Professor Robert Sapolsky posed this intriguing question to challenge our understanding of stress and its impact on health. This quote comes from his renowned book that explores the world of biological stress responses and their implications on our lives.
In the wild, zebras experience intense but short-lived stress – the fast-approaching predator. Once they escape the danger, their stress levels return to normal. They’re not constantly worrying about past or future threats. This simple yet powerful concept is the core of Sapolsky’s question: Why don’t zebras get ulcers when they face life-or-death situations daily?
Humans, on the other hand, are a different story. Our advanced cognitive abilities allow us to anticipate and dwell on future threats or past events. This constant state of worry results in chronic stress, a major factor contributing to numerous health conditions, including ulcers.
Ulcers are painful sores in the stomach lining, often induced by prolonged stress and anxiety. Humans are quite adept at causing these conditions in themselves, while zebras, despite their environment, rarely show signs of such stress-related diseases.
But why the disparity? Well, human stress response is essentially the same as a zebra’s: quick, intense, and designed for immediate action. It’s a fantastic system when a lion is chasing you, but not so much when worrying about an impending deadline or a mortgage payment.
Professor Sapolsky highlights that our persistent “fight-or-flight” stress response, meant for short-lived crises, often works overtime in modern life. This continuous activation can lead to a host of health problems, including, you guessed it, ulcers.
So, what’s the takeaway from this zebra/ulcer conundrum? The primary lesson is that we need to manage our stress more effectively. While we can’t live a zebra’s life, devoid of worry about the future, we can certainly learn to control our stress response better. Regular exercise, meditation, and a balanced diet are just a few strategies to combat chronic stress and reduce the risk of stress-related illnesses.
If you are finding stress and anxiety a problem for you and you would like some help with this issue, let’s have a chat about how I can probably help you let go of these issues quite quickly.
#selfdoubt #worry #stress #anxiety #selfconfidence #overwhelm #procrastination
