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Stress |
By:
Stephanie MacLennan |
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Many potential patients can see the benefit of cognitive behavioral therapy, psychotherapy or hypnotherapy. However, in my experience, it is often difficult for a patient to understand how a purely psychological therapy is able to treat conditions that are physical, for example eczema, excessive perspiration, blushing, high blood pressure or pain.
A good way of looking at this is to observe how stress and anxiety affect the body. Stress may be caused by purely emotional disturbances but the responses of the body are very physical. Although no physical harm has been caused to the body and no toxic substance ingested or applied, a variety of obvious symptoms may be apparent. Examples include increased heart rate, dilated pupils and airways, coupled with a decrease in gut motility and digestion.
So if the body can provoke a physical symptom as a result of a psychological disturbance, must it not also be the case that psychological intervention may also treat a physical symptom? By way of further explanation, I detail below a brief account of the body’s stress response.
Why do we experience stress?
The stress response is intricately linked to our survival and when properly controlled by the body, an enormously beneficial response. The response is incredibly complex and awesome in its ability to protect us. However, our stress response has evolved beyond that used (and required) when we lived in the wild and is not as readily switched off by our bodies. Too much stress is undoubtedly a damaging factor. This is compounded by its tendency to self-perpetuate; the more our body suffers damage from stress the more the damage in turn becomes a stressor.
Without stress, humans would have been unlikely to survive and evolve in the manner that has allowed us to hold a place of pre-eminence in the animal kingdom. A stimulus that causes stress is called a stressor and is not solely concerned with emotional states such as anxiety and fear as may be commonly believed. Modern stressors include work related issues, financial and relationships issues, bereavement or retirement. Also, the stressor could be pain, loud noise, extremes of temperature, bleeding or even infection. In essence, a stressor may be anything that interferes with the normal process of the human body.
Stress in the body
The stress response is predominantly under the control of the hypothalamus and is essentially a mechanism of the body to maintain homeostasis (this is how the body regulates its internal environment). Normally the body can cope and the internal environment will continue within usual parameters. However, if the stressor is very strong or of a long duration, the internal mechanisms may fail and the body will cease to cope with stress.
The stress response may be either acute or chronic. Acute stress occurs throughout the day as body is challenged and needs to take some kind of action in order to maintain homeostasis. However, various responses mean that the body can return to a normal state as quickly as possible. When this does not happen, one may experience chronic stress. It is only in cases of chronic stress that the body can damage itself as it fails to return an equilibrium.
One feature of the stress response, when compared to other responses of the body, is its general nature. Physiologically the body’s responses are generally specific; if hot it will sweat, if cold it will shiver. However, the stress response is the same no matter the stimulus. Although this may appear at first glance unusual, it is because when the body suffers stress it relies on the skeletal muscles to defeat the stressor. Therefore the reaction is aimed at priming them and making sure that it pumps enough oxygen rich blood to fuel them. However, as we have evolved and now suffer from emotional stress probably more than stress as a result of imminent physical danger, this is not always the most appropriate response.
In the event of either acute or chronic stress, the stress response is traditionally broken down into three stages; the fight or flight response, the resistance reaction and exhaustion, in that order. The purpose of the stress response is to allow the body to battle for its survival.
The fight or flight response
An immediate and short-lived reaction, its purpose is to protect the body from imminent danger or threat. The response provides the energy to fight or to run away from the danger.
The resistance reaction
In contrast to the fight or flight this response is a longer lasting but slower reaction and its purpose is to allow the body to continue its battle for survival after the initial fight or flight stage has passed, that is even after the initial danger has dissipated. It triggers the release of hormones which fuel the body and aiding the repair of any damaged cells.
Exhaustion
The exhaustion stage does not always occur but may be in evidence if the resistance reaction has been insufficient to ward off the perceived threat. Where it does occur it is a response stemming from the body no longer having enough fuel to continue in the resistance state. In fact, if this stage continues it is indicative of chronic stress and may result in severe anxiety, depression, ulcers, diabetes, wasted muscle and an impaired immune system. Exhaustion is a dangerous stage for the body to reach.
What can you do about stress?
If stress is not managed appropriately then the consequences can lead to prolonged health problems and even death. Though the stress responses described are the body’s autonomic survival strategy they do have their negative side affects which need to be controlled. Cognitive behavioural therapy, psychotherapy and hypnotherapy can help in developing the coping strategies needed to deal with modern stressors.
Hypnotherapy is psychotherapy which uses hypnosis as a communication tool to enhance the effects of the therapy. Using hypnosis can help to bring about a swift and lasting resolution to stress related problems.
About the author
Stephanie MacLennan PDHyp, DHyp, BSCH, GHR a Clinical Hypnotherapist and a CBT Hypnotherapist practising In London and Wargrave (near Reading), England. To find out more visit http://www.stephaniemaclennan.com
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| Phrase |
# Count |
% Density (approx) |
stress
| 31
| 3.02
| body
| 23
| 2.24
| the body
| 20
| 1.95
| response
| 17
| 1.66
| stress response
| 9
| 0.88
| the stress
| 8
| 0.78
| the stress response
| 7
| 0.68
| response is
| 7
| 0.68
| stressor
| 6
| 0.58
| reaction
| 6
| 0.58
| physical
| 6
| 0.58
| the stress response is
| 5
| 0.49
| stress response is
| 5
| 0.49
| fight or
| 5
| 0.49
| fight
| 5
| 0.49
| chronic
| 5
| 0.49
| responses
| 5
| 0.49
| fight or flight
| 4
| 0.39
| body can
| 4
| 0.39
| stress the
| 4
| 0.39
| or flight
| 4
| 0.39
| body to
| 4
| 0.39
| the fight or flight
| 3
| 0.29
| stress the stress response
| 3
| 0.29
| the resistance reaction
| 3
| 0.29
| stress the stress
| 3
| 0.29
| is to allow the body to
| 2
| 0.19
| to allow the body to
| 2
| 0.19
| stress the stress response is
| 2
| 0.19
| is to allow the body
| 2
| 0.19
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