
• Try yoga, stretching or tai chi
• Prioritise getting enough sleep
• Keep a journal
• Listen to or play music
• Garden, paint or find another creative outlet
• Body care like bath or massage
• Counselling, Psyche-K, journey
• Diaphragmatic breathing
• Cuddle a pet or significant other
• Increase your vibration

Healy ideas

• Sleep – Bed Rest – directly interacts with the vagus nerve and activates parasympathetic system. Either use ear clips on ears or sticky pads on the mastoid bone right behind the ear. Use at least 5hrs before you go to bed.
• Bioenergetic support – coherence for calm
• Meridians 1 – Heart meridian and heart chakra for anxiety
• Deep Cycle – kidneys for panic
• Gold – release for chronic stress use daily
• Soul cycle destress combo
  1. Use the energy balance
  2. Power reserve
  3. Confidence
  4. Serenity

In-depth Options

• Nervous system – Stress acute, stress system, (L) Balance Nerves (Job), Nerve Harmony (BH1), Coherence, Bioenergetic Boost (BioSup), Pure Calm (DCH), Nerve Harmony (DN1), Nerve Meridians, Nerve Harmony (BV), Balance, Care (G), Bioinformation (DN6), Classical Energies (P3)
• Digestive system – Intestine Harmony (BH1) Gastrointestinal Harmony (BH2), Impurities (BH2), Bacteria Harmony (BH2), Gastrointestinal syst Harmony (DN1), Small Intestine, Large Intestine (M1), Digest All, Clean All (DHC), Release, Pure (G)
• Immune system – Defence (BH1), Classical Physical, Defence Support (P3), Bioenergetic Information (DN6), Defence (DN3), Exhaustion (DN6), Clean all, Digest all (DCH)
• Brain – Memory, Concentration system, Learning system (L), Friendly Flora (P3), Pineal Gland Harmony (BV), Antioxidants, Spirituality (DN3), Energetic (DN5), Brain Harmony (DN1), Inner Unity (MB)
• Muscular system – Muscle Harmony, Regeneration, Circulation (F), Muscle Harmony (DN1), Sports (DN4), Motion (DN5), Regeneration (DN4), Relax (G), Classical Energetic (P3)
• Reproductive system – Potency, Hormone Harmony, Women, Mature Women (BH1), Thyroid Gland Harmony (BH2), Classical Energetic, Conflict Balance (P3), Libido, Hormonal System harmony (DN3), Energy (DN4), Kidney Harmony male/female (DCH), Exhaustion syst (Job), Youth, Pineal Gland Harmony (BV) Hormonal Balance, Kidney (BH2)
• Feel good Relief – Conflict Balance (P3), Mental Balance Acute, Feel Good syst, inner unity (MB), Psyche (DN), Relax, Being (G), Nerve Meridian (M2), Bed Rest, Balanced Sleep (S), Stress syst, Stress acute, (L), Bioenergetic Defence (BD). MagHealy – vagus nerve, Kidney (McM), Positive Mood, Pressure (C), Relationship, Family Harmony, Stress Coherence, Energy Clearing (A), Vagus Harmony, Kidneys, Mental Clarity, Heart Opening, Purification Negative Info, Before/after stress, Bioenergetic Defence (W)

Stress Photo by Elisa Ventur on Unsplash