Ministers encounter 40 to 50 incidents of stress a day, and the effects they have on the body is deadly, according to Barney Self, LeaderCare counselor for LifeWay Christian Resources.
“For those of us in ministry, the guaranteed component of ministry is massive amounts of stress” that can lead to severe illnesses and possibly death, Self said.
“The deal is not whether it will be there, but what we are going to do with it. If we don’t take care of it, getting sick is part of how we deal with it.”
Because stress is the perception of a threat or danger, a person’s body goes through significant changes when it is encountered, Self said.
“We go through a series of changes that make a massive impact on every physiological component of our bodies,” he said.
Response to stress is driven by fear, and fear affects the whole body, he said, creating narrowed perception, impaired memory, blocked learning ability, defensive posture physiologically, negative expectations, flight or fight response, increased body tension and preparation for action.
Stress ultimately increases heart rate, blood pressure, need for oxygen, breathing rate, perspiration and blood sugar, he said. And if that’s not enough, he added, stress affects a person’s immune functioning system, effectively inhibiting antibodies that fight illnesses.
“Our adrenaline flows during stressful situations, shutting down the digestive track, constricting the flow of blood in peripheral parts of the body and increasing the thickness of our blood. And that increases the possibility of a stroke or heart attack.”
Self said he believes the increase of colon cancer in America can be partially attributed to stress.
Stress also releases a body chemical called cortisol, which stimulates the appetite and is a major factor in stress-induced weight gain. “It makes us ravenous.”
Basically, he said, stress can break down a person’s body. There is a way to combat stress-induced illnesses, Self noted, that does not require a pill or surgery. He said the three-pronged solution is based on nutrition and exercise, a person’s belief in God and a program of relaxation and meditation.
Sitting in complete and comfortable silence twice a day for 15 to 20 minutes will beat a pharmaceutical or surgical solution to stress-related illnesses hands down, he said.
The relaxation response results in long-term changes in the body that counteract the harmful effects of stress throughout the day, Self said. “It quiets the mind and gives God the opportunity to speak to us.”
Self said one goal of LifeWay’s pastoral ministries is to help ministers learn how to be healthy and happy. “Our goal is to help you minister as long as you can and be as healthy as you can as long as possible.”
“Pharmaceutical or surgical approaches cannot touch stress-related illnesses,” he said.
“We want to take a pill and have it fixed. We want the pain to go away and for life to be better and back to normal.” (BP)
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