Certain events instill fear in us quickly. Nine-eleven paralyzed
some of us for weeks. The atomic bomb produced apocalyptic nightmares and chronic
anxiety for years. The assassination of President Kennedy still haunts an entire
generation. Nothing is ever the same after such events.
What do traumatic events and ensuing anxiety have to do with fitness?
Under chronic stress, the body produces cortisol, a natural cortisone substance
that results in effects similar to long-term cortisone treatment: fluid retention,
muscle weakness, hypertension, impaired wound healing, and breakdown of connective
tissue. Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, attention deficit disorder, and
chronic depression are worsened by fear. “No passion so effectively robs
the mind of all its powers of acting and reasoning as fear,” said Edmund
Burke.
Fitness can play a positive role in reducing fear. Bodywork is parasympathetic
in nature and provides changed perspective and balance. We need to deal directly
with our fears as they show up in our bodies. Fears exacerbate all of our physical
and emotional conditions.
Chronic fear suppresses our vitality and makes even small discomfort
intolerable. Pain is necessary as a body signal, and pain itself doesn’t
worsen conditions. We can learn how to self-manage our pain and be more active.
Misunderstandings of pain lead to catastrophizing about our pain, which worsens
our condition. Pain released from fear is more tolerable.
My friend who works with hospice patients said that the hardest part
of her job is dealing with the fear that accompanies the dying process. The demons
of fear—isolation, confusion, depression, anxiety, loss of control, and
utter exhaustion—are changed when we accompany a dying patient with unconditional
compassion, quality time, and attention. Easy answers and superficial solutions
are meaningless. Loving attention and compassionate touch are the greatest gifts
that we can give.
Doing this work helps us address our own fears. When we are working
with dying patients, we can no longer focus solely upon symptomatic relief or
operate under the belief that their healing involves reversal of their symptoms.
Fear diminishes the quality of life, increases the collective meanness
of spirit, and produces a palpable sense of helplessness and hopelessness.
The work we do can make a difference, especially when chronic fear
touches those we touch. PE
