Monday, July 22, 2013

ShareBit: Cortisol and Catecholamine - The story of death and life

Let me take you on a simple journey of chemistry and biology that shows how two brain chemicals determines whether we are having good stress or bad stress and if we are killing ourselves or giving ourselves a chance to live longer happily.

 

Cortisol is a chemical produced by the brain when the brain senses an emergency or threat to our life. This is how our ancestors were programed to react to the issues of life and death that they tend to face when hunting in the wild. The production of cortisol in the body is required to stimulate the body for extreme physical reaction - typically running or fighting back to avoid not being killed.  During these bodily exercise these chemicals are used up in the body and the body can return to a state of normalcy within a short period.

 

Interestingly, this same chemical is released during a state of frustration, whether at work or at home, threats to our job, negative comments by superiors, spouses, peers or juniors, verbal attacks and interestingly also boredom, impatience, tiredness, sadness, anger, and intense anxiety. These states of mind or causes of bad stress that generates cortisol in our body do not require physical or strenuous bodily responses which then tend to make  the chemical  linger in our body for longer than necessary.  In fact in many cases, as these bad stressors tend to linger, like threat to jobs, verbal attacks, boredom and tiredness this chemical stays almost permanently in the body.

                      

But what does high level and persistent cortisol do to our body when it is not used up?

 

Below are a few examples:

 

·         Impaired cognitive performance

·         Suppressed thyroid function

·         Blood sugar imbalances such as hyperglycemia

·         Decreased bone density

·         Decrease in muscle tissue

·         Higher blood pressure

·         Lowered immunity and inflammatory responses in the body, slowed wound healing, and other health consequences

·          Increased abdominal fat, which is associated with a greater amount of health problems than fat deposited in other areas of the body. Some of the health problems associated with increased stomach fat are heart attacks, strokes, the development of metabolic syndrome, higher levels of "bad" cholesterol (LDL) and lower levels of "good" cholesterol (HDL), which can lead to other health problems!

 

Source:  http://stress.about.com/od/stresshealth/a/cortisol.htm

 

Well now you are thinking... Ok, please hold that for a while and let us look at another chemical called  catecholamine.

 

Catecholamine is a chemical released by the brain when we have what are termed good stress. Challenges that we consider as invigorating releases catecholamine and some other chemicals.

 

Catecholamine, is the chemical that drives  excitement, positive mood, high energy and optimal brain function.

Simple examples of life situation that generates catecholamine are when we are given a task that leads to a reward (not a carrot and stick task), expecting the arrival of a loved one, expecting a payout, playing games which we are sure we will most probably win and other activities in our life that gives us positive anxiety.

 

Now here lies a problem, most issues that we face daily tend to be threatening rather than invigorating or at least so they seem.  Here also lies the solution.

 

To drive Catecholamine in your body as against cortisol why not turn what seems to be de-stabilizing threats to invigorating challenges?  You will say that is simply said than done?  Well, not really.

 

Let me give you two examples here and you can extrapolate to other life situation:

 

Example 1

You were given a target or task that "SEEMs" totally impossible. You can respond in two ways

a)      feel threatened by assuming that your boss just wanted to get rid of you or make a fool of you which now becomes a threat that drives the production of cortisol in your body killing your ability to think rationally or

b)      turn it into an invigorating challenge by;

 

1: Consider it as opportunity to test out your negotiating skill with your boss in which the outcome is at worst for you to still have to deliver on the task as given or at best change your boss' mind.

 

Merely imagining yourself succeeding with the negotiation already creates an invigorating challenge that drives your catecholamine, which drive your optimal mental function and excitement and help fight against any cortisol that may have been deposited in your body. Net net, you are a winner.

 

2. If you are like most winners, you just tell yourself "impossible is nothing" and create that sense of excitement that you are on your way again to delivering what others consider impossible.

 

3. This is the most important one to me: Consider the situation as a learning opportunity. Ask yourself the question, what new things can I learn from this. It is a given fact of life that every threat or challenge in life is a learning opportunity when approached with an open mind.  Fail or win, you will at least learn something. 

 

Example 2:

 

An unprovoked verbal attack or an outburst of anger.

 

You can respond to this like any other person by "giving it back" to that person and risk getting into a verbal fight at the least if not a physical fight that just drives up your cortisol level.

 

Also, your situation is compounded by the fact that you never get over such confrontation for days which simply delivers more cortisol to your body.

 

However, you can do the unexpected, put up a smile (if appropriate and/or you can force one) or just calmly tell the person that you are sure you will also react as he or she is reacting if you are hurt like him, but it will be more beneficial for the two of you to discuss what the issues are and find an amicable solution. Then turn the situation to an invigorating challenge based on the three principles highlighted in first example above. 

