Playing with the Monkey?

Stress is still our Monkey.

The first thing we need to do is identify what is causing our stress. We did that last week.  This week, lets pinpoint what our reaction to that stress. How is it we are playing with and training that monkey?

In a former life, my answer was to eat, nonstop, and to drink heavily. I thought it was helping my stress, but later learned it was intensifying my problems and my situation. I ended up on six different prescription medications, each causing different side effects which seemed to be compounding my already complicated situation.  

I would forget about my issues when drunk, however when I would sober up, the problems would be multiplied as would my depression. I was having difficulties handling the stresses handed to me and by compounding those stresses it was not getting any better. :-(  Even when I began walking 6 miles a day, 4 days a week, I was not losing much, if any, weight.  My energy levels were dropping, I was spiraling out of control.  I thank good friends, family, and my Church for pulling me out of that situation and getting me back on the road to healthier choices. I had to retrain myself how to deal with the monkey and in which lanes to keep driving.

Stress was affecting all aspects of my life and I wasn't dealing with the "check engine" lights that kept flashing.  I needed to look at what methods I was using to deal with the stresses of life, determine if they were healthy coping mechanisms and change course if I found myself off track.

HOW DO I DEAL WITH STRESS?

Common methods for dealing with stress:

• Cravings for Sweets and/or Salty Foods
• Emotional Eating (absently munching for something to do)
• Social Eating (eating with friends to overcome the stress)
• Nervous Energy (biting fingernails, grinding teeth, etc.)
• Stuffing Emotions (eating to quiet uncomfortable emotions)
• Drinking (to numb the overwhelming feelings)

Although I will not address drinking in my posts, it does add to calories and overall body chemistry, causing things to work differently and less efficiently.

Psychologist Connie Lillas uses a driving analogy to describe the three most common ways people respond when they're overwhelmed by stress:

• Foot on the gas - An angry or agitated stress response. You're heated, keyed up, overly emotional, and unable to sit still.
• Foot on the brake - A withdrawn or depressed stress response. You shut down, space out, and show very little energy or emotion.
• Foot on both - A tense and frozen stress response. You "freeze" under pressure and can't do anything. You look paralyzed, but under the surface you're extremely agitated.

This week I want to focus on discovering what my response to those stress triggers are.  Am I reaching for a bag of chips or chocolate chip cookies to keep moving and stay sane or am I chewing my fingernails to the quick in an attempt keep myself aligned and functioning in society. Then, am I driving with my foot on the gas, my foot on the brake or a foot on both?

If you've got the Drive, we've got the Vehicle!

Thank you, Walt Haste, for this photo!

The Healthy Grease Monkey is a project by Tess Brennan dedicated to writing useful blog posts for consumers who are smart about Nutrition & what they put in & surround their body with, passionate about protecting our environment, and are committed to supporing local entrepreneurs. Those who are about healthy weight loss & dynamic living. If you would like to find out what it is like to live a healthy life, we invite you to explore our product line or find out more about our services. Grease Monkey Marketing promotes sound nutrition, ways to improve your success and a little bit of humor.

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