Stress causes our energy to become out of balance and is the major cause of illness.

Dr. Edward Taub

Years ago, my husband had a dream in which his deceased father had given him a key. But what was the key for or what did it represent? A few nights later, I woke up from a very vivid dream in which my father-in-law was holding and balancing a black ball in one hand and a white ball in the other. He was reminding me that “balance is the key.” Were the dreams related? Was there a message for us? We decided that the dreams reminded us how important it was to lead a balanced life in which we practiced moderation in all things. It meant not overindulging in food or drink, balancing exercise with rest and work with play. Emotionally, it meant expressing feelings and seeing things in a way that allowed for inner peace. To be balanced spiritually we needed to connect with a higher power and be aware of our interconnection to other living things.

If we want to enjoy wellness, it is mandatory that we balance not only our physical energies but also our mental and spiritual energies. Medical intuitive, Caroline Myss Ph.D. explains in Anatomy of the Spirit, that instead of just regarding the human body as a biological machine, we are learning that it is a vast energetic network. When this energy field becomes out of balance and loses power, illness results. Stress upsets the balance of the energy field causing us to lose power. Dr. Myss states: “The majority of physical illnesses result from an overload of emotional, psychological and spiritual crises.” She also says “Sometimes illness is the result of genetic or environmental factors over which we seem to have little control.”

Emotions such as fear, anger, guilt, depression and anxiety trigger the stress response, which over a period of time weaken the immune system leaving us vulnerable to opportunistic agents such as viruses. Some things that create stress physically or chemically include eating processed foods on a regular basis, sugar, caffeine, alcohol, white flour products, high fat diets, chemical poisons (smog, DDT, etc.) Stress is cumulative and the more stressors in our lives, the more we are at risk for disease. Disease means a lack of ease.

According to Dr. Edward Taub, author of Seven Steps to Self Healing, “The human ensemble is a self-regulating mechanism that functions according to how it is treated. Pollution and other physical stressors are known to be harmful to health, but the inability to process stress is equally so, because stress is transmuted into imbalance and disease.”

When the same stress is repeated often, our bodies tend to adapt, but this adaptation lowers our tolerance for new stress. So, we may adapt to alcohol, caffeine, nicotine or sugar but then we become more vulnerable to emotional stress. Constant adaptation leads to a weakened system that sets the climate for illness. Most trips to the doctor are stress related. Stress also aggravates chronic conditions making them worse in most cases.

It is important to remember that stress can be positive if it is something that is temporary, under our control and if it challenges or motivates us to grow. Physical exercise is an example of stress on the body that can be beneficial. A temporary added activity to a busy life can be beneficial if it motivates and empowers us and is short term. It is when stress is chronic and we feel threatened or overwhelmed, with no end in sight, that stress is most harmful.

Relaxation is the process of bringing the body back to a state of balance. The more stressed we are, the more important our need for relaxation, both passive and active. Passive relaxation might include meditation, watching or reading something we enjoy, listening or playing music, pursuing a creative interest or being out in nature. Active relaxation could be any exercise that we enjoy that creates feelings of well-being, peace and harmony.

Since most stress occurs because of our own perceptions of the events in our lives it is extremely important that we learn to process the events in our lives positively. Ask of yourself, “How could I see this differently so I could be at peace?” Since nothing has any meaning except the meaning we give it, what meaning could you choose that would bring you resolution?

When we harbor disappointments and betrayals, when we refuse to let go of the hurts of the past, we create imbalances that ultimately result in ill health. Bitter thoughts are stored in the body and disrupt balance, impeding the flow of life-energy. These blocks cause clogged arteries, stiffened joints, high blood pressure, ulcers and tumors. If we want to be healthy, it is important to experience peace of mind through love and forgiveness. By improving our emotional state and reducing stress, our body can regain balance. Then the life force energy can freely flow to all the cells in the body allowing a return to health and well-being.

Donna May MA Ed, is a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, Stress Management and Pain Relief Specialist and a practitioner of NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming), Reiki and Yuen Energetics. She utilizes spiritual principles and A Course in Miracles teachings in her counseling. She is available for classes, public presentations or private consultations. Donna can be reached at (248) 626-4859 or via email at: DonnMay27@comcast.net.