Stress & Unpredictability
I recently ran a Lightning Process training and gave a public talk in Christchurch, New Zealand. It was my first time back there since the earthquake and it got me thinking about the impact of unpredictability on our physical and mental well-being.
Experiments done on rodents highlight the physiological impact of unpredictability. One group of rats will get an electric shock every day at the same time. Another group will also get one electric shock a day but at random times. When the animals have their stress hormones tested it is the later group whose stress hormones are through the roof. Same amount of ‘trauma’ but one is unpredictable.
The idea is that a known stressor you can prepare for, experience and then get on with life. If the stressor is unpredictable, an organism goes on high alert. It’s system becomes hyper-sensitivitive – it can’t relax.
I see unpredictability in many of the people I see. Some have been brought-up in an unpredictable environment (involving alcohol/gambling/extreme mood swings). They learn to be on high alert and physiologically they stay that way even after the ‘danger’ has gone.
For others it is their physical condition, like CFS that is unpredictable. When will the next crash be? Just as you seem to be making some head-way, it all comes crashing down again. It gets to the point where people can feel unable to trust their bodies and never know what tomorrow will bring.
Getting back control is a key component of returning to full health.
So one of the things we address in the training if necessary is to address a dysfunctioning physical emergency response. To retrain the system to ‘switch off’ or ‘step down’ (moving into the Para-sympathetic Mode) when appropriate. The knock on impact of this is the regaining of control.
Both critical factors in returning to full health.