Surviving Extreme stress without food
Find a Conversation
Surviving Extreme stress without food
| Tue, 08-23-2005 - 12:06pm |
Surviving Extreme Stress Without Food!
By An eDiets Exclusive Dr. Matthew Anderson, D. Min.
My very first articles for eDiets in February 2000 were all about managing and surviving extreme stress. Since then I have received hundreds of emails from readers and members who were struggling with very difficult life situations and the weight gain that so often accompanies the tough times.
I have decided to revisit the subject to honor those many requests for help and support. I hope you and any highly-stressed person you know will read these suggestions carefully. They will make a difference in your weight, your well-being and possibly even your survival.
All of life can be stressful at times but sometimes things occur that create what I call extreme stress. The events of September 11 are a painful example of this but we might also include divorce, loss of a loved one, physical illness, financial collapse, mid-life crises, natural disaster, depression and anything else that takes us far beyond the usual levels of life’s hardship.
Sadly most of us are not prepared when extreme stress comes crashing through our door. We have not learned most of the skills that help us confront, survive and/or transform the difficult emotions, thoughts and physical reactions that travel with painful life experiences. Frequently we react with shock, confusion and a pervading feeling of being lost and alone. Too often, we weight-challenged individuals use food as our major coping mechanism. We can’t control our eating until the stress abates.
My personal experience with extreme stress has been significant. But I used one of the most important guidelines for extreme stress management and decided that my difficulties were all for a reason and contained lessons and gifts that would make a difference in my life. I have benefited enormously from that decision and have been able to share that healing idea with literally thousands of individuals struggling to keep their heads above the rising tide of catastrophe.
The reality is that life and its hardships spare no one. Sooner or later things happen. I am clear that trying to insulate ourselves from those occurrences will only make life more difficult and will keep us fat and afraid of being completely alive. I don’t want to live that way and I assume you don’t either.
The good news is that there is something you can do about it. You can learn certain skills and attitudes that will carry you through everything life brings you. You don’t have to be destroyed by extreme stress and you do not really have to fear it. With practice you can prepare yourself to be ready for whatever shows up.
I have listed some of my most effective guidelines for managing extreme stress below. If you want more you can do one of two things. You can click on The Prayer Diet icon below. It will take you to my website and my Surviving Hell manuscript. Or you can email me that you want more articles on extreme stress and I will be happy to work on them for you.
Managing Extreme Stress: Survival Techniques
I have listed three very powerful guidelines below. They have been tested and proven useful in the most difficult situations. Please give them serious consideration.
1. Find a new God. I know this one may sound a bit unusual at first but think about it. Most of us get mad at God when stuff hits the fan. We feel abandoned and unprotected and we think God has let us down. I used to think and feel this way and I know a lot of you have too. You are not bad for having those thoughts. They are pretty normal. But you can get beyond them if you realize that your concept of God may be too small to include the events you are experiencing.
To survive extreme stress we need a concept of a God who can hold us and teach us and transform us through the most terrible things that life can throw at us. We need a God bigger than our expectations, our fears and our despair.
If you are in the midst of a painful life experience and you are angry at God or feel abandoned, you may be ready for the most important spiritual shift of your life. You may be ready to realize that God is far larger, more mysterious and compassionate and capable of transforming hardship than you have ever imagined. When you get this one, you will be ready for anything. I promise.
2. Live and let die. Yes, you oldies like me may remember that this was the title of a James Bond movie. It is also good advice for someone in the midst of a life horror. Extreme stress requires us to make some tough decisions. Often, we must let go of toxic people, ideas, attitudes and places in order to survive. If you don’t let them go, they could drive you deeper into destruction or despair.
You may feel some fear about this decision at first, but if you decide wisely, you will eventually feel freer and more energized. And remember, letting go creates a space for new and better things to appear. Get on with it.
3. Learn to live in and from the heart. A true and valuable gift that can emerge from extreme stress is a new relationship with your heart. Don’t imagine that you can’t do this. Just try it. Your heart is the best guide there is. It has a connection to the deepest and most trustworthy part of you. When in doubt, ask your heart. I mean this. When a decision needs to be made, don’t run to your head. Ask your heart for guidance and then listen. Something will arise from your center and give you an answer. You will get better at it with practice and you will wonder why you didn’t do this sooner.
