Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers
Our daily lives are a constant barrage of triggers that lead to elevated stress levels. It has been scientifically proven that prolonged elevated levels of stress lead to chronic illnesses. Some of the stress related illnesses that you are used to hearing about include heart disease and ulcers. When we feel stressed, our bodies release a hormone called cortisol. Cortisol when released in the right circumstances, help to strengthen our fight or flight response. Cortisol works against the automatic systems in our body in order to prepare our bodies for survival. For example, it weakens the immune system, halts digestion, and increases heart rate. It breaks down fat reserves to create more energy. If we were in a life or death situation, this is the exact response we would want from our bodies. However, with daily stressors, our bodies are constantly feeling stressed. Our cortisol levels are not getting the opportunity to return to a lower baseline level. Instead, under the constant stress of work, family, school, and life, our cortisol levels just continue to increase. This is the reason our society continues to see more and more stress-related illnesses. Unlike zebras escaping from a lion and appropriately using their fight or flight system in a life or death situation, our fight or flight trigger is constantly switched on. This can cause increased levels of anxiety, memory loss, and sickness.
Remember the old saying, “Don’t sweat the small stuff”? Try to live by that motto. If you find yourself really upset about a stressful event in your life, stop to think: Will I be frustrated by this in 1 hour? Will I be frustrated by this tomorrow? Will I be frustrated by this next week? Will I be frustrated by this next month? If the answer to these questions is “yes” then you have reason to be legitimately concerned. However, if the answer to the last two questions is “no” then do yourself a favor and let go of your emotions around the situation. Save your energy for a warranted stressful event.
If you want more information about what you read today, check out Robert Sapolsky’s book Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers. Have a great weekend!
