'pleasurable event scheduling'

'Life Force' Linked To Body's Ability To Withstand Stress

ScienceDaily (June 18, 2009) —

Our ability to withstand stress-related, inflammatory diseases may be associated, not just with our race and sex, but with our personality as well, according to a study published in the July issue of the journal "Brain, Behavior and Immunity".

Especially in aging women, low levels of the personality trait extraversion may signal that blood levels of a key inflammatory molecule have crossed over a threshold linked to a doubling of risk of death within five years.

An emerging area of medical science examines the mind-body connection, and how personality and stress contribute to disease in the aging body.

Long-term exposure to hormones released by the brains of people under stress, for instance, takes a toll on organs.

Like any injury, this brings a reaction from the body's immune system, including the release of immune chemicals that trigger inflammation in an attempt to begin the healing process.

The same process goes too far as part of diseases from rheumatoid arthritis to Alzheimer's disease to atherosclerosis, where inflammation contributes to clogged arteries, heart attacks and strokes.

The current study found that that extroverts, and in particular those high "dispositional activity" or engagement in life, have dramatically lower levels of the inflammatory chemical interleukin 6 (IL-6).

Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung defined extroverts as focused on the world around them and most happy when active and surrounded by people. Introverts looked inward and were shy.
..........................................................
The rather long winded article continues, but ends with:

While it may difficult for patients to change their nature, part of the solution may be physical exercise as a therapy. The activity component of extraversion has been linked with exercise by past studies, as has daily physical activity with lower IL-6 levels in the aging. Still, the team is not convinced that exercise represents the whole answer.

"Beyond physical activity, some people seem to have this innate energy separate from exercise that makes them intrinsically involved in life," Chapman said. "It will be fascinating to investigate how we can increase this disposition toward engagement.

Potentially, you might apply techniques developed to treat depression like 'pleasurable event scheduling' to patients with low dispositional energy, where you get people more involved in life by filling their time with things they enjoy as a therapy."

........................................................................... ..............

'If you like pina coladas, and getting caught in the rain" - if you're fond of a dance on table - when your Onco says "stable"......

Go Girls, dig out your leopard print leggings from 1982 (or hotpants from 1971!) ; apply blue or the mauve/pink eyeshadow combo; grab a matching wig or tease up what hair you've got - and head out for a night of karaoke (or a big night at bingo!)

Let your inner (slightly younger) Go-Go-Girl/Dancing Queen do your immune system the power of good : )

'Shy' just don't fly!

xxGGC

By StickiVicki
Posted June 18, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Report post

I have a pink wig which I got when I lost my hair. Didn't have the nerve to wear it all the time, only on special occasions. That is one of the good things about having a neice who is a hair dresser, she could get hold of such things for me.

It's amazing what a bit of positive thinking can do for you and 'pleasurable event scheduling' sounds good to me, but why can't they just call it having fun? That is one of the liberating things about being Stage IV, it makes you realise there is no point in wasting time doing things you don't enjoy, or spending too much time with people you don't like. Waste of time.

I am doing some 'pleasurable even scheduling' tomorrow when I have a foot massage. I know ladies, but sometimes sacrifices have to be made! Bravely I have consented to under go this grueling treatment, in the hope that I will spare some other poor person from a similar fate. I'm sure you will all sympathise with me over this - not!

I am trying to come up with a plan for how I am going to spend my summer. One of the good things about working in a college is having nice long holidays (I'm only contracted to work during term time) and the weather folks keep promising us a good summer this year. So far it is not too bad at all.

By celeste_mcfarland
Posted June 18, 2009 at 7:01 pm
Report post

thank you so much for posting this. i love that thought "pleasurable event planning".

and i agree there is no point to wasting time - doing things i don't want to do or around people i would prefer not to be.

i think this cancer journey for me is helping me have boundaries and teaching me how to honor and take good care of myself. if i am being honest i do recognize the great blessing/curse i have as a result of this disease.

hugs to all you hot pants hotties!

By Deanie
Posted June 18, 2009 at 8:24 pm
Report post

The thought of putting on my old hot pants is scary. LOL!!! First of all they probably couldn't make it pass my knees. HOWEVER, I love the sentiment. I was weaned on guilt/worry...then the nuns elevated it to a fine art. Now is the free-est I have ever been. I am finally learning to worry less or at least worry about the important rather than the urgent. Next step is to say, "To hell with worrying." Thank you so much for the gentle reminder told in such a lyrical way.

By chloemom
Posted June 20, 2009 at 8:39 am
Report post

Hey GGC! What great suggestions you've gleaned from this article!! I'm in the hot pants group although I'm afraid the ones I wore then would fit one leg now ..... but then, thankfully, what I consider to be my pleasureable events have changed as well so thanks for the great reminder to keep them front and center!!

I've used the MBTI research from Jung's work in training and classroom teaching for years ... I'm looking forward to checking out this new research! Thanks for bringing it to our attention and including your always delightful interpretations!

By hazelmarie
Posted June 30, 2009 at 11:02 pm
Report post

Okay! You go girl Rene!~ I'm not going to be one bit jealous, I'm taking my guy dancing too! Just don't want to burp, in his ear! I've been urpie lately, not handling the change to Navelbine well at all. Last week I was hospitalized twice and couldn't get my treatment either, too sickly. Now I'm on morphine and that really fogs the brain, guess it's worse not to take it though. Oh, it's okay if I step on his toes the next 40 years, he stepped on mine the first forty! Of course now I wouldn't even feel it! Gotta look at the bright side! I just made the announcement tonight, I am officially on "R & R" and I'm not doing anything but pure pleasure for the whole month of July and maybe August too! We used to love to go dancing, even took some ball room lessons! I bet I could still "twinkle" a bit! I'm so happy for you and I love the idea of scheduling all these fun things into life, and most of all, don't be shy. How and when did I get shy, I never would have described myself that way, but now I know it's true, and I'm going to do something about it! Thanks to all of you who posted!!! (((hugs)))

hazelmarie

PS: Congrats on your Anniversary and birthday, Rene!

By kleighk
Posted July 1, 2009 at 11:37 am
Report post

I'll dig out the hot pants, and the roller skates.....and the walker!!!! But, "thanks, for the memories"!! I haven't really thought hard about the things I did when I was much younger in quite a while. At first, it was very depressing, thinking that I couldn't do some of those things because of the C word. But then it dawned on me that I probably couldn't do most of those things anyway because of the A word....Age!!

Oh, well, Chemo brain hasn't taken all my memories away yet---in fact it's even enhanced them a bit!!

Welcome to Inspire!

Explore topics in this discussion:

9 replies

Add to the discussion

Group leaders

You