Stress stimulates the reflex brain to trigger a series of subconscious actions that result in low motivation, burnout, pain, and loss of focus
When you allow the monkey brain to be in charge during your run, this reflex brain monitors total stress throughout your mind–body network. When it senses it’s “too high,” the reflex brain shifts into “protection mode,” triggering a series of reactions to reduce motivation—sending negative messages, stimulating secretion of negative mood hormones, and reducing blood flow to damaged areas. Under severe stress the monkey brain will reduce blood flow to the conscious brain, digestive tract, and immune system.
Because blood flow is reduced to the gut, the brain’s energy source, blood glucose, is reduced.Lower blood flow and lower fuel supply reduce the conscious brain’s ability to take command, allowing the subconscious brain to remain in control.
Stress hormones are subconsciously triggered, and these lock onto receptor molecules. Negative attitude messages are sent and received between the mind and body within a few minutes. If you don’t activate the executive brain, the reflex brain will trigger a series of actions to lower motivation and increase doubt and misery.
Pain! Many of your aches and pains may be the result of stress. The overstressed subconscious reflex brain knows the location of current injuries and other damage because it is constantly receiving this information from areas all over the body. As the overall stress load increases (even due to anticipating a hard or tiring workout), the reflex brain will subconsciously reduce blood flow to these areas. This results in pain that would normally not be felt (or would be minimal and manageable without the reduction in blood flow). Dr. John Sarno covers this condition, tension myositis syndrome (TMS) in his books The Mindbody Prescription[6]and Healing Back Pain. I highly recommend them.
Later in this book you will learn how you can turn your attitude around by taking conscious control, adjusting to realistic goals, setting up several different plans of action, believing in the plans and staying positive. You’ll also learn how the mind-body can keep you going while managing stress.