ENOUGH: WHEN SACRIFICE HAS GONE TOO FAR BY ANDREA D

ENOUGH: WHEN SACRIFICE HAS GONE TOO FAR BY ANDREA D SULLIVAN, PHD, ND

• STRESS – WHAT IS IT AND HOW DOES IT AFFECT OUR BODIES, MINDS AND SOULS? • FIGHT OR FLIGHT RESPONSE; BODY PRODUCES STRESS PRODUCING HORMONES – ADRENAL HORMONES • REDUCING BLOOD SUGAR UTILIZATION AND DECREASING INSULIN SENSITIVITY; • HYPERTENSION • THE IMMUNE SYSTEM AND FOREIGN MICROORGANISMS • WHITE BLOOD CELLS • PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS – ASSOCIATIONS WITH DISEASE

• NO ONE IS EXEMPT FROM STRESS • CONSTANT AND CONTINUOUS STRESS IS CALLED “WEATHERING” • RACISM IS ONE OF THE MOST VIOLENT AND DESTRUCTIVE SOURCES OF STRESS IN AMERICA– IT SHAPES OUR BEHAVIORS AND RESPONSES TO LIFE • RESEARCH TELLS US THAT DISCRIMINATION TRIGGERS ABNORMAL PHYSIOLOGIC RESPONSES AND POOR HEALTH IN AA WOMEN • OUR HEALTH DISPARITIES ARE PHYSIOLOGICAL MANIFESTATIONS OF SOCIAL INEQUITIES AND THE DISADVANTAGES OF COPING WITH STRESS; DISCRIMINATION DUE TO ETHNICITY , GENDER , CLASS AND AGE

• BEGINNING EARLY IN LIFE AND CONTINUING WITH AGE DUE TO MANY VARIABLES • WE CARE FOR EVERYONE BUT OURSELVES; A PATIENT SAID TO ME “ BLACK WOMEN WILL DO ANYTHING FOR PEOPLE THEY LOVE BUT NOT FOR THEMSELVES . SOME OTHER TIME NEVER COMES.” • MORE JOBS AND JUGGLING ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, MORAL, CULTURAL AND SPIRITUAL RESPONSIBILITIES FOR OUR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES • WHAT TO DO ?– BABY STEPS STARTING FROM WHERE YOU ARE; ACCEPTANCE ( NOT CONDONING IT ) AND GRATITUDE (LIST ) • THE MORE WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE MORE WE WILL BE GRATEFUL FOR… YOU ARE WHERE YOU ARE; DOESN’T MATTER WHAT HAPPENED TO GET YOU HERE. MAKE UP YOUR MIND TO CHANGE IT– LIFE SAVING CHANGES

• WRITE OUT HOW YOU WANT TO LIVE AND EVERYDAY DO SOMETHING TOWARD THAT END; HAVE THE INTENTION AND THE METHOD WILL SHOW UP • FIND YOUR PURPOSE AND MISSION –THAT WILL ALLOW OTHERS TO FIND THEIRS • ACTIVELY LOVE YOURSELF- PRACTICE. FORGIVE YOURSELF FOR JUDGING YOURSELF AND OTHERS AS WRONG SAY NO SLEEP HABITS- SHUT IT DOWN BEFORE BED EXERCISE HABITS – 10 MINUTES 4 TIMES A WEEK EATING HABITS- HOW WILL THIS MAKE ME FEEL ULTIMATELY ATTITUDE ( AS ABOVE ) RELAXATION HABITS – BREATHE IN COUNT OF 6, OUT COUNT OF 5

• STAY PRESENT; NEITHER THE PAST (GUILT) NOR FUTURE ( ANXIETY ) EXIST • DO ONE THING AT A TIME • SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE • ORGANIZE YOUR LIFE TO INCLUDE FUN AND SPONTANEITY • LAUGH MORE • DO NOT EXPECT OTHERS TO BE DIFFERENT THAN WHO THEY ARE • DO UNPLEASANT TASKS IMMEDIATELY • PRACTICE COMMUNICATION SKILLS SUCH AS “I”. I NEED TO OR WANT TO NOT I HAVE TO • FINISH SOMETHING • STRESS =