14/07/2020
Help!! I need some ESR !!!
Stress. It's one of the words that rarely leaves our lips these days. In modern day living, stress has become an accepted 'unwelcomed guest' into our lives. We put up with it, pretend it's not really there and if it leaves a mess, well sure can't we just sweep it under the carpet, behind the curtains or into the corners? No one will notice sure......
It seems that these days stress has taken over control of our 'logic cockpit.' We see people reach extraordinary levels of capacity to take on stress and just 'get on with it.' Our minds go into a permanent state of 'fight or flight' and it feels like a runaway train, never going back, wrong way on a one way track. ( sorry no more song quotes! ) But that's the general feeling, How do I get off this train???
Well the simple answer is you don't get off the train. You can't escape stress, it's part of life. But it's how we manage it which is the key. How do we slow down this train of stress?, how do we make the ride more enjoyable?, maybe the train can make stops along the way and we can enjoy a bit of this world we live in.
I am finding that so far, the common link to all clients is stress. Sometimes it's really obvious to the client themselves and they tell you so and then other times they are not aware of it at all and present with a structural problem or stiff neck, shoulders, back pain or many other issues that are really symptoms of stress.
After all, stress is "the non specific response of the body to ANY demand made upon it." Dr Hans Selye MD. DSc. PhD. and godfather of modern test studies.
The key phrase here is 'any demand.' There is no niche market for stress to sell itself. It's everywhere and everyone is affected by it. Even when we think we are doing some positive stress like exercise, it still takes it's toll on the body, especially if done at a high intensity rate with not much breaks or recovery time in between. Finding the balance is key here. Instead of pushing through to the next higher level of stress and adding another weight to the load, take time outs, assess the situation, measure the scale of stress, find alternative answers, discover time for yourself. Slow the mind down. Leave down the phone or whatever the device ( after you've read this through of course! ) and be mindful of your surroundings. If that involves lots of kids and noise then just say you are going for a walk or going to find a quiet space. There are lots of really good mindfulness apps out there or the best tonic of all is that fresh air walk or run. If it's raining, so what? There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad walking/running gear!
So what is ESR ? Well, one of the effects of stress is the imprinting of a series of negative factors which almost seem to 'haunt' us. We may 'forget' an individual stressful incident but our bio-computer ( the body ) stores the information and remembers the stress every time we encounter a similar situation. This has a cumulative effect that leads us to be in almost continual state of dis-stress.
ESR is a self help technique / aid to help you overcome a stressful situation. It is safe and easy to learn and use. It can help re-balance our emotions and release pent-up energy. It can bring a general sense of lightness and relaxation and a lifting of mental fog. Vision becomes clearer and even hearing can be more acute. It can be used as often as you like or need. Relationships under stress can be helped immensely and children respond to it quickly and easy.
It can be done anywhere. Here's how to do it.
1. If you can, find a quiet space in which you can be. Not essential but certainly would be more beneficial.
2. Close your eyes and with a light touch hold pressure points on the forehead. These are located about 3/4 finger widths above the eyes.
3. Focus on the stressful event or problem. See the details, be aware of the colours, sounds, shapes, smells and feelings involved. Make it real. ( breath quickens, eyes flicker, possible tears )
At this point we are in full 'fight or flight' mode where the brain is thinking from the back. It is our survival mode where we generate automatic reactions based on the alarm and vigilance responses as well as past experiences.
ESR activates reflexes ( neuro-vascular points ) which bring more blood to the frontal lobes of the brain.
4. Continue to hold the points, breathe and relax. The signs of stress start to pass.
5. Now play out the situation as you would like it to happen. This is now activating our right side which is the creative part. Fantasy is good here.
6. After a few minutes, the mind will start to wander and then you kn ow that the stress has passed.
We all hold our foreheads automatically when we feel over whelmed or stressed. The body knows instinctively what to do. It's just our minds are so dominant and generally get the final say on these matters. Learn to listen to your body and any little warning signs. You know how far to drive a car when that fuel light goes on before it runs out and you refill the car so why should you treat your body any differently?
Get in tune with your body. De clutter the mind and let your soul free from it's cage.
