Genevieve
Falling Asleep
Falling Asleep
— vs. Drifting To Sleep
Falling asleep can be the most natural and easy part of our day. Indeed, at times many of us struggle to keep from falling asleep for a variety of reasons. But, for others, or at other times in our life sleep is allusive and we struggle to enter into this state of consciousness that “soothes the savage beast.”
There are few experiences in life that are more frustrating than being tired and ready to sleep and being unable to fall asleep. Of course one of the ironies of life is that the very frustration we experience about being able to fall asleep becomes a part of the problem.
Sleep is an important part of healing both our mind and our body. It is restorative on all levels of our being. A good night’s sleep allows us to face the new day relaxed and refreshed often with a new perspective and new insights of how to approach the lessons and challenges in our life.
Dreams, long the mystery of our consciousness are able… Continue reading
The Physiology of Stress
The Physiology of Stress
By Genevieve Gerard
Stress is a physiological response to the events of our lives. How we respond to that stress and what happens to our bodies when we feel threatened dates back to times when life was more primitive and the responses to life events was simpler. When we feel threatened or endangered our body responds by producing adrenalin. Blood pumps away from the extremities into the muscles. This is why when you are feeling frightened or stressed your hands and feet are often cold. The heart rate accelerates, and the blood pressure increases. Muscles bunch preparing the body protect itself from the perceived danger by either fight or flight. This is called the fight flight response.
Prior to the industrial revolution fighting or fleeing was an appropriate response to most risky life situations. Threats were clear and involved survival. The natural selection process of survival of the fittest worked well. If you were the strongest or the fastest you survived. This was accomplished by either overcoming your adversary physically or by fleeing to a safe place away from your adversary.… Continue reading