Brain guru on self-care in times of stress

Alexandra Radovan
Bachelor of Arts student
Avondale College of Higher Education
Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia

The brain’s role as the first body system to recognise stress and its almost instantaneous reaction to it shows the importance of managing nervous tension.

So says Dr Arlene Taylor, who presented a free seven lecture series at Avondale College of Higher Education this past week.

The founder and president of the non-profit corporation Realizations Inc noted how stress is part of life. Simply being alive causes stress because your body is responding and adjusting to change. However, unmanaged stress can be harmful to your body by killing brain cells and damaging body organs. Arlene believes if you use your brain effectively and learn how to manage stress, you have just “dumped half your problems off the back of your life truck.”

The presentation about the effects of laughter on the brain proved popular at 7.28 on Friday (September 21). “Her presentations were not only applicable to my study as a psychology major, but also to my everyday life,” says Bachelor of Arts student Emma Stilinovic. “I’ve learnt laughter is healthy and important for stress management.”

Assistant women’s residence director Mere Neale found the presentations so “tantalising” she wants to listen to them again. “I’ve started challenging any negativity because I’ve learnt it directly impacts my levels of serotonin.” The hormone reduces anxiety and depression and encourages sleep.

Dr Wayne French hosted the presentations and funded Arlene’s travel from the United States in his role as chaplain on the Lake Macquarie campus. “I like the way she places a Christian emphasis on scientific evidence,” he says. “I think we’ll bring her back next year.”