The Stress is Killing You

-

 

A recent article in the USA Today Network outlined the affects of stress on our bodies. We already know stress causes increased blood pressure which can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Stress also creates an increase in inflammation which is intended to help in fighting infection and aid healing from an injury. But when inflammation is chronic it leads to atherosclerosis, increased cancer risk, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s Disease.  Recently, another alarming effect of stress was discovered. Chronic stress destroys the protective cap around the cells that contain DNA. This cap, telomeres, protects the cells as they duplicate. As the cap deteriorates, the DNA degrades, and our new cells are no longer healthy. In essence, stress is wearing out our body and not only do can we succumb to illness, but we’re aging and dying faster. Stress is literally killing us.

So how does one manage stress? A healthy diet to fight inflammation and keep our cells healthy is the start. We then go to work on reducing stress through exercise, meditation, prayer, mindfulness, and taking time off. We don’t allow ourselves to run by our emotions and our circumstances. We worry less, play more.

But I can’t control everything in life, you say. This is true. Bad things happen, demands are made, time is short, and the work must get done. We can’t control that which is outside of us, but we can control how we respond. We must take what life throws at us and do the best we can with what we have and not worry about the rest. We must learn to improvise.

Taking workshops on improvisation is one of the best ways to deal with stress. In the first place it’s a time to relax, play, and have fun. Play releases endorphins, creates new neural bridges, and activates multiple sections of the brain. Play energizes us and makes us more resilient in body and mind. Play helps the body heal and is a direct antidote to stress.

Aside from the direct physical benefits of playing at improvisation, is the mental ability to stop worry about failure, focusing on the past, and fretting about the future. Improv is a form of mindfulness that keeps one grounded in the moment, which is a proven remedy for stress.

Stress is killing us. We can fight the stress monster in many ways, but one way that ticks all boxes in Improv. It’s play, it’s about relationships, it strengthens our bodies and our minds, and prepares us for what ever the world throws at us. Play Improv – Live Longer!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Improvising in the Dark: How to "Yes, And" When it All Falls Apart

-
Image
  No matter what happens on stage, improvisers are called to keep the scene going.   If there is a flub, we can’t deny what happened. That means we can’t ignore it or explain it away. The flub now becomes part of our reality. The rule is, “deal with it and move on.” It’s the basis of “Yes, and.” Life off the stage is equally fraught with flubs, failures, disappointments, and disasters. It’s part of being human. We all experience failure. We all suffer pain and grief. Whether it’s pain of our own causing or from something out of our control, there is no escaping it. Nietzsche said, “to live is to suffer.” He also said, “to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering.” The Four Noble Truths of Buddhism proclaim that life always involves suffering. Suffering comes from our desires, but one can put an end to suffering through practiced living. (This is a very inadequate summary of Buddhist thought, but it gives a rough idea.) Christian Scripture proclaims that, “perfect love casts
Read more

Everything is Useful

-
Image
 Recently I drove over three hours to attend a workshop. It involved staying overnight in the host city and eating several meals out. My first thought as I was driving home was, "Well, that was a costly waste of time." That was not a new feeling. I was active in parish ministry for thirty-seven years. In that time I attended a lot of workshops, meetings, and seminars that I thought were a complete waste of time.  As an improviser, I immediately took that thought and turned it around. The workshop, although disappointing, was still an offer. What I did with that offer is my choice. I began to look at the positives of my six hour journey. First on my list was getting to know a new friend a little better. While in the host city I connected with a Facebook friend and we spent an enjoyable evening together over dinner. Second item I counted as a gift was going to a new restaurant and having an amazing meal. As for the workshop itself, instead of looking at the flaws in execution,
Read more

How You Can Change Your Brain

-
Image
Life experiences have a physical affect on our brains. Not just the changing of our minds, but the very brain itself. This science is called Neuroplasticity . Neuroplasticity refers to the idea that the neuronal make-up of our brain can change in structure and connectedness. Coined by the neuroscientist Jerzy Konorski in 1948 and introduced even further back, under the term ‘neuronal plasticity,’ in the early 1900s by the father of modern neuroscience, Spanish neuroscientist Santiago Ramón, neuroplasticity goes against the belief that brains remain the same after a specific age.  Here are what a few have written about neuroplasticity: "Your brain is a relentless shape-shifter, constantly rewriting its own circuitry — and because your experiences are unique, so are the vast detailed patterns in your neural networks. Because they continue to change your whole life, your identity is a moving target; it never reaches an end point." David Eagleman, neuroscientist – The Brain: The
Read more