Swimming & Diving Articles

Surfing Your Adrenalin Wave: How To Dissolve--Not Disguise--Anger

Feel that rising tide of anger? Surf's up! Start paddling.

Whenever we feel angry or frustrated, we get a blast of adrenalin coursing through our bloodstream. In the fight or flight response to stress, our bodies rely on our appendages. We need to hit, kick, jump or run away, and our bodies help out by sending extra blood to our limbs.

If we were living in the wild and had to actually fight off a predator or run away to escape, this would make perfect sense. But in a typical day, we just don't need those survival mechanisms like we used to. In fact, we do our best to thwart our body's response to stress by suppressing our physical reactions.

Oh, sure, we still use our extremities to express our anger. We raise our fists, pound on the desk, slam doors or cupboards, kick the garbage can, or stomp our feet. Still, since we're trying to be civilized and all, we use words more than body parts to react to whatever upsets us. This is good in that we don't want to go around hitting people. Slugging your boss may be biological, but it won't get you too far in your corporate climb.

So, instead of the fight or flight response our predecessors relied upon, we've developed more of what I call an "explode or seethe" response. Some of us react right away when we're upset. We clench our fists, do some wild gesticulating, raise our voices, or slam the phone down. Others tend to seethe. We suck in our breath, count to ten, hold it, and keep our frustration covered by a tight smile or maybe a little gasp of exasperation, but that's about it.

There's also the classic combo of the seether/exploder. You know the type: they just keep their heads down, don't say a word, and then out of the blue they go into a tirade that rattles the roof.

It's interesting that we consider a seether as more evolved than an exploder. We value those who are able to keep their emotions in check. In our culture, the seethers are the "nice" people who surprise us by keeling over from a heart attack or stroke. We've been programmed to sit and seethe. It's as though we're stepping on the gas (adrenalin) and slamming on the brakes (inactivity) at the same time. Try doing that in your car, and you'll burn up your engine. That's what we're doing to our bodies.

What do we do after a hard day? We sit and watch television. We play video games. We go to a movie. We collapse on the sofa and listen to music. We go out to eat and drink.

We've eliminated a lot of the activity of daily life. We don't scrub floors, churn butter, wash clothes by hand, hoe the garden, walk everywhere, or otherwise eliminate our stress through regular movement. We sit in our cars, sit at our desks, and sit in front of the television. It's no wonder we're obese and suffering from the effects of stress!

The sit-and-seethe starts early. Consider a two-year- old having a tantrum. Picture a little body flailing about, all arms and legs. That's adrenalin in all its glory! No suppression of instincts, just a pure, unadulterated expression of physiology at work.

We can't have kids growing up and throwing tantrums. It's just not socially acceptable. So, we give the two- year-old a "time out" to cool off. This is like asking a charging bull to sit and sip a bit of tea in that proverbial china shop.

With all our blood rushing to our extremities, our brains are getting the leftovers. This is the worst possible time for us to be logical. When we're angry and that adrenalin is surging, we're far more likely to say things we'll regret and to make decisions that will have us shaking our heads later. If you react verbally or respond intellectually in that adrenalin moment, you're going to have some clean-up in aisle 12 later-- apologies and general repair of relationships and projects.

Most of us have learned that we need to step back when we're really upset in order to avoid making a mess of things. Here's something you may not know: it takes a full 90 minutes for your body to get back to normal after experiencing a blast of adrenalin.

Ninety minutes. That means that a simple "time-out" for your child isn't likely to relax him, and postponing that important meeting for 10 minutes while you cool down isn't going to guarantee that you'll be fully capable of handling your issue in a level headed way.

If you really want to take advantage of your body's natural mechanism for survival, you might as well learn to work with it. The good news is that, with a little flexibility, we can use our physiology to help us thrive and even make us healthier.

You've got to move, and you've got to breathe. Isn't it convenient that those two go together so well?

Here are the four best strategies for surfing your adrenalin wave: *Paddle. Your arms and legs need movement, so look for acceptable ways to get active. Go to the restroom and do some jumping jacks if you can't sneak away for a walk or head to the gym for a workout. Move some boxes. Sort the recycling. Reshelve some books. Beat the rugs. Shake out the comforters. Go for a run. Crank up your stereo and dance with the kids in the living room. Jump on the exercise bike or go cycling around the neighborhood. Walk to another part of the building. Find a corner and do some push-ups. Activate those appendages!

*Laugh. When we're angry, our bellies tighten up. We take shallow breaths at the chest level. This just adds to the brain drain! We need to relax enough that our bellies can move freely as we breathe, and if we don't get that by doing some cardio that makes us huff and puff, the next best thing is to laugh. Get a laugh partner, and agree to call and guffaw--no talking allowed. Bust a gut, and breathe deeply.

*Sing. You need some serious exhalations, so jump in the shower and blast out your favorite power ballad. Get in your car and sing along with the radio. Releasing sound is therapeutic in itself. Throw in some dance moves, and you've got it covered!

*Avoid meditation. Ignore what you've heard about thinking through your anger. Mindfulness is immensely valuable, but trying to meditate when you're really angry is not realistic or helpful. Be active first, and then sit. The only way to handle that adrenalin in a healthy way is to engage physically. You've got to be calm to be mindful. Get control of yourself physically before using your mind to address a problem.

Next time you get mad, get moving.

Work with your body instead of against it. Learn to surf that adrenalin wave, and you'll become a better decision maker, a more relaxed parent, and a healthier human.

