How do we trace stress back to its roots?

How do we trace stress back to its roots?

The roots of stress almost always go back to our childhood, a trauma, or perceived trauma. A trauma doesn’t have to be huge, or life threatening, in fact some traumas may be considered very small in the eyes of an adult. However, when we are children a trauma of any kind can seem like the world is coming to an end. When Adam was five he was at a family picnic, his mother made a hamburger for him and gave him half. Adam thought he was big enough to have a whole hamburger and began to cry. Adam’s uncle noticed something was wrong and came to help, when his uncle saw how upset Adam was about his hamburger he made Adam a whole hamburger and brought it to him. This seems like something very small and insignificant however it was a big deal to Adam at the time.

Have you ever noticed the way the smell of bread or the sound of music can remind us of happy times, so can events and places. Experiences can remind us of stressful or traumatic times as well as the happy times. Stressful experiences get stuck in our subtle body (an energy field around our physical body) as impurities that can cause disease. Adam’s experience could have left lasting effects, creating the trauma over and over again every time he went to a picnic, had a hamburger or ever felt that he wasn’t enough. (this is the root of the stress). Fortunately, for Adam a kind uncle who saw that a little boy was distressed tamed the trauma. Most often we don’t even realize our emotions have gone back to the root of the stress. We are so focused on the anger, jealousy, and depression (or however stress manifest itself in you); we never think to look for what it was that triggered our imbalanced emotions.

What are lasting ways that can be used to reduce stress and change the pattern?

Brandon is six. Almost every day just before lunch Brandon would get very cranky. by the time his mom had his lunch ready he would be so mad he wouldn’t eat. This would make his mom angry and she would just send Brandon to his room. Brandon’s Mom read my blog about how Pittas can become very mean if they don’t get their meals on time, most of the time Pittas don’t even realize what it is that’s making them so mad, THEY ARE HUNGRY!  She decided to try feeding Brandon lunch a little earlier, so he wouldn’t get overly hungry. That did the trick. Brandon’s mom followed stress back to the root, and then found a lasting way that can be used to reduce the stress and change the pattern. She then explained to Brandon why he gets so cranky at lunchtime. She asked him to let her know when he feels like he is going to turn into a monster so she can get him some food right away. A few days later on the way home from church Brandon told his mom she better feed him as soon as they get home so he doesn’t turn into a monster. Brandon’s mom changed the pattern before it even got started, just by being aware.

Becoming aware of what it is that started the stress is half the battle. Once you are aware of why you are stressed, that alone will start to calm your nervous system, and then you can focus on lasting changes. If you are a Vata stress could lead to insomnia and/or make it hard to get anything done during the day. If you are a Pitta stress, as with Brandon could make you angry. If you are a Kapha stress will most likely make you feel lethargic and depressed. Be aware of how stress manifests itself in you. Ask yourself what the reality of the stress is, not what you believe it is. Then follow it back to where it originated.

Nancy Adams Certified Thai Yoga Therapist

And Ayurveda Consultant