Thank you for joining us for 3-2-1 Tuesdays!
Quick bits of therapeutic info and learning, ideas, concepts, and quotes.
Brought to you by Better Wellness Naturally
3: Keys
2: Concepts
1: Quick Article
"Balance is not something you find, it's something you create."
- Jana Kingsford
Three Reasons You’re Chronically Out of Balance:
Chronic Workload or Demands: Excessive workload, long working hours, or high-pressure environments can overload an individual's capacity to cope with stress. While some of us find great satisfaction in being a work-a-holic, doing so can greatly diminish our ability to cope. Continuous exposure to demanding situations without adequate time for relaxation and recovery can lead to chronic stress and an imbalance in stress levels.
Lack of Coping Strategies: Insufficient coping mechanisms or ineffective stress management strategies can make it challenging for individuals to effectively handle stressors. The absence of healthy coping mechanisms, such as exercise, social support, relaxation techniques, and problem-solving skills, can contribute to elevated stress levels.
Personal Life Challenges: Personal life challenges, such as relationship problems, financial difficulties, or health issues, can significantly impact stress levels. These stressors, however, when persistent or overwhelming, can disrupt an individual's overall well-being and lead to an imbalance in their stress response.
It's important to note that the factors contributing to stress imbalance can vary among individuals. Understanding personal stress triggers and developing effective coping strategies are key to managing stress levels and promoting overall well-being. Please seek help when things stay out of balance.
A Couple of Concepts:
*The pea-shaped part of the brain:
The hypothalamus is a small, pea-sized structure located at the base of the brain. It serves as a crucial part of the brain's overall control and regulation of various bodily functions.
*And that electric brain of yours…
A little-known fact about the brain is its ability to generate and produce electrical activity. Neurons, which are the fundamental building blocks of the brain, communicate with each other through electrical signals known as action potentials.
Action potentials are rapid, brief changes in the electrical potential of a neuron, allowing it to transmit information over long distances within the brain and throughout the body. These electrical signals are vital for various brain functions, including perception, movement, cognition, and memory.
Why Cortisol Is Your Friend
Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands that helps regulate a wide range of physiological processes in the body. It plays a crucial role in the stress response, metabolism, immune function, and maintaining a balance in the body's internal environment (homeostasis).
Cortisol helps mobilize energy resources, enhances the body's ability to cope with stressors, and regulates inflammation. (In other words, it is necessary and not the evil villain that some of the pharm companies would have us believe.)
Scientific studies have shown that cortisol influences various bodily systems and processes.
For example, cortisol interacts with the hypothalamus and pituitary gland to form the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, (remember the HPA axis from the most recent 3 2 1 Tuesdays?) which is responsible for coordinating the body's response to stress.
The release of cortisol in response to stress helps prepare the body to face and adapt to challenging situations (Sapolsky et al., 2000). Additionally, cortisol influences metabolism, playing a role in regulating blood sugar levels, fat storage, and protein breakdown (Charmandari et al., 2005).
By understanding cortisol's function, we can appreciate its significance in maintaining overall well-being and responding to stress. However, it's important to note that chronic or excessive cortisol release due to prolonged stress can have negative effects on physical and mental health. Managing stress levels and adopting healthy coping strategies are essential for maintaining a balanced cortisol response.
References:
Charmandari, E., Tsigos, C., & Chrousos, G. (2005). Endocrinology of the stress response. Annual Review of Physiology, 67, 259-284.
Fries, E., Dettenborn, L., & Kirschbaum, C. (2009). The cortisol awakening response (CAR): Facts and future directions. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 72(1), 67-73.
Sapolsky, R. M., Romero, L. M., & Munck, A. U. (2000). How do glucocorticoids influence stress responses? Integrating permissive, suppressive, stimulatory, and preparative actions. Endocrine Reviews, 21(1), 55-89.
Come Out and Play with Us!
Join Us In Costa Rica for a GREAT Start to Your NEW Year and NEW You!
PROMO CODE!! Use this Code for a 10% Discount! BWNCR2024
We're on Retreat in Costa Rica from January 30- February 4, 2024,
and we would LOVE to have you join us!
For more info and to Retreat with us! www.betterwellnessretreats.com
Comments