SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATIONS: STRESS ADDICTION?
It’s interesting to note the similarities that exist between the allergy addiction state and being hooked on a stressful lifestyle.
Phase 2 (adaptation phase) of the allergy addiction state is similar to the stressed state of the adrenally competent person. The allergy-addicted person feels fine so long as she/he makes regular contact with the substance she/he is allergic to. The adrenally competent, stressed person feels OK so long as she/he continues to push her/himself. Avoidance of (he allergic substance and slowing down brings on the symptoms.
Phase 3 (exhaustion phase) of the allergy addiction state sees the symptoms returning so frequently and lasting so long they eventually remain permanently. No amount of contact with the allergens responsible can now alleviate the symptoms.
The adrenally incompetent, stressed person is now permanently fatigued and no amount of willpower can spur him or her on. The symptoms that used to afflict them only during periods of inactivity are now there permanently. Like the allergy-addicted person the chronically stressed person takes the view that these symptoms have appeared out of the blue for no apparent reason. Just as allergy-addicted people can’t believe the habitual eating of their favourite foods is the cause of their symptoms, the adrenally exhausted people can’t believe their lifestyle is the cause of their symptoms.
Those hard-chargers that see the light and slow down, frequently admit they were hooked on work, exercise, sport or socialising, or two or more of them. Being able to compare their present state of well-being with their previous chemical (beta endorphin) and hormonal (adrenalin) highs, they can see this clearly. Not that giving up hard-charging is easy; they go through much the same withdrawals that heroin addicts, smokers and the allergy-addicted go through.
For some, the irritability, restlessness, depression and aggression they experience is sheer hell. They pace the floor like caged lions, curse my existence and snap at anyone who comes near.
For hard-chargers, the real challenge begins when they are well and bursting with natural energy. Hard-chargers have an innate drive to push themselves to their limits of tolerance that must be constantly monitored and vigorously controlled. Those who accept this as their new challenge remain well. Those who don’t, push on to their new outer limit of tolerance and eventually experience the return of all their symptoms.
Hard-chargers must realise that the programs in this book are not a license to push themselves ad infinitum. The programs don’t make them invincible, they only extend their outer limits of tolerance, and if anyone can find their outer limits of tolerance, it’s a hard-charger.
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