 

Most times, the attacker will always apologize for their bad behavior and henceforth respect your maturity.

 

Try this out on your spouse and see what your reward will be. :)

 

Bottom line: Keep your cortisol as low as possible as you cannot totally avoid it and drive your catecholamine by changing your view and attitude to situations that confronts you.

 

FK

 




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Sunday, July 14, 2013

Beware of Cracks

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2).

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. (Ephesians 6:10).

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (Ephesians 6:11)

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12)

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Ephesians 6:13)

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; (Ephesians 6:14)

The truth (guarding your waist with truth) is key to keeping evil attack away. You only open up the port to the devil and spiritual attack. Note, why the loin or waste, waist is the center of sexual activity for both genders. Once we start to deceive ourselves as to what

1 tim 4-16





And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (Ephesians 6:15)

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. (Ephesians 6:16)

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (Ephesians 6:17)

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; (Ephesians 6:18)

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1)

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2)


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Blood of Abel in Nigeria

The bible says, the blood of Christ speaks more than the blood of Abel.

What this means is that, is that the blood of Abel also speaks even though not as high as that of Christ.

Now for those that are being killed in Nigeria by the government based on negligence, or direct action of people in the government, the blood of the dead actually speak for them and these will surely lead to judgment against the perpetrators.

Take the case of Lagos ibadan express road and Bi-curtney and even that of Yaradua.





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FW: <<KingdomTalk>> DO YOU NEED TO ASK FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT?

-----Original Message-----
From: KingdomTalk@yahoogroups.com [mailto:KingdomTalk@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Bayo Afolaranmi
Sent: Saturday, July 13, 2013 7:47 PM
To: Bayo Afolaranmi
Subject: <<KingdomTalk>> DO YOU NEED TO ASK FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT?

Dearly Beloved,

DO YOU NEED TO ASK FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT?

"Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, 'Abba, Father.' So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir" (Galatians
4:6-7 NIV).

Recently, one of my online contacts asked me whether one can ask for the Holy Spirit or not. Let me based my devotional message this week on this question and the answer I gave the contact. The question about asking for the Holy Spirit is both theological and semantic. It is theological because it has to do with the third Person in the Godhead, and it is semantic because it is somehow a wordplay on when and how the Holy Spirit indwells a believer. Let me say here that when the Holy Spirit indwells a believer has been a controversial issue between the Pentecostals and the Evangelicals because of their different ways of interpreting the Bible. Since I am an Evangelical, I will first give the Evangelical position and later refer to the Pentecostal position. The Holy Spirit indwells a believer the moment such person believes in Jesus Christ and invites Him into his/her life as his/her personal Saviour and Lord (John 1:12-13; 14:16; Romans 8:15-17; Galatians 4:5-7; Ephesians 1:13) and He is there forever! However, the Holy Spirit may be "dormant" in the life of any believer that does not allow Him to operate. That is why Paul urged against such in Ephesians 4:30 and 1 Thessalonians 5:19. So, it is not out of place to pray that the Holy Spirit should have full control of one's life after one has consciously surrendered oneself to Him.

The Pentecostals on the other hands capitalize on some passages of the Bible like Luke 11:13; Acts 1:8 and other similar passages (especially in the Old Testament) to say that one has to ask for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Those passages are interpreted by the Evangelicals in line with what is called "Dispensational Theology." How and why will I ask for Who (that is, the Holy Spirit) God has graciously given me if truly I am a believer in Christ?

Another mixed-up issue that the Pentecostals make has to do with the gifts and manifestations of the Holy Spirit. These are entirely different from the Person of the Holy Spirit that is already living eternally with the believer! A believer can pray for the gifts and/or the manifestations of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:31; 14:1).

Either Evangelical or Pentecostal, the big question is: are you really a child of God? "[Jesus Christ] came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God" (John 1:11-13 NIV). Have you received Him into your life? You do not need to ask for (the indwelling of) the Holy Spirit if you have done so, but you can ask that He fill you with His power.

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Prayer Point: Pray that you make your life conducive for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and that you will yield yourself to His leadership so that He will manifest His power in your life.

--
_________________________
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
+234 805 515 9591
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Visit http://inspirationaldailyquotes.blogspot.com/ for updated daily inspiring quotes from notable Christians. Also visit http://bibleverseofthedaybypastorbayo.blogspot.com/ for daily edifying Bible verses.

"I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. FOR TO ME, TO LIVE IS CHRIST AND TO DIE IS GAIN" (Philippians 1:20-21, NIV).


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



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Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scornful.
(Psalm 1:1)

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NOTICE: This message is intended for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is confidential, privileged and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any printing, copying, dissemination, distribution, disclosure or forwarding of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please contact the sender immediately and delete it from your system. Thank You.

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