“I met Lok-Kwan while going through a very difficult health crisis - anxiety, digestive issues and dizziness. This crisis was the result of a traumatic experience and it also had an emotional and spiritual impact. Lok-Kwan is truly a great teacher. I feel free to ask him all sorts of body, mind & spirit questions…He has a great ability to explain sensations and concepts that may seem complex, in a very simple manner. There is always an honest, peaceful, humble and loving vibe in his presence - and lots of laughs - which has been key in my recovery process.”
Physical, mental, and spiritual issues may compound each other till they are difficult to disentangle. But let’s try to understand how that can happen. Let’s start with the chemical substances in the body during stress vs relaxation states:
Sympathetic State (Fight-or-Flight) When you are stressed, your body releases energy-boosting chemicals to help you survive.
Adrenaline (Epinephrine): Provides a quick burst of energy and increases muscle strength.
Norepinephrine: This chemical speeds up your heart and raises your blood pressure.
Glucose (Blood Sugar): Your liver floods the blood with sugar for immediate fuel.
Fatty Acids: Your body breaks down fats to provide extra long-term energy.
Cortisol: A hormone released to help the body manage physical and emotional stress.
Parasympathetic State (Rest-and-Digest) When you are relaxed, your body focuses on recovery and storing energy.
Acetylcholine (ACh): The primary chemical used to slow your heart and promote calm.
Insulin: Helps your body store nutrients and energy after you eat.
Digestive Juices: Increases stomach acid and bile to help process food.
Saliva and Tears: Increases these fluids to keep your mouth and eyes moist.
Prolonged or repeating stress vs relaxation states
A constant state of stress leads to allostatic load. Stress hormones are activated too frequently, causing "wear and tear" on body systems, eventually resulting in serious health issues like hypertension, heart disease, insulin resistance, type II diabetes, and chronic inflammation. This can be compared to a home furnace: if you leave a window open all winter (a constant stressor) and turn the thermostat up high, the furnace must run constantly. The resulting wear and tear on the furnace's parts is its "allostatic load," which eventually leads to its complete breakdown.
Conversely, the parasympathetic state (rest-and-digest) is dominated by acetylcholine (ACh), which promotes recovery and energy storage. Regular relaxation helps maintain homeostasis, ensuring the body can repair itself and properly utilize nutrients.