By An eDiets Exclusive Dr. Matthew Anderson, D. Min.
My very first articles for eDiets in February 2000 were all about managing and surviving extreme stress. Since then I have received hundreds of emails from readers and members who were struggling with very difficult life situations and the weight gain that so often accompanies the tough times.
I have decided to revisit the subject to honor those many requests for help and support. I hope you and any highly-stressed person you know will read these suggestions carefully. They will make a difference in your weight, your well-being and possibly even your survival.
All of life can be stressful at times but sometimes things occur that create what I call extreme stress. The events of September 11 are a painful example of this but we might also include divorce, loss of a loved one, physical illness, financial collapse, mid-life crises, natural disaster, depression and anything else that takes us far beyond the usual levels of life’s hardship.
Sadly most of us are not prepared when extreme stress comes crashing through our door. We have not learned most of the skills that help us confront, survive and/or transform the difficult emotions, thoughts and physical reactions that travel with painful life experiences. Frequently we react with shock, confusion and a pervading feeling of being lost and alone. Too often, we weight-challenged individuals use food as our major coping mechanism. We can’t control our eating until the stress abates. My personal experience with extreme stress has been significant. But I used one of the most important guidelines for extreme stress management and decided that my difficulties were all for a reason and contained lessons and gifts that would make a difference in my life. I have benefited enormously from that decision and have been able to share that healing idea with literally thousands of individuals struggling to keep their heads above the rising tide of catastrophe.
The reality is that life and its hardships spare no one. Sooner or later things happen. I am clear that trying to insulate ourselves from those occurrences will only make life more difficult and will keep us fat and afraid of being completely alive. I don’t want to live that way and I assume you don’t either.
The good news is that there is something you can do about it. You can learn certain skills and attitudes that will carry you through everything life brings you. You don’t have to be destroyed by extreme stress and you do not really have to fear it. With practice you can prepare yourself to be ready for whatever shows up.
I have listed some of my most effective guidelines for managing extreme stress below. If you want more you can do one of two things. You can click on The Prayer Diet icon below. It will take you to my website and my Surviving Hell manuscript. Or you can email me that you want more articles on extreme stress and I will be happy to work on them for you.
Managing Extreme Stress: Survival Techniques
I have listed three very powerful guidelines below. They have been tested and proven useful in the most difficult situations. Please give them serious consideration.
1. Find a new God. I know this one may sound a bit unusual at first but think about it. Most of us get mad at God when stuff hits the fan. We feel abandoned and unprotected and we think God has let us down. I used to think and feel this way and I know a lot of you have too. You are not bad for having those thoughts. They are pretty normal. But you can get beyond them if you realize that your concept of God may be too small to include the events you are experiencing.
To survive extreme stress we need a concept of a God who can hold us and teach us and transform us through the most terrible things that life can throw at us. We need a God bigger than our expectations, our fears and our despair.
If you are in the midst of a painful life experience and you are angry at God or feel abandoned, you may be ready for the most important spiritual shift of your life. You may be ready to realize that God is far larger, more mysterious and compassionate and capable of transforming hardship than you have ever imagined. When you get this one, you will be ready for anything. I promise.
2. Live and let die. Yes, you oldies like me may remember that this was the title of a James Bond movie. It is also good advice for someone in the midst of a life horror. Extreme stress requires us to make some tough decisions. Often, we must let go of toxic people, ideas, attitudes and places in order to survive. If you don’t let them go, they could drive you deeper into destruction or despair.
You may feel some fear about this decision at first, but if you decide wisely, you will eventually feel freer and more energized. And remember, letting go creates a space for new and better things to appear. Get on with it.
3. Learn to live in and from the heart. A true and valuable gift that can emerge from extreme stress is a new relationship with your heart. Don’t imagine that you can’t do this. Just try it. Your heart is the best guide there is. It has a connection to the deepest and most trustworthy part of you. When in doubt, ask your heart. I mean this. When a decision needs to be made, don’t run to your head. Ask your heart for guidance and then listen. Something will arise from your center and give you an answer. You will get better at it with practice and you will wonder why you didn’t do this sooner.
I think three strategies are enough for today. God bless you and be obvious to you on your journey, in hard and easy times as well.

Signatures On
| Tue, 08-23-2005 - 12:14pm |
Very good article!

