Stress affects your immune system. We've bullied our bully topic considerably over the past few weeks. And still there are a few important points yet to make.
When you, as a human being, are under the influence of a bully, what kind of state does that cause in your body physiology? We've already talked about your being cast in the role of the victim. But let's take it one step further.
What happens in your body?
We'll sum up the answer in one power-packed word. Stress.
Dr. Bruce Lipton put it this way. In any given moment, your body has to choose between growth or protection. One or the other. You can't have both.
When you're under stress, the automatic choice your body makes is protection. Not growth. And protection spends body resources.
What would your bank account look like if you chose "spend" over "deposit" on a regular, consistent basis? You'd overdraw your account before long, wouldn't you? If it went on for too long, you might even end up being asked to remove yourself from your bank's customer list.
This is not unlike what happens in your body. If you allow your stress to continue unchecked, you're putting your body energy in a state of constant withdrawal. Overspending, if you like. If it goes on for too long, you might end up be removed from a great number of customer lists.
One thing that stress does consistently well is impair the function of your immune system. When you're depleted enough, your body just doesn't have the extra energy to fight stuff off.
Think about your state of health for a moment. And also the health of those you know. If you're like most of us, every so often you'll get a cold, or a strep throat, or the flu. One of the first things you're likely to ask yourself is "Where did I pick this up?"
It's a good question. It's useful to consider where you "picked up" something, especially if it isn't too common.
But there's a better question begging to be asked. It's this: "Why didn't my body fight this off?"
Think about it. Of course it's important to limit your exposure to contagious illnesses when you can. But isn't it at least as important to create your body as powerful enough to resist germs that come your way accidentally?
If you and I agree, then we've just exposed one super-duper reason to make the effort to resolve or manage stress in our lives. Sure it's easier not to -- in the short run. Long term -- well, that might be different.
I heard Caroline Myss tell a story one day. She'd been talking with a person who had a serious health problem, and as they visited, it became clear to Caroline that the stress from an interpersonal dispute with a family member was the root cause of the illness. When she presented this information to the person, they stared back at her dumbfounded.
Caroline replied, "What? Do you mean to tell me that you didn't know you had relationship difficulties with this person?"
"Of course I did," replied the patient. "I just didn't know how important it was."
P.S. The little guy that provided the spark for our bullying thread has been hospitalized for the past week with an illness that his body didn't fight off. Sounds like he's recovering well. The bully has changed schools. Things are swinging up. Still, it would be generous to keep his family in your prayers.
Elizabeth Eckert can help you explore how simple everyday choices create health — or undermine even the best of intentions. With a background that ranges from energy medicine to structural bodywork to developmental psychology, this "Stick-To-It Coach" has the experience to support you in creating the healthiest possible expression of — you!
Take our free Less Stress; More Time mini-course!
