Stress and GAS - Let it out!

I have had this topic rolling around in my head for some time now and I think it is ready to escape in all its glory and join the "fart zone" (a hearty thanks to the late George Carlin for giving us the fart zone).  I am hoping to educate you about stress and how it leads to disease and also to dispel anxiety about passing gas - this is a form of relieving stress.  Read on ~

So what am I talking about?  

I am talking about the General Adaptation to Stress theory or GAS theory developed by Hans Selye.  Dr. Hans Selye was an endocrinologist who focused his career on observing stress in people and how it effected their lives.  He discovered that when a stressor is introduced to a body and not removed the body will eventually become distressed and diseased.  There are three stages of stress adaptation:

• Alarm
• Resistance
• Exhaustion

The Alarm stage is the initial introduction of a stressor.  The body will tap into the autonomic nervous system which is where the fight or flight response comes from in our body.  When we get the first indication that there is something in our environment that is causing stress we have the CHOICE to eliminate the stress or adapt.  When a stressor appears and the body responds in the Alarm stage we may experience an increased heart rate, perspiration, pupils may dilate or contract, we may jump back to avoid what ever is causing the stress.  If we choose to eliminate the stressor then our body will go back to its balanced dynamic state.  However, if we ignore the stressor we will progress into Resistance.  And many of us will ignore the stressor and go into Resistance.

When we hit Resistance the body will form a type of common response to the stressor.  For example, repetitive movement in our work - typing, driving, sitting, texting, etc. are all stressors.  The muscles will become tight (hypertonic - for the geeks out there) and we will experience pain or discomfort in the  wrist, forearms, shoulders, upper chest, back of the neck, and maybe even a headache or two.  If we CHOOSE to ignore this continued stressor and allow the Resistance to build up, then our body will go into exhaustion.

Exhaustion will lead to disease.  This has been proven over and over again.  If you continue to ignore the symptoms of pain and discomfort in your upper body from typing, driving, sitting, etc. the body will become too tired to maintain function and disease will ensue.  Possible fun syndromes may include Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, Piriformis Syndrome/Sciatica - all "really fun", painful combinations of symptoms to go through life with.  The body will eventually "give up" if you refuse to permit time for self-care and rest.  This is when disease sets in and as you probably know, once disease is present it is challenging to get extricate.
An image of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - the blue area represents areas of pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness.

So what can I do?

Obvious answer from me - Get a massage!  Take a break.
Give yourself permission to get up from your desk or walk away from your task to stretch, have a drink of water, eat a healthy snack, and think about something other than your work and troubles.
If you do not like having massage try reflexology on the feet, hands, and/or ears.
If the touch therapies don't float your boat there is always CranioSacral Therapy, Traditional Chinese Medicine (Acupuncture, Cupping, Moxibustion, Herbs, Nutrition), Healing Touch, Reiki, Qigong, Hypnosis, meditation, and facials, pedicures, manicures, or a haircut.  Do SOMETHING for YOURSELF!  Do it without guilt, do it without shame, do it without worrying about what others will think.  The really important part of self-care and getting rid of the GAS (General Adaptation to Stress), is doing it for yourself.  Let me say it one more time - "Do it for yourself."

What does GAS have to do with gas?

Quite a lot actually.  Yes, I have to bring this in.  Anyone who knows me personally knows gas is a BIG issue in my life.  Sometimes for fun and too often because of stress.  In Traditional Chinese Medicine belching and flatulence (farting) is considered a form of rebel qi (chi).  Well, what is that?!?!  It basically means that the energy in your body is blocked and is running backwards along its channels. In western medical philosophy these symptoms can be normal to pathological depending on frequency and accompanying symptoms.   Either way gas can be a sign of GAS.  Are you going to do something about it? or A(larm)R(esistance)E(xhaustion) you going to let it go?  It can be as simple as changing your diet, drinking more water, getting more exercise or a more challenging path to unwind the build-up of stress that has occurred over many, many years.  If you have a more challenging path to walk, as many do, please accept the help and skill of others to guide you through your healing journey.  As you get your therapies please, please, please do NOT hold in your gas.  If you hold it in you are clenching your body and restricting the flow of blood, nutrients, oxygen, energy, and health the therapist is attempting to remind your body how to hold.  In short it is okay to fart, it is okay to burp, it is okay to sneeze, it is okay to cough, it is okay to get up and use the rest room in the middle of your session.  We are all human, we all have our own GAS, we all have to accept that GAS happens and it is okay to let the gas out.  After all, where does it all go but into the "fart zone" anyway!

Be well, give yourself a break, and let the gas out so the GAS doesn't build up!

All the best,
Adrienne