About The Author

Maya Talisman Frost is a mind masseuse as well as a former personal fitness trainer. Her work has inspired thinkers in over 80 countries. To subscribe to her free weekly ezine, the Friday Mind Massage, visit http://www.massageyourmind.com.

maya@massageyourmind.com

Other Article Sites

findabook.com  moneycd.info  a-mortgage.info   about-lemon-laws.info  aboutstudentloans.info
all-about-publishing.info  auctions-articles.info  bestcollege-university.com  bestispconnection.com
biblefolder.com  blogger-website.com  books-used.info  brokers-guide.info  buywindows.info  cable-dsl.info
career-miner.com  carpel-tunnel.info  cashinaflash.info  cashloanreviews.info  casinobell.com  chat-house.info
clearmycredit.info  collegeloantips.info  crones.info  depression-articles.info   dirnic.net  dishguides.info
divers-below.com  expodog.info   financewizz.com  fire-insurance.info  getgood.info  handleit.net   it-idea.info
health-supplies.info  hosting-right.com  insidealert.com  insurance-facts.info  jobs-employment.info
justgood.info  lookgold.net   lowcost-travel.info  money-source.info  myhostzone.info  numisblog.com
peoplesearchfinder.info  pr-articles.info  realeas.com   refinancing-guides.info  spyware-remove.info
telelot.info  the-law.info   toppaid.info  travel-deals.info  travelcorrect.com  wedding-guide-site.com
your-blog.info  your-credit.info

The Boaters TV Becomes #1 Boating Video Podcast in U.S.: Views in Excess of 50,000 Times in Less Than Two Months
The Boaters TV, a thrice-weekly podcast covering boating news and features, was viewed in excess of 50,000 times in the two months since the first episode was released on June 18, quickly establishing itself as the top video podcast for boat owners and enthusiasts in the United States.

Planning Your Dive and Diving Your Plan – Trading!
A colleague of mine just returned from a scuba diving trip in Cozumel, which just happens to be one of my favorite places to dive. Anyway, she was telling me about an unexpected difficulty she encountered while swimming around the corral reef down about 85 feet.

San Jose Swimming Pool Design Company Employs New Imaging Software
Swan Pools of San Jose, the leading swimming pool design company in the South Bay Area, is utilizing new imaging software that allows customers to build their dream pool.

What You Need To Know Prior To Scuba Diving
Scuba diving can be a great pastime for you if you love the water. In the summer it's a great water sport where you can cool off while keeping physically fit! However there are aspects that you will want to consider first. These will indeed help you better decide if it's for you, and make it very enjoyable as well.

PerfectSwim.com Launches, Providing Everything Needed for Swimming Pools
The new Web site PerfectSwim.com offers an extensive line of swimming pool products, supplies and equipment that owners can use to maintain the cleanliness and desirability of their pools.

Breathing Techniques For Scuba Diving
Mere inhalations and exhalation doesn?t mean breathing in case of scuba diving This is a fact while you breathe on the ground level, but when underwater, you need to know various techniques required to breathe rather than simply knowing about inhaling and exhaling

Online Advertising Traffic and the First Law of Web Surfing
Hint: don't send send your online advertising traffic to your homepage. How do you convert online advertising traffic into customers? The key is a phenomenon of human behavior that only comes into play on the web.

Online Leader in Free Swimming Pool Quotes Expands Network to Connecticut
FreePoolQuotes.com, the premiere provider of leads for pool builders has expanded its network of online swimming pool contractors to Connecticut including the cities New Haven and Hartford. Homeowners in Connecticut can now get up to 5 Free pool quotes from reliable pool builders.

Where To Go Scuba Diving In Bali
The tropical Indonesian island of Bali is still attracts millions of tourists every year. Tourists on vacations to Bali are attracted by the mystique, charms and allure of the predominantly traditional Hindu culture, spectacular tropical jungles, mountains and beautiful beaches. Many tourists especially from nearby Australia and Singapore travel to Bali for scuba Diving. The islands in Bali are well known for its excellent scuba diving locations.

Harry Potter Fans: Brush up on Previous Plot Lines before Diving into Deathly Hallows
With final book set to be released on Saturday, Harry Potter fans continue to build comprehensive, online information resource about the popular series.

Family Fun – Is Swimming In A Safe Pool
Family fun is one of the most important things you can strive for to give your children some lasting memories they will always cherish; even into adulthood. Your children will always remember the times you spent together as a family on vacation or at home.

A Novice's Look at Boating
The ocean air, the constant breeze and the sun glowing down on you are some of the reasons why you might take a look at boating as a hobby A vessel afloat over millions of gallons of water may not frighten many people, but it probably does frighten a few

Boating Rules And Regulations - What You Need To Know To Stay Safe And Out Of Trouble When You?re On The Water!
Before you start looking through the boat classified ads for a new boat for sale or even a used boat for sale, so you can get out on the water as soon as possible, you should stop to consider getting familiar with the basic boating rules and regulations. These may affect the type of boat you buy and how you plan to use it. Although boating almost rhymes with partying, they are not one in the same. The number of registered boaters continues to rise each year and although the number of fatal accidents has seemed to level off over the past few years, the amount of boating congestion and traffic hasn?t. Each year it seems as though there are more and more boaters on our inland waters and major gateways and your local county law enforcement is n...

Lisa Loucks Christenson, Host of Lisa's Walk The Talk Show, Swimming in Flood Stories from Residents of Elba, MN
Six lives claimed as flooding continues in SE Minnesota. Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty traveled to SE Minnesota, declaring six counties a state of emergency, calling in 2 Black Hawk Helicopters and 240 National Guardman. Lisa's Walk The Talk Show has gathered and will continue to cover the scenes and inside stories of the residents in the flooded town of Elba, Minnesota, one of several towns evacuated due to raging floods.