Preksha Dhyana Human Body Part 2

Author(s): Jethalal S Zaveri
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati

Page 99

10
Relaxation
Age of Tension
The existence of mental stress as a part of modern life-style has been universally accepted. Frequent stressful situations such as worries about overdue bills, shortages of essential commodities, unemployment, crime and such other modern concerns affect us not only mentally but also undermine our physical health. Any condition that needs behavior adjustment could be regarded as stressful situation. Whenever one encounters such a situation, an innate mechanism is automatically put into action. Thereby conditions which are not conducive to the optimum balanced functioning of the autonomic nervous system are brought about. This results in what is called sympathetic dominance and appropriate physiological changes, viz. rise in bloodpressure, acceleration of heart-rate, increased metabolic activity and respiration, and a rise in blood sugar.
The stress mechanism begins its functioning with the adrenal glands increasing its secretion and output of specific hormone-epinephrine-which in turn activates the sympathetic nervous system. Hyperfunction of the adrenals seems to be the price we must pay for our modern stress-oriented society. The adrenal flow is brought to excess by pain, fear, rage, excitement or any of the painful emotions. Excessive adrenal output was very much necessary as activating force in the fight or flight' primitive age of the man. But excessive use of any of nature's forces will sooner or later pauperize these forces. Today our fighting and running away may not be as crude as the primitive man's but it is still as destructive to our body. Our jealousies, hatés, fears, struggles for wealth,
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