Nineteen days of 90 degree heat in Atlanta with little rain.

As some of you may know, I love gardening. This morning I went to survey the damage of nearly three weeks of neglect, 90 degree heat and little rain has had on my flower beds. Weeds have attempted to take over. Flowers are few and leaves are wilted. Some of my more delicate bushes are even showing signs of stress.

As I watered and watched as things began to perk up with a little attention, it occurred to me how alike people and plants are in times of stress.

I read an article about plants, heat and drought stress http://tiny.cc/IssRu . “Plants have stress hormones that they produce naturally and that signal adverse conditions and help them adapt….” People also have ways to protect themselves during times of crisis…it’s called fight or flight. That is our base biological reaction to crisis. However, we also have another way to deal with stress and that is our ability to think.

Being able to think, to make choices during a crisis has saved me from having too many adverse effects from stress. In the beginning of a crisis, there are emotions that begin to rise up inside of us. Our first automatic reaction is to panic. What I have found is that you can choose to panic or not.

Like the June of 2009 heat, the heat has poured on over the past several weeks as each day has brought a new crisis with my mom. Each new crisis has brought the opportunity to panic, to over react, to snap, to run, to fight. However, I have the opportunity also to think and decide how I want to react. More times than not, I have chosen not to react the way I don’t want to and to act the way I want to.

Many times I have not had an opportunity to walk away, to count to 10. I just needed to decide how I wanted to act and to make quick decisions, the kind that are called “quick thinking on your feet”.

This kind of thinking takes knowing that you have the choice to react or act. It takes knowing what kind of thinking skills you need for different situations. It takes mental practice. It takes self discipline.

Result? My blood pressure has stayed stable. My mind has stayed fairly clear. My emotions have stayed fairly stable. It’s hard to watch someone you love suffer, and at the same time, try to manage those around you who are reacting and panicking, so I haven’t done this perfectly every time. However, at the end of the day, things are going well and I feel good.

And back to my original thoughts. With a little watering plants will quickly respond. I’m fortunate enough to have supportive people around me. I have good friends who have called, listened, taken me out for a little fun and conversation. I have good friends who have sent me jokes, sent a word of encouragement, and generally been there for me and for all of these things I have been truly grateful.

What are your own reactions to emergencies, crises, and chronic situational stress? Are you prepared to use skills that will help the situation? Have you developed a supportive team?

Let me know.

Leah Henderson
President, Leah Henderson & Associates

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