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Healthy Leadership and the High Cost of Caring

Stress can have both a psychosocial (within the environment) and a biogenic (within the body) orientation. Eustress, which is a normal part of every-day-life, is necessary for keeping us alert and active. It enables us to be productive, creative, and assists with decision-making activities. However, a chronically high level of stress becomes distress and exacerbates a rapidly downward spiral in day-to-day functioning. The two primary stress hormones that begin this rollercoaster ride are adrenaline and cortisol.

The stress cycle starts in the brain. When a stressor is detected as a threat, the amygdala, hypothalamus, and pituitary glands trigger the fight-or-flight stress response. The sympathetic nervous system activates several different physical responses to mobilize for action. The adrenal glands increase the output of adrenaline (also called epinephrine), cortisol and other glucocorticoids, which tightens and contracts the muscles and sharpens the senses. Five main systems respond to stress and can be compromised by prolonged stress: the cardiovascular system, immune system, nervous system, endocrine or glandular system, and metabolic system. The body also forms free radicals that are associated with degenerative diseases, illnesses, and an acceleration of the aging process.2

While the fight-or-flight response is instinctive, it tends to compromise rational and balanced thinking. This is because adrenaline signals the body to move blood out of the brain and into the major muscle groups where it may be needed more (to prompt swift action and/or reaction). What happens is that a small gland called the amygdala, hijacks the messages from the neo-cortex (the thinking part of the brain), directs them into the limbic system (the feeling part of the brain) and makes calm responses vastly more difficult—think of road rage when someone cuts you off in traffic after an already grueling day at the office. As you contemplate the myriad of situations, decisions, and stressors most ministry leaders constantly face, is it any wonder that making wise, healthy, and balanced decisions can become a challenge after one’s resources (emotionally, cognitively, physically, and spiritually) are taxed to the very limit?

When excessive amounts of adrenaline and cortisol enter the bloodstream, the cumulative effects over time can be harmful. These include: a narrowing of the capillaries and other blood vessels leading into and out of the heart, a decrease in the flexibility and dilation properties of blood vessels and their linings, a decrease in the body’s ability to flush harmful (LDL) cholesterol out of its system, an increase in the overall production of blood cholesterol, an increase in the blood’s tendency to clot, and increased deposits of plaque on arterial walls. Although the research is still emerging, there is also some evidence that increased cortisol levels result in unwanted weight gain and the accumulation of fat cells around one’s midsection. This is why a number of dietary and weight control supplements currently available are designed to reduce these levels (e.g. CortiSlim, CortiStress, Cortistat-PS, Cort-Aid, etc.).

According to the American Institute on Stress, 80-90% of all doctor’s visits today are stress-related.3 The American Heart Association further states that more than 50 million Americans suffer from high blood pressure and nearly 60 million suffer from some form of cardiovascular disease, resulting in over 1 million deaths each year (2 out of every 5 that die or 1 every 32 seconds).4 Heart disease has been the leading cause of death every year since 1900 (except 1918 during the great flu pandemic) and crosses all racial, gender, socioeconomic, and age barriers. Finally, the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services recently reported that 25% of all prescriptions written in the United States are for tranquilizers, sleep aides, antidepressants, and anti-anxiety medication.5

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Category: Fall 2011, Ministry, Pneuma Review

About the Author: Eric Scalise, Ph.D., LPC, LMFT, is the Vice President for Professional Development at the American Association of Christian Counselors and the former Dept. Chair for Counseling Programs at Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist with more than 30 years of clinical and ministry experience. Author, speaker, and consultant, he works extensively with pastors and ministry leaders around the world.

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