Part 2
by Lady Carla Davis, MPH
Specializing in Nutrition
In Harmony with Nature
Living in harmony with Nature is not easy in today’s stressful world. Over crowded cities with too many people, cars, and clashes of cultures; constantly increasing high cost of taxes and the necessities; corporate monopolies or oligopolies; over reaching government regulations and loss of liberties; increasing crime and poverty; sickness care industries exploiting the masses; pollution and weather chaos; rapidly disappearing forests, habitats, and wildlife; earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, droughts - to name a few. Why aren’t our highly paid elected officials addressing these important issues? Why don’t they govern in harmony with Nature?
For the longest time, it was thought that survival depended on being the fittest. However, recent studies now reveal that survival depends on adaption. We know that stability is an important part of maintaining harmony. Plus, the older one gets, the more stressful and discomforting change becomes. None the less, change is the only permanent thing we can count on in our rapidly changing world. So, adapt you must!
The best way to alleviate the stress involved in change is to mentally and emotionally plan for, or at least think about, possible changes (plan B & C) that may occur in the future; learn how to meditate; and remember: Crisis = Opportunity to make changes you normally would not make. Also, remember that there is always a reason for major events, though not always initially visible.
In fact, the need to plan and adapt to changing life situations is very much a part of modern science. Hans Selye, MD, who was awarded the Nobel Prize, defines stress as adaptation to change and stated, “When we fail to adapt to life’s changes, we create increasing levels of distress in our lives. Those who adapt to change will experience the same stress, but as euphoric stress.”
According to Dr. Selye, the body reacts to stress by mobilizing all of its available energy. If the body cannot produce enough energy to overcome the stress, the body automatically reacts to in three stages: Alarm, Resistance, and Exhaustion. Prolonged stress forces the body to pass through all three stages. Each stage has a particular biochemistry and specific conditions.
The Alarm first stage activates the Sympathetic Nervous system. Symptoms include: fast oxidation, high blood pressure and sugar, higher body temperature, and more frequent bowel movements. The body releases adrenal and thyroid hormones, which mobilizes the body’s energy to meet and overcome the stress.
The Resistance second stage attempts to contain the stress as it is unable to eliminate it in the acute Alarm stage. This goes on for as long as the energy holds out.
The Exhaustion third stage occurs when the body has exhausted all its energy levels to eliminate and contain the stress. Symptoms include fatigue, depressive, apathy, despair, constipation, dry skin and hair, adrenal exhaustion, and less than optimal thyroid activity. When the body is burned out, the Parasympathetic Nervous system is activated.