Kenneth Cooper - Can Stress Heal?: Converting a Major Health Hazard Into a Surprising Health Benefit

Can
STRESS
HEAL?

KENNETH H. COOPER, M.D.

Copyright 1997 by Kenneth H. Cooper, M.D., M.P.H., and Inkslingers, Inc.

All rights reserved. Written permission must be secured from the publisher to use or reproduce any part of this book, except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles.

Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers.

The Bible version used in this publication is THE NEW KING JAMES VERSION. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Cooper, Kenneth H.
Can stress heal? : converting a major health hazard into a surprising health benefit / Kenneth H. Cooper.
p. cm.
Includes index.
ISBN 0-7852-8315-3
1. Stress management. 2. Stress (Physiology) 3. Stress (Psychology) I. Title.
RA785.C66 1997
155.9'042dc21

97-33082
CIP

Printed in the United States of America.

1 2 3 4 5 6 BVG 02 01 00 99 98 97

To the greatest answer to stress that a man could havemy

family. Their support, prayers, advice, and calming presence

have enabled me to discover the ultimate paradox: It is

actually possible to experience joy in stress.

Contents

PART I
The Great Paradox of Stress

What Is the Paradox PrescriptionAnd How Can It
Transform the Stress in Your Life?

PART II
The Cooper Paradox Prescription Program

Release and Retreat: The Two Great Secrets of Highly
Productive People

A book on the latest research findings and treatment techniques for stress must, by its very nature, be a work in progress. There is never any final word or definitive treatment on this topic because new studies are always appearing, and adjustments must constantly be made to recommendations and advice that have gone before.

Because of the constant flux in this field, I find I must rely not only on my own reading and study, but also on the investigative skills of others if I hope even to approach the latest medical understanding of the topic. The main person who assists me in this research process is my professional literary collaborator, William Proctor. In addition, Bill has once again been instrumental in the organization and presentation of this book. As we have worked together on my books since 1980, Bill and I have learned a great deal from each other about how to handle stress in the world of writing and publishing books!

My primary business partner on the publishing scenea man who has been the quarterback in honing book concepts and managing the business side of my book writing and other media projectsis my good friend, adviser, and literary agent, Herbert M. Katz. Along with his colleague and wife, Nancy Katz, Herb has done a magnificent job of helping me spread the word of preventive medicine throughout the world.

For many years, my secretary and administrative assistant, Harriet Guthrie, has coordinated my book efforts, administrative work, busy travel schedule, and other responsibilities. There is no doubt that Harriet has made my professional life much easier and more relaxed. More than anyone else, she has helped me minimize the job stress that I confront daily. In fact, Harriet could have written her own version of Chapter 7, which deals with stress at work!

When it comes to minimizing negative stress in relationships, I must turn with thanks to my familymy wife, Millie, my daughter, Berkley, and my son, Tyler. They have provided an unparalleled relaxed support system of the type described in Chapter 8.

Finally, I continue to be grateful for the tremendous publishing operation at Thomas Nelson. The editors and other publishing specialists there have been extremely helpful in fine-tuning my manuscripts in the past, and I look forward to a continuing relationship with these fine professionals.

PART ONE
THE
GREAT PARADOX
OF STRESS

CHAPTER 1
WHAT IS THE
PARADOX PRESCRIPTION
AND HOW CAN IT TRANSFORM
THE STRESS IN YOUR LIFE?

Stress presents us with a profound paradoxa Jekyll and Hyde of health that can both heal and kill.

In its most menacing formas wrenching emotion, physical trauma, or even chemical imbalance in the bodystress may pose a severe, if not deadly, threat to health. We all are familiar with the negative physical and mental fallout from fear, anger, deadline pressure, bodily injury, or allergic reaction. People who fail to adapt to such stresses may become ill or even die. In fact, many physicians and scientistsmyself includedbelieve that bad stress, in one form or another, lies at the heart of many of our health problems.

But stress can also put on a friendlier face. For example, you have probably tasted the thrill of prevailing in a close sports contest or other game. Or you may have experienced the exhilarating drive and sense of expectancy arising from a string of successes at work or on a personal project. Or you may know the energizing edginess from a well-controlled rush of adrenaline, which produces your best performance in a speech or interview.

In its positive incarnations, stress provides a boundless source of inner power for achievement, happiness, and well-being. The challenge, however, is to minimize the ravages to health of negative stress and, at the same time, to release the healing, productive energy of positive stress.

Can Stress Heal? is my response to this challenge. Put simply, the basic healing principle in this book involves not trying to eliminate all bad stress because that just isnt possible. The threat to health lies not in the stress itself, but in the way you react to it. So your goal should be, paradoxically, to

accept bad stress as inevitable, yet

develop a resilience of mind and body that allows you to react positively to bad stressand perhaps even turn it to your advantage.

In practical terms, how can you achieve this result? A recent harrowing experience I had on the South China Sea suggests the potential of the Paradox Prescription.

High Stress on the High Seas

With a Filipino guide on board, I plunged through the white-water rapids in a dugout canoe, deep in a tropical jungle a few hours drive from Manila. We had some tense moments as the roiling river waters swallowed our bow, and I had to hold on for dear life to avoid being swept overboard. I still dont know how we avoided capsizing, but the experience was exhilarating, and I was left with a pleasantly drained sense of fulfillment.

As we were driving back to Manila, I felt I had probably reached my peak of good physical stress and excitement for the summer. After that diversion, I was ready for what I expected would be a calm, uneventful cruise on our luxury liner, which was waiting for us in the Manila harbor. I couldnt have been more wrong.

Every year, I lead a summer excursion to educate laypeo-ple and medical professionals in the principles of preventive medicine. As part of the program, the participants also work on improving their personal fitness and diet programs. Our ship was fitted for every taste in exercise, including a selection of indoor equipment and an expansive seventh-deck walking-jogging track, with 3.7 laps to the mile.

This particular year, I was scheduled to deliver my lectures as we steamed from Manila to such exotic ports as Taipei, Naha in Okinawa, and Shanghai. Everything seemed under control and proceeding according to plan until just after the Philippines faded from sight over the horizon. At that point, the waves began to build, first ten feet, then fifteen, then higher and higherand the gentle sea breeze turned into a steady forty-mile-per-hour gale.