| Migraines, irritable bowel syndrome, essential | | | | good. |
| hypertension, insomnia, chronic anxiety are just a | | | | However, here's where it's not. In the same way |
| few of the ongoing complaints of domestic abuse | | | | that our bodies are built to trigger this response, so |
| survivors. And it's not surprising. | | | | are we built to cycle down when the impeding |
| These conditions are ALL mediated by the | | | | danger or perceived threat passes. And since our |
| sympathetic nervous system-a system perpetually | | | | physiology can't distinguish the difference between |
| "on" for individuals whose lives are entangled in | | | | real and perceived threat, we have the ability to |
| physical, emotional and verbal abuse. | | | | keep this stress response "on" such that complete |
| Stemming back to our caveman ancestors, we | | | | cycling down fails to occur. |
| inherited a physiology that is built to protect us from | | | | Then when the next tiger comes our way, naturally |
| the perceived threat of impending danger. And when | | | | we are appropriately aroused, but this time the |
| present, sympathetic arousal occurs. | | | | excitation starts from an already elevated point of |
| For example, when the caveman saw a tiger, the | | | | arousal, thereby resulting in a higher-level stress |
| thought "tiger" registered, activating a limbic system | | | | response. |
| response of "fear"...ultimately, resulting in an | | | | Now for a moment, let's envision our creating a habit, |
| adrenergic response that prepares the body for | | | | if you will, of not fully cycling down between each |
| "fight or flight." And with this, of course, mobilizing | | | | perceived threat-between each tiger crossing our |
| the proper body systems to deal with the | | | | path. What happens? |
| circumstances at hand. | | | | Your body systems associated with the stress |
| Here's what happens: blood rushes to the core of the | | | | response remain "on" and at higher and higher levels |
| body and away from the periphery, fueling the core | | | | of arousal over time with subsequent activation. This |
| organs, (heart and lungs) for this magnificent | | | | is what we call "chronic stress." |
| maneuver. Blood is pumped to the large muscle | | | | Here's the danger. When you keep these organ |
| groups to enable rapid exit or fierce fight. | | | | systems functioning as such eventually they show |
| Numerous other physiological changes occur. You're | | | | symptoms of excess activation. This is the basic |
| getting the picture, correct? In a nutshell... | | | | etiology of stress related illnesses: migraine |
| 1) Your cardiovascular system is aroused: increased | | | | headaches, muscle contraction headaches, irritable |
| heart rate, rise in blood pressure. | | | | bowel syndrome, essential hypertension, insomnia, |
| 2) Your neuromuscular system is activated: increased | | | | chronic anxiety. |
| muscle tension. | | | | If you are a domestic violence survivor suffering with |
| 3) And your gastrointestinal system shuts off: dry | | | | any of these conditions, seek to cultivate habits that |
| mouth, build up of acidity in the gut, bowel and | | | | turn "off" the stress response. This will off-set |
| bladder relax. | | | | damage done by a pattern naturally inherent in a |
| This is sympathetic arousal; that is the activation of | | | | current or past life of constant criticism, verbal abuse, |
| the sympathetic nervous system. It is our body's | | | | unpredictable partner rage, and ongoing caution, |
| response to impending danger. It's your survival | | | | trepidation and fear. |
| mechanism, your natural stress response. This is | | | | |