How To Defend Yourself

Do you ever find yourself feeling overwhelmed? Do you
sometimes feel like you just have too much to think about?
Does it make you tired, irritable, or even depressed? What
can you do about it?

People rarely go to the doctor to say "I think I have
stress," and yet the National Institutes of Health say that
80% of illnesses are caused by stress, directly or
indirectly. Hormones, such as adrenalin, are released into
your blood when you're stressed. This causes a rise in blood
pressure, a faster heart and breathing rate, and faster
conversion of glycogen into glucose. These are good things
if you need to escape a charging grizzly bear, but when
these effects are prolonged, the immune system is depressed,
and your body suffers other negative changes.

Common effects of prolonged stress include fatigue, pain in
the muscles and joints, headache, mental confusion,
depression, anxiety, and irritability. Stress reactions
cause your body to use too much energy, which can result in
physical and mental weakness.

Managing Stress With Meditation

Years ago at Stanford University, an analysis of 146
meditation studies was done. The conclusion was that
meditation not only was beneficial at the time of practice,
but that it significantly reduced anxiety as a character
trait. The studies focused on transcendental meditation, but
it's probable most methods have similar results. (Reported
in the Journal of Clinical Psychology 45: 957–974, 1989.)

The bottom line is that stress is a killer, and that
meditation really can help you defend yourself. Traditional
meditation may have the most beneficial effects, but maybe
you're short on time, or uncertain about learning to
meditate. In that case, there are two simple techniques you
can learn in a few minutes, and start using today.

The first is a breathing meditation. Close your eyes, let
the tension drain from your muscles, let go of your thoughts
(to the extent possible), and breath deeply through your
nose, paying attention to your breath. As thoughts or
sensations arise, just acknowledge them and return your
attention to your breath as it goes in and out. Do this for
five or ten minutes.

To use the second technique, stop whatever you're doing when
you feel stressed, and take three deep breaths. Watch
yourself until you identify what is bothering you. Are you
worried about something? Is there a letter you need to
write? Maybe your neck is sore. Note everything you find.

Now deal with these stressors. Write the letter that's on
your mind, take an aspirin, put things on tomorrow's list.
If the best you can do is recognise there's nothing you can
do right now - then do that. With practice, you'll get
better at finding what's just below the surface of
consciousness, irritating you. After you address these
things, close your eyes, take three deep breaths, and you'll
feel more relaxed and able to think clearly. Try it now.


About the Author
Steve Gillman has meditated and studied meditation for over
twenty years. You can visit his website, and subscribe to
The Meditation Newsletter at:
http://www.TheMeditationSite.com/newsletter.html