"In
stress, several hormonal overrides become operative. The body assumes a
crisis situation and will begin to mobilize for a 'fight or flight'
response...Several strong hormones become secreted and will remain
'triggered' until the body gets out of its stressful circumstances.
These hormones are mainly Endorphins, Cortisone Release Factor,
Prolactin, Vasopressin, and Rennin-angiotensin." Page 57, F. Batmanghelidj, M.D., Your Body's Many Cries for Water, 2nd ed. Global Health Solutions, 1995.
Endorphins and Depression
The term "Endorphin" means endogenous morphine, so
named because it affects the body like morphine does. In fact
bet-endorphin was found to be 48 times more powerful than morphine and
even more addictive. The main role of endorphins is as a
neurotransmitter and neuromodulator, with physical, psychological and
behavioral effects. Like opiates, endorphins are known for their
painkilling, sedatory, anti-anxiety properties and for producing
euphoric, trance and dream-like states. Endorphins are involved in a
wide range of processes such as: motor coordination, learning, memory,
seizure control, sexual behavior and reproduction, thirst and hunger,
gastrointestinal function, water and salt balance, temperature control,
grooming, tolerance development and physical dependence (addiction).
Endorphins can be found in many areas of the body including the
pituitary glands, the hippocampus, pineal glands, kidneys, pancreas, GI
tract and adrenal glands. So far 20 different types of endorphins have
been found for three types of receptors m, k and d. Included in these
20 endogenous opioids are enkephalins and dynorphins, plus alpha- and
beta-endorphins. B-endorphin selectively binds m receptors, which is
the same one morphine binds to with high affinity. The m receptors are
mostly localized to the limbic system and hypothalamus. Co-released
with ACTH from the pituitary, b-endorphin is also produced in the
medial-basal hypothalamus and widely distributed in the brain.
This section gives an overview of the “stress
effect” of a kundalini awakening. The hyper-activated sympathetic
nervous system that is so persistent in kundalini awakenings causes the
same kind of damage to the organism as that produced by prolonged and
excessive stress. Once we understand this and intelligently adapt, we
can avoid burnout and regression, and thereby learn to keep the gains
made through heightened kundalini. It is very important to grasp the
distinction between “damage” (pathology and disease) and the
transformative process of “metamorphosis.” Certain phases of
metamorphosis include cellular necrosis and catabolic breakdown for the
new cannot grow without the removal of the old. Through allostatic
adaptation we will assist both the breakdown and renewal processes in
order to essentially give birth to our Self.
©2006
Biology of Kundalini by Jana Dixon