Holistic Health

The Hidden Cost of Stress

The Irish are leading more stressful lives than ever, coping with the increasing demands of work, reduced job security, and an accelerating pace of life. Similar to the situation in the U.S., the young generation in Ireland is working longer hours and faces greater pressures to be productive and succeed.

While many are invigorated by the growing economy and even claim to thrive on stress, in fact, no one thrives on stress in the long-term. If put on the front lines of war long enough, every soldier will succumb to shell shock and battle fatigue.  
Numerous studies have shown the physical toll stress takes on our mental and physical health, including high blood pressure, heart disease, stomach ulcers, cancer, insomnia, depression, and autoimmune diseases. In Ireland, we are already seeing the consequences of the hectic modern lifestyle:
–  Heart disease and stroke are major diseases, accounting for more than 40% of all deaths.

–  More people under 25 are being treated for drug addiction in Ireland― approximately 30%―more than any other country in the EU.

– The rates of depression and anxiety are on the rise. A recent study by the Lundbeck Mental Health Barometer revealed that one in four people in the Irish workforce has a personal experience of depression, and approximately 300,000 people in Ireland are coping with the illness.

We obviously can’t solve the problem of stress by moving to an island paradise with no mobile phones, deadlines, or traffic jams. The world and its demands are only going to become more intense. However, we can begin to experience our own islands of inner peace and restful awareness through the practice of meditation.

Meditation: An Ancient Solution to Modern Stress

Most of the time, our internal dialogue is filled with a repetitive series of worries, resentments, wishful thoughts, unfulfilled hopes, fantasies, and vague dreams. When we examine this background static, we realize that even if we are not aware of it, the internal dialogue going on inside is literally controlling us.
Meditation is a powerful tool for going beyond the internal dialogue to an entirely different place: the silence of a mind that is not imprisoned by the past or the future. That is the silence we want to bring into our awareness through meditation. Why is this important? Because silence is the birthplace of happiness. Silence is where we get out bursts of inspiration, our tender feelings of compassion and empathy, our sense of love. These are all delicate emotions, and the chaotic roar of the internal dialogue easily drowns them out. But when you discover the silence in your mind, you no longer have to pay attention to all those random images that trigger worry, anger, and pain.

A large body of research has established that having a regular meditation practice produces tangible benefits for mental and physical health, including:

Lowered blood pressure and hypertension
Slower heart rate
Decreases cholesterol levels
Reduced production of “stress hormones,” including cortisol and adrenaline
More efficient oxygen use by the body
Increased production of the anti-aging hormone, DHEA
Improved immune function

The most important benefit of meditation, however, is how it affects your daily life. When you end your meditation session, you take some of the stillness and calm with you as you move through your day. All of your thoughts, actions, and reactions are infused with a little more love and mindful attention. The result is a deeper appreciation and a profound awareness of the divine quality of existence.

Deepak Chopra, M.D. is a best-selling author and the co-founder of The Chopra Center for Wellbeing in San Diego, California. For more information on Ayurveda, healing, and practices for peace and fulfillment, please visit www.chopra.com.