When we think of emotional stress, we automatically assume it’s something that is bad for us. Yes, some kinds of stress are associated with health issues such as high blood pressure, headaches, and even weight gain. But not all stress is negative stress. To illustrate, think about stress on the body...
"The stress response of the body is somewhat like an airplane readying for take-off. Virtually all systems are modified to meet the perceived danger." The quote above described how stress sets you up for a "fight or flight" response. Your body goes on instant alert by speeding up heartbeat and breathing, by shooting extra glucose into the bloodstream for quick energy, by squeezing down arteries so more blood flows to the brain and vital organs...
Stress is essentially a battle between your body and the environment - and your body's greatest defence in this battle is energy, which comes from food. As a busy parent who eats well and stays fit, I believe good nutrition is your best stress management tool. Unfortunately, the diet of most North Americans is a stress in itself...
Ilana Rubenfeld Ph.D knows first hand what having a conversation with your body means. A gifted violinist at the Julliard School of Music, Rubenfeld was well on her way to become the first woman conductor in the music scene when a debilitating back spasm cut short her music career. It was at that point that Rubenfeld turned to the resources of her body and transformed trauma into triumph by embarking on a personal mission to look for answers in the body’s wisdom...
