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Stress and the
Immune System
 In these turbulent times the
pressure of daily life is often overwhelming. When we experience additional
stress from relationship struggles, job loss, problematic work situations, major
life transitions, grief and loss, sleep disorders, unbalanced nutrition, etc.,
life can become very challenging. We may feel chronically tired, overwhelmed and
emotionally drained. Old unconscious beliefs and attitudes, maybe from childhood
traumas, also control how we feel and behave in the present, and may add to our
sense of stress in the form of anxiety, insecurity or depression.
We now know from scientific research
that stress causes inflammation in the body and weakens the immune system. We
also know that suppressed and denied emotions stay inside our bodies and act
like toxins.
Although we can’t avoid stress in
our lives, we can learn to respond to it differently and reduce our level of
stress hormones and their damaging effect. Our aches and pains, tension and
fatigue, can actually help us identify old buried feelings and unresolved issues
and show the way to healing.
Practices such as yoga, qigong,
mindfulness and guided imagery are helpful tools to increase body awareness and
allow the body to relax, which in turn strengthens our resistance to disease.
It’s also shown that experiences of beauty, love, and joy have an enhancing
effect on the immune system, while long-standing feelings of stress, anger,
loneliness, or depression increase the risk of disease. Just as a good and
balanced nutrition is crucial for our long-term health and well-being,
a balanced
mental/emotional/spiritual life is of equal or even greater importance. |
