Silence, the Natural Remedy for Stress
It’s important to understand that remedy for stress isn’t the same as mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression, which require treatment from medical professionals.
“Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”
Viktor E. Frankl, Neurologist, Psychiatrist, Holocaust survivor
Surely Mr. Viktor Frankl knew how precious it was to have a moment of silence to himself. Surviving the ordeal of the holocaust has left him little time and space for himself, let alone a moment of silence. His quote suggested such a profound but simple truth about silence. It plays a significant role in most parts of our lives, but mostly, we do not even notice its existence. Silence has the power to get people to think, change their cause of action, calm the soul, and even feel rejuvenated in just a short period. This natural and powerful tool is always at our disposal yet not many have truly understood the importance of it.
Noise Kills
It may seem like an exaggeration, but noise can kill. It is not just hearing impairment that we are talking about here; noise can be a health hazard. A report released by the World Health Organization and the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre has highlighted that constant exposure to noise and incessant auditory interference can increase the chance of high blood pressure and fatal heart attacks. Such sound pollution can trigger a stress response from the body releasing a high level of stress hormones. The same study also noted that noise can impede a child’s development and has a lasting impact on their health, learning abilities, cognitive development, and even language skills.
With all the consequences that are associated with noise and sound pollution, we will be wise to make better choices when deciding on the environment we want to be in or the kind of music that we allow to pipe through our earbuds. It is better to be safe than sorry.
Silence Has Its Benefits
There are astonishing benefits to observing moments of silence in our everyday life. Not only can it relieve stress and anxiety, but at the deeper level, it helps to generate new brain cells in the hippocampus (a small organ located within the brain that helps to develop emotions and long-term memory), improves our reflexes and immune system. By providing a quiet space for our brain, we are essentially allowing it to grow more effectively and efficiently.
In a test that was conducted on mice to determine how noise can impact brain functions, it was found that after placing the mice in a silent condition for two hours, new brain cells begin to grow in the area of the brain that is associated with learning and emotion. The new cells are also noted to be fully functional neurons that can improve the brain development of the mice.
In another research conducted in 2006, it was observed that just two minutes of silence can decrease stress by lowering blood cortisol levels and adrenaline. It is truly remarkable to know how little it takes for us to restore our mental health and relieving tension in the body and brain. If two minutes is all it takes to improve our stress condition, just imagine how much healing it can do if we can just find two minutes a day to enjoy a moment of silence.
A quick search online will reveal a whole host of other benefits relating to quieting one’s mind and environment. Much like engaging in mindfulness practice, it is way easier to derive clarity and a sense of balance when we can linger in that “space between stimulus and response”. It is in that “space” that we are not affected by mental chatters or external biases. Perhaps this is why many are running away to far and secluded places for personal retreats instead of staying in the hustle and bustle of city life.
Be Still and Know
If taking moments of silence can allow us to harness the countless benefits that are associated with it, I certainly think it is well worth the effort. Besides, it is natural, non-invasive, and can be practiced at our own time and space. There is no need for an elaborate setup or tools, all you need is a quiet place and alone time. It can be as simple as staring out of a window looking into the night sky, walking in a park or a few minutes of mindful breathing just before you go to sleep.
Like I always say, nature has already provided us with all the cures and remedy for stress that we will ever need, all we need to do is to embrace them. A little effort on our part can help us go a long way to maintaining a healthy body, mind, and soul.
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