14 Comments

Tyler, Oh! This one really resonates all the way to the bowels of my body! (Sorry, it just slipped out). To keep my comment brief, I will focus on the healthy part of understanding the importance of “confrontation’s”: our own sympathetic nervous system. The “fight or flight response” is an adaptation developed in animals to helps us to survive when we face a threat. The response is mainly due to the sympathetic nervous system. The hypothalamus in the brain triggers the release of the hormones; adrenaline and then cortisol, when a perceived threat is detected. Both are released by the adrenal glands in response to stress. Pupils dilate, heart rate and blood pressure increase, the bladder relaxes, the liver releases glucose, and your energy level surges. This series of physiological changes allows the body to access energy reserves and heightened sensory capacity so that it might fight off a threat or run away to safety. Once the threat has been resolved, the parasympathetic nervous system takes over and returns bodily functions to a relaxed state. If they are not resolved, stressful living over time can weaken us and dismantle our body’s ability to respond to unhealthy situations. Specifically, long term elevated levels of cortisol weaken the immune system, cardiovascular health, and increases rates of mental decline. So, while fight or flight is an essential life skill, it is meant to be used briefly and infrequently. To stay in good health, we need to tend to our conflicts (face them, resolve them) before they erupt into fires that rage within and without. Good advice and good health!

Live coals can burn hot.

Heed such old truths many ways.

Always tend your fires!

Expand full comment

It always scares me how long we humans now live our lives in that fully flight or fight stage. We're not built for this, but we keep trying to make it happen. Such damage we're inflicting. This is brilliant, as per usual.

Expand full comment

My son is involved with video game development and he cites this as an issue for those who have grown up under their influence. But I worry more about our exposure to the media we consume daily ( news , cultural, crime, war, and political conflict programs). We just don’t realize how much “hate and fear” we consume. Once we know the health impact, it makes “getting off the grid” to give yourself a break more understandable and logical.

Expand full comment

This is an interesting analogy! I do not seem to have the courage for either! Luckily I have not yet required a colonoscopy but facing some issues in my life that would require some confrontation is overdue.

Expand full comment

:) Start there, maybe it'll make the real colonoscopy somehow less scary! :)

Expand full comment

I've been dealing with this in a big way lately. It's hard to know where to start after so much that has happened between me and the other person. But I was brave, and started the conversation. It's to be continued later but at least the seal has been broken.

Expand full comment

Oof, shared history is SUCH a hard thing to reconcile. I'm so proud of your bravery :)

Expand full comment

When this notification first popped up this morning, I was like “Did I just see the word colonoscopy???” Yep. I did. But dang it, you make an incredible observation/comparison yet again.

Expand full comment

Hahahah, I knew this one would be a bit shocking. :)

Expand full comment

My date with the doctor is next month. The team

is looking for something systematic, but as you suggest, I have a closet to clean out not just a body.

Expand full comment

ALL my best wishes are sent your way. Hoping they find nothin at all :)

Expand full comment

I am just asking for answers to hard questions. Whatever they may be. Thank you for encouraging me to ask them, and answer them.

Expand full comment

One of the most important mantras in my life has always been “Shit, or get off the pot.“ Which is basically what you just said but far more eloquently and with an impressive amount of puns and metaphors! Love it!!

Expand full comment

Hahah, my Mom LOVES that phrase, and uses it often :)

Expand full comment