Anticipatory Stress, Holy Week, and You (this is a secular post)

Hello all! As we're in the peak of Holy week in the Christian faith, I wanted to reflect on some themes present amongst those that practice but from a secular perspective. According to Christian belief, this is the busiest day of the pre-crucifixion logistics. Thursday is the night of the last supper, Jesus revealing he'd be betrayed, and as it relates to this post, him praying in the Garden of Gethsemane.

While Jesus was praying, we have some noteworthy reports. Firstly, Jesus prayed for a notable amount of time as evidenced by many of his disciples struggling to stay awake. Secondly, Jesus is quoted to have said one line in particular that is often considered to be his most distressed: "Father, if you are willing, take this [responsibility] from me;", followed in the very next sentence with, "Yet not my will, but yours be done.". This is noteworthy because this implies extreme fear, but also acceptance of the events to occur.

One of the disciples who we have an account from is Luke, known as the "beloved physician". Historians believe Luke to be from Antioch where he likely gained most of his medical training. In his writings there is language that show of his education and medical training, such as him recognizing edemas and hemorrhages. He makes an observation about Jesus during this time that isn't mentioned by the other disciples: "And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground." (Luke 22:24).

Modern researchers believe this to be recognized by Luke due to his medical training, him recognizing it as an instance of hematidrosis. Hematidrosis is an incredibly rare condition in which capillary blood vessels that feed into sweat glands rupture occurring under moments of extreme emotional stress. Interestingly, it is most commonly observed in prisoners prior to execution, soldiers before battle, and other instances of expected death.

Most of us don't sweat blood when we're anticipating something unpleasant. To reach this level, not only do we need to have our fight or flight triggered, but staying in that state for long enough that our body loses avenues to release this pressure. That said, most of us are not anticipating torture and execution. Still, though, it's important to recognize the need for our body to have a release when we have spikes of adrenaline and cortisol, otherwise if we stay in a state of an elevated nervous system our bodies are very capable of reacting in undesirable ways.

What are upcoming things in your life that fill you with anticipatory stress and how are you finding healthy ways to not stay in that state?