by Lynn Gorton, CLM, Faith Community Health Professional
The season of Autumn can bring anxiety and stress with the reduction in sunlight. Along with less sunshine, we enter the fall season, and the leaves are not the only thing dropping.
Our serotonin levels in the brain also tend to drop due to less exposure to the bright light. This important hormone controls mood and is responsible for happiness. It helps regulate when you sleep and wake, helps you think and maintains your mood. Lack of the potent vitamin D, coming from the sun, can include behavioral changes, leading to depression, especially as the weather changes and we spend less time outdoors and do less exercise. There is also an increase in the hormone melatonin, which tends to make one feel sleepy and depressed.
How did we get here? Trying to keep a dozen plates spinning in our personal and professional lives, it is hard to just keep up and going. Our minds rarely stop from reeling with our never-ending to-do lists, and not having more than 24 hours in a day to get things done.
If you agree, you are not alone. Over 70% of Americans regularly experience physical or psychological symptoms caused by stress. 48% say stress negatively affects their professional and personal lives. The top physical symptom reported was fatigue, and the top psychological symptom was irritability or anger. The number one cause of stress in the US? Work. So, the vast majority of us are stressed out, tired, irritable, and overworked.
Stress is a fascinating aspect of human life. It’s both destructive and motivating. It can sneak up on us and linger for what seems like forever, even never going away for some. Stress affects some far more than others, and we all handle it differently. It doesn’t discriminate based on gender, age, geography, finances, or race. It permeates all aspects of life and affects our mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical health. It ignores the line between work and personal life.
Stress seems inevitable in some form or another. Why? We experience stress for countless reasons. Top causes include work, finance, health, relationships, poor nutrition, and media overload. Even considering work stress alone, half a dozen variables factor in, including salary, workload, growth opportunities, conflicting demands, lack of support, and control. With constant demands on our time, energy, and emotions, it feels impossible to turn “off.” Instantly accessible at any moment, we’re always on-call and in-demand. No wonder we’re stressed out.
Is technology partially to blame? Yes, spending hours upon hours on social media and not allowing our minds to stop, rest, and rejuvenate to allow our brain to revitalize itself through sleep and relaxation is a factor. The blue light from our devices stimulates parts of the brain that make us feel more awake and alert. Checking social media before bedtime, as many people do, keeps us from winding down, which is needed for sleep. If we wake up and check our phone at night, the impact on sleep is even worse. Our bodies need good sleep. Getting inadequate sleep over time can raise risks for long-term health problems and the development of chronic stress.
What the Bible says. While the Bible doesn’t talk specifically about “stress”, it says plenty about anxiety and worry. Our stressors don’t come from God. Instead, Scripture reminds us to hand over our anxiety, worries, and concerns to God. Philippians 4:6-7 says: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” A biblical response to stress is one that fosters dependence on God.
Most often we are people who sweat the small stuff, and this can be difficult as it will dictate our stress responses. Look for future articles discussing some stress symptoms with practical, biblical responses to help our bodies alter our emotional healing. For more information, please contact Lynn Gorton CLM, FCHP LGorton@rrumc.org.