Sunday, 3 May 2020

HOW TO CONTROL MIND AND BE STRESS-FREE

 HOW TO CONTROL MIND AND BE STRESS-FREE

"No man's life is free from struggles and stresses, not even of the happiest, but
everyone may build up his own happiness by making himself independent of outward
conditions," the great thinker said so about stress.
What is stress, Technically whenever we perceive any physical or psychological threat
or challenge, we are under the grip of stress. However, from a practical or lay
person's point of view, whenever our mind feels uneasy, disturbed,agitated, tense,
heavy or strained,we are said to be under stress. On the other hand, when our mind is
feeling light, easy, cheerful, calm and quiet, we are said to be in a relaxed state,
opposite to stress. it is interesting to know that our each mental activity is associated
with a physiological response from the body generated through the action of our
autonomous nervous system. To understand it further, whenever we experience
stress, a stress mechanism is activated which is also called `fight or flight' response
or alarm response'. It is as if a red alert is declared in the body to meet the impending
challenge or emergency. In this condition, the sympathetic component of autonomous
nervous system is aroused through an impulse leading to the following body responses.
◾ Pituitary gland releases the harmone ACTH which triggers the adrenal glands.
◾ Adrenal glands produce another harmone cortisol which acts on the liver.
◾ Cortisol converts glycogen stored in the liver into blood sugar to provide instant
energy.
◾ Breathing becomes faster to provide more oxygen to the body.
◾ Stress chemicals such as adrenalin and non-adrenalin are released directly into
the blood stream to produce a surge of energy in the body.
◾ Heartbeat is increased to increase blood circulation.
◾ Blood vessels are dilated and blood pressure is increased.
◾ Sweating increases, skin resistance decreases.
◾ Muscle tightness and tension are increased to enable them to ready for action.
◾ The process of digestion is shut down as blood is diverted away from stomach
towards skelton musceles.
◾ Mouth dries up, because the salivary glands dry.
◾ The rectum and bladder muscles relax.
◾ Shaking of the limbs, cracking in voice.
◾ Bood is diverted away from the skin, Peripheral blood vessels are constricted
giving a feeling of coldness in hands etc.
◾ Immense system becomes weak.
All the above changes in body chemistry occurs basically to provide extra energy to the
body to meet the impending challenge. On the other hand when we are peaceful,
relaxed and not aroused, the other branches of autonomous nervous system,
namely, para sympathetic nervous system takes over.
Although stress creates sympathetic arousal, every sympathetic arousal is not
stress. For example when one wants to run for the improvement of one's health, ones
sympathetic nervous system is aroused to give extra energy for running but you are
nevertheless, not under stress.
When Does Stress Result In Disease ?
Sympathetic arousal which occurs under stress, draws on the body's available
resources in order to provide extra energy to meet the challenge, this results in
continuous depletion of body's resources, eventually leading to exhaustion,
diseases, break down and some time even the death. It is said 80% of diseases
are due to stress. They are either originated or aggravated by stress and are called
psychosomatic diseases viz Asthma, Backpain, High B.P., Diabetes, various mental
disorders including fits etc.
There are outward signs by which we can guess or judge that a person is in stress for
example.
◾ Biting Nails
◾ Clenching fists
◾ Clenching jaw
◾ Finger tapping on Chair/table
◾ Grinding teeth while sleeping
◾ Hunching shoulders
◾ Wrinkles on forehead and tense forehead muscle.
◾ Frequent sighing or yawning
◾ Tapping feet on the floor
◾ Shaking while sitting on the chair.
◾ Shallow breathing or upper chest breathing
◾ Tightness in muscles of various parts of body
◾ Tightness of stomach
◾ Loss of appetite
One may exhibit some or many of these symptoms depending upon his stress prone
habits to which he is hooked to.
Dissolution of stress
Obviously the way to dissolve stress which has accumulated through the constant
arousal of sympathetic nervous system, is to counter this effect by consciously increasing
the parasympathetic response the techniques which helps in achieving this are called
conscious relaxation techniques and their main faces is to return the body chemistry to
normal. There are :
◾ Meditation
◾ Stretching exercises
◾ Aerobic exercises
◾ Massage
◾ Accupressure
◾ Relaxing Effect of water & other Nature Care Methods
◾ Breathing
◾ Laughter
◾ Diet, Nutrition & elimination of Toxins
◾ Dancing and shaking of the body
◾ Rocking & Swinging
◾ Music
◾ Soothing Touch of `Nature'
There all the techniques are primarily curative, but the author beautifully says &
explains that if one is able to control his mind, it prevents `STRESS', he says, "Once you
control your mind, happiness and peace comes as a natural consequence". Almost
all our agonies and pains are due to our not having proper control over our mind. The
servant (mind) has become the master and the master has become the servant. We
have to restore our master status and place the servant in its proper position if we
want to be really, happy and stress free.
What is mind ? Mind is that faculty by virtue of which we are able to be conscious and
aware of ourselves. Consciousness and awareness of self and others are the basic
characteristics of mind. Mind is different from brain. The brain is a physical organ
like any other organ of the body while mind is a non-physical entity. Thus the brain
acts as a link between the mind and the body. Some characteristics of mind are
◾ Mind has no weight or measurement
◾ Mind is Eternal & Immortal
◾ Mind is Indivisible in Nature
◾ Mind can exist Independent of the Body
◾ Mind and body influences each other
◾ Mind control Methodologies
Metaphorically, it is said that you can stop the wind from blowing, you cam stop the
river from flowing, but you can't control mind. Control of mind is certainly the most
difficult thing in the world, but it is possible by constant practice and adopting proper
techniques. They are :
◾ Yoga sanas and exercises
◾ Pranayama
◾ Kriyas (Purificatory techniques)
◾ Sitting postures
◾ Diet - Satwik, Rajasik & Tamasik
◾ Fasting
◾ Celibacy
◾ Trataka
◾ Silence
◾ Spiritual Methods
◾ Meditation (Rayayaga)
◾ Remembrance of God (Bhakti Yoga)
◾ Unselfish Action (Karma Yoga)
◾ Knowledge of self supreme self (God) an world(Gyan Yoga)
The author succinctly explains the above method and one can stand like a rock amidst
severest opposition and obstacles if one is able to control mind.

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