An increasing problem in today's world is
environmental stress. This is a type of stress caused by
increasing pollution in air we breathe, the water we drink,
and even in the sounds we hear. Though environmental stress
seems to be simply a physical problem, it can actually alter
the ways that our minds work. However, too much environmental
stress can also cause physical problems that will ruin our
health and lower life expectancy.
One of the most common, and most noticeable,
types of environmental stress is air pollution. As factories
churn out smoke and carcinogens, we are forced to breathe
air that is filled with poisons. Whether we notice them
or not, we cannot avoid them. Our lungs are constantly subjected
to small particles that stick in the lung tissue and gasses
that can find their way into our bloodstream. Obviously,
this is not a good situation, because we cannot exactly
afford to stop breathing.
As well, we are subjected to a whole variety
of chemicals when we drink water. With all the chemicals
that are used in farming, or sprayed on our lawns, or poured
into our water supplies, the water we drink is filled with
all sorts of poisons that are doing our bodies no good.
Once again, we cannot afford to stop drinking water, but
we do need to be aware that the water we are drinking contains
a lot of things that we would not want in our bodies.
However, there is not much we can do to
avoid this situation. Obviously, filtered water is superior
to simple tap water, but even water filters cannot remove
everything from our water. In fact, we do not want filters
to remove all of the substances, as water contains many
electrolytes that are essential to ensuring the proper functioning
of our bodies. Even bottled water is not safe, as the water
has to come from somewhere and that somewhere is usually
either a stream or from the ground. Unfortunately, streams
are filled with particulate matter and chemicals can soak
into the ground. However, some water is simply taken from
municipal water supplies and those are not safe either.
Thus, this is a problem that needs to be faced in day-to-day
life.
Unfortunately, these poisons do not only
put stresses on our bodies, they put stresses on our minds
as well. These physical forms of environmental stress put
poisons into our brains as well, and can cause them to functions
less effectively. Just as alcohol or drugs can affect the
ways that our minds work, these subtle poisons are also
seeping into our brains and causing mental changes. In fact,
receiving too many of these poisons can slow down mental
processes without our noticing the change. It will simply
happen so slowly that we cannot notice the difference.
In addition, one of the most common causes
of environmental stress is noise pollution. Anybody who
lives in a large city is bombarded with a deluge of noise
that can damage the ears, numb the senses, and cause a boatload
of stress for our minds. With cars, busses, trains, factories,
and people all screaming to be heard above the din filling
the streets of the modern city. These pressures on our brains
and our eardrums are enough to shut the mind down and send
it into a cocoon of insensibility.
As well, simply being in a public place
can cause us to have to deal with noise pollution. This
is, of course, caused by the infamous "cell yell".
Anywhere we go in public, we must deal with people yelling
into their mobile phones. This is not only annoying, but
it is a form of environmental pollution. Listening to someone
yell at a phone causes our minds stress and, through that,
causes our bodies stress. They are annoying, and annoyance
is a form of stress. Thus, we find ourselves stressed by
something that is simply a fact of modern life.
Environmental stress occurs to us every
day and we should be aware that it is happening. Obviously,
we cannot be aware of it all the time because to do so would
probably cause us more stress just by simple worry. However,
it is a fact of life while living in the modern world and
we should have the presence of mind to know that environmental
stress takes a toll on a body… and a mind.
