stressed out

Watching TV can increase stress. Observing stressful events, such as the 9-11 attacks, only increases the stress we already have.

A study published in Psychological Science, conducted by Alan Hilfer, chief psychologist at the Maimonides Medical Center in New York City, showed that for every hour a person watched TV about the 9-11 attacks, their stress level increased by 6%.

This study also investigated the test subjects’ dreams. After 9-11, their dreams were twice as likely to contain threatening themes.

I believe that we can become unconsciously addicted to the “stress” or the stimulation of watching stressful events on TV. It does not matter if the events are fictional or news stories, the effects are the same – they both produce a stress response in our bodies. Stressful TV experiences add to our overall level of our chronic stress.

Watching T.V. initially provides a feeling of relief. Our minds are distracted from our current concerns. Our bodies arouse the stress response. Like so many of our previous stressful events, the arousal does not eventually lead to the release of stress. When the excitement dissipates, a small portion of the arousal or tension remains, which causes more chronic stress to build. The pattern of stimulation, excitement, stress, and then tension, is reinforced as we accumulate more tension.

In order to lower the stress our bodies feel, we need to expose ourselves to less stressful events. Watching less-stressful TV may be the one of the easiest ways to create a more relaxed lifestyle. Over the years, I have seen clients and students become more sensitive to TV once they release their chronic stress and develop their awareness. They feel their bodies tense up when watching stressful events on TV – they decide right then to choose more relaxing TV programs.

The stance we take in regard to stress literally manifests in our posture. A
defeated approach to life produces a collapsed body. The body that experiences
life as one crisis after another has a body structure that is tense.

The repetition of subtle behavior patterns produces an entire body/mind
construct that self-perpetuates that stance. We all know this when we see
someone walk into our office with a particularly unique posture. Our awareness
may be more unconscious, yet we somehow sense how that person will perform under
stress. It is a little unsettling to realize others experience a similar
awareness about us.

What can be done?

The self-replicating cycle of stress-posture-stress is reversible
through relaxation. As we become more aware of our posture, we can begin to
choose a different response to stress. If, for example, you notice that your
back is tense and your shoulders are held up, you can begin relax these areas.

I can tell you from years of working with clients that when you seriously
begin to relax an old pattern, your first experience is how often we go back to
it. Until we turn our attention to our unconscious patterns, they are just that
– unconscious. The act of becoming aware allows us to experience how unaware we
were and how tense we were. This is the challenging part – hanging in beyond the
initial discomfort and frustration.

After a week or two of serious effort, you will begin to discover that your
back and shoulders are not as tense. As you continue to practice, you will
realize that even under stress your body remains relaxed. Then you may notice
others respond to you and your relaxed body differently.

Background

What we were told is good posture is actually a tense posture. Shoulders
back, chest out, stomach in … all of these are behaviors of stress. Standing at
attention is not a neutral, relaxed posture. When we find our relaxed posture,
we are more present and better prepared. Any good martial artist will tell you a
tense person is a weak person.

Understanding the importance of the interconnection between our bodies and
our minds continues to grow. Psychology is now placing significant importance on
the effects of stress on our bodies and our minds. The work with post-traumatic
stress. by such people as Pat Ogden,
Ph.D.. demonstrates how the tension in our bodies takes us out of
enjoying life.

Fun suggestions

Watch others’ body posture to learn more about yours. It can be enlightening
to watch people walk by and from their posture discern their life story.

• Increase your awareness of how you hold just one part of your body tense.
Shoulders are something most of us hold up and easy to catch. I suggest you
first do this when not under stress.

• Try on other postures and feel their effects. This will assist you in
understanding others. You can step up and follow one of the people you see walk
by – I suggest at a distance.

• Understand posture from an architect’s prospective – how are you holding
your body up to fight gravity? Discover where you can let go (not hold) to be
straighter.

• Notice your posture while sitting, driving, talking on the phone, or
working on the computer

• Notice what posture allows you to breathe the fullest and easiest.

• Have someone videotape you while you are unaware of “performing”

• Be compassionate to yourself – you can change what you see. There are many
body therapies that specifically work with posture and structure that can
greatly expedite your transformation. Some of these are Rolfing, Feldenkrais, cranial sacral
therapy and some forms of massage.