Longevity = chronic stress reduction, part one

November 7, 7:58 PMPortland Longevity ExaminerMicheline Ronningen

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Charlie in meditation pose.
Photo by Mickey Ronningen

Successful longevity implies learning how to maintain manageable levels of stress. Most conditions of chronic stress include thoughts or feelings of things being out of control. Yet all conditions are affected by motivation, attitude and action.

Seemingly, there are almost as many ways to reduce stress as there are to increase it. A primary universal stress response is avoidance: when something threatens the peace or one’s balance, leave. This is true of all living things. LiveScience reports James Morrisey, DVM, College of Veterinary Medicine of Cornell University, NY, as saying, “In general, the more intelligent an animal is, the more psychological stress it can undergo. The less you’re thinking about things, the less psychological stress you can potentially be under.”

Which brings us to the first point about stress reduction: be here now, formerly a hippy-dippy 1960’s mantra, it’s now considered credible. Other beings—frogs, insects, birds, dogs, cats, bacteria, algae—have little issue staying in the present, as far as outward appearance and behavior suggests. It’s humans that suffer through past/future minefields, generating wanton stress cycles.

Without thoughts of the past—including regrets, guilt, should have’s/could have’s, if only—one is noticeably lighter. Without fretful thoughts of the future—including what ifs and again the “if only” distorting expectations—one is noticeably freer. The actual present is usually less stressful than such mind trips, unless one is being viewed as dinner.

Most of us have developed some kind of routine stress-release formula either active or passive. We take a break. Physical exercise, creative pursuits, practicing dental hygiene, baking cookies, napping, watching easy movies, quietly ironing clothes, listening to music, playing computer Solitaire, doing qigong and/or other meditation, reading escapist literature, avoiding network news, or all of the above and then some are a few common responses when stress threatens to overwhelm.

One may consider more generally established avenues. The next posting offers brief description of eight different stress-reduction practices. Most of these also will be given more depth in future longevity articles.