The State of Stress
Many believe these times are the most stressful in history. Each of my clients is required to fill out a questionnaire prior to our first session. One of the most interesting questions I ask is, “Do you frequently experience stress?” At least 97% of my clients answer, “YES!” When I ask them to rank their stress level during the last month, and expected level in the upcoming month, on a 10-point scale, with -5- being “average American stress,” almost every one of them answer -7- or more. Consequently, despite the mathematical impossibility, 97% believe their stress level is significantly above that of almost everyone else!
The State of Separation
There are as many reasons for stress as there are people, including mental, spiritual, and physical maladies. My personal experience and observation lead me to conclude that despite the specific event or circumstance, the ultimate cause of the state of stress is the state of separation from our Father, our Creator. This separation may be due to guilt, unforgiveness and fear, or to being doubtful of His love, providence and protection. In any case, the physiological effects are the same: an elevated release of the hormones epinephrine (commonly called “adrenaline”) and cortisol (nicknamed the “death hormone”), causing increased heart rate, pulse rate, blood pressure, and elevated blood levels of glucose and lipids. Left unchecked, the chronic high levels of these stress indicators can lead to all sorts of dangerous diseases of the heart, pancreas, digestive tract, and many other vital organs and systems.
The Provision
Rather than merely treating the symptoms with “medication” and risking more damage from the ensuing side- effects of the medication, many people are seeking relief through healthy stress relief techniques, such as iden
tifying the actual source(s) of stress (as painful as that may be) and dealing with the source(s) often via professional counseling including Cognitive Behavior Therapy or similar healthy coping techniques. Many experts advise “complementary and alternative” health methods, including healthier diets, exercise, and (my personal favorite) massage therapy. One very simple technique, requiring no equipment, special clothing, or expense is a walk in the woods!
“Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God
as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day”. Genesis 3:8
A recent New York Times article (1)reported spending more time in nature might have some surprising health benefits. In a series of studies, scientists found that when people swap their concrete confines for a few hours in more natural surroundings – forests, parks and other places with plenty of trees – and simply inhaling the atmosphere of the forest, they experienced
Lower concentrations of cortisol
Lower pulse rate
Lower blood pressure and
More balanced levels of many other stress indicators.
Dr. Andrew Weil, MD, Founder & Director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, helps to explain this phenomenon: many plants and trees have amazing adaptogenic abilities, manufacturing chemicals to adapt to its circumstances and protect itself. These constituents allow them to thrive under a wide spectrum of natural conditions, from drought to flood, extreme cold to excessive heat, attacks by viruses and bacteria, and so forth. These molecules are emitted into the air, and can help humans adapt to their circumstances as well.
- “Asian ginseng, for example, has an array of active constituents known as ginsenosides. One of them, Rg1, can stimulate the nervous system, while another, Rb1, has been found to calm it. Ultimately, this response boosts resistance to stress – whether the stress is physical exertion, infection, or some other problem”.
- “In many cases, particularly with the chronic, degenerative diseases of modern civilization, there is time to allow the body to participate, to choose just what it needs. As it slowly heals, it can develop a new balance; a dynamic equilibrium that helps it cope with stress in the future.”
Invitation
I believe that God’s intention, His plan for us, with all the care He took in planting and preparing the perfect environment for mankind, was to be in such close harmony with His children, to be in perfect communion, in one Spirit with us that we could talk with Him freely about anything and everything. He took great care in designing that garden to be the perfect environment, to be just what we need! He assures us of this communion through the words of Isaiah 41:13, 19-20:
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand,” (Isaiah 41:10). “I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive. I will set junipers in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together, so that people may see and know, may consider and understand,
that the hand of the LORD has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it.” (Isaiah 41:19-20)
Though we may have lost that first perfect garden by going our own way into the darkness of separation and despair, He has shown a bright Light on the pathway back to perfect communion with Him, through the death and resurrection of His own Son. He invites you to take His hand, reconcile with Him, and follow Him back to a life filled to the brim with His Joy.
Identifying and dealing with the specific problem(s) causing you “stress” takes time and effort; it is often a very painful and trying yet enlightening and empowering exercise. Throughout this vital journey, I encourage you to frequently take time to go for a “walk in the garden in the cool of the day,” in complete companionship with your Father Creator. While there, stop for a moment, rest in the midst of the garden He created just for you, and consider His comforting words, and may they calm your anxious heart: 
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, to comfort all who mourn,
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD, for the display of his splendor. (Isaiah 61_
(1)The New York Times; July 5, 2010; The Claim: Exposure to Plants and Parks Can Boost Immunity; O’Connor
