Stress
Stress Relief
By Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN
Stress is all around us. It's become normal part of daily life. But over time, its effects can become taxing, both mentally and physically. Stress becomes a problem when you feel overwhelmed by its challenges. And though it may be difficult to define, that doesn't mean it's all in your head. Researchers have found that significant biological changes take place in the body during periods of stress. And extended periods of stress can cause destructive changes in the body, such as depression and a suppressed immune system, which can eventually lead to heart disease, cancer, and stroke. So if you are feeling stressed out, its time to get some relief. Learn about stress: how to identify it, and how to find relief.
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Stress and the Developing Brain
article syndicated from NIMH
It is well known that the early months and years of life are critical for brain development. But the question remains: just how do early influences act on the brain to promote or challenge the developmental process? Research has suggested that many both positive and negative experiences, chronic stressors, and various other environmental factors may affect a young child's developing brain. And now, studies involving animals are revealing in greater detail how this may occur.
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Alcohol and Stress
article syndicated from NIAAA
The term "stress" often is used to describe the subjective feeling of pressure or tension. However, when scientists refer to stress, they mean the many objective physiological processes that are initiated in response to a stressor. The stress response is a complex process; the association between drinking and stress is more complicated still. Because both drinking behavior and an individual's response to stress are determined by multiple genetic and environmental factors, studying the link between alcohol consumption and stress may further our understanding of drinking behavior.
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Psychological Stress and Cancer
article syndicated from NCI
The complex relationship between physical and psychological health is not well understood. Scientists know that many types of stress activate the body's endocrine (hormone) system, which in turn can cause changes in the immune system, the body's defense against infection and disease (including cancer). However, the immune system is a highly specialized network whose activity is affected not only by stress but by a number of other factors. It has not been shown that stress-induced changes in the immune system directly cause cancer.
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Stress and Substance Abuse
article syndicated from NIDA
Researchers have long recognized the strong correlation between stress and drug use, particularly relapse to drug use. In the wake of recent tragic events, our awareness of the role that stress can play in increasing ones' vulnerability to drug use is more important than ever. Exposure to stress is among the most common human experiences. It also is one of the most powerful triggers for relapse to substance abuse in addicted individuals, even after long periods of abstinence.
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Stress and General Adaptation Syndrome
By Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN
Stress is everywhere. From taking a test to dealing with the loss of a loved one, stress is impossible to avoid. It can be acute, such as the stress that occurs in the face of immediate danger, or it can be chronic when a person is dealing with a long-term stressful situation.
An endocrinologist named Dr. Hans Selye outlined a three stage model of the body's response to stress. He called his model the General Adaptation Syndrome. Understanding these three stages will give you a better idea as to the symptoms that occur with stress and how to manage them.
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Stress and Deprivation
article syndicated from NLM
During the same few decades which saw great advances in the understanding of placebos, psychosomatic medicine also underwent significant changes, both in the research and clinical field and in the wider area of popular interest. The most important changes centered on the virtual abandonment of ideas about the role of unconscious emotions, early childhood experiences, and personality peculiarities--all derived from psychoanalysis. These ideas were replaced by a focus on manifest emotions, current life situations, and the socio-environmental circumstances in which disease occurred.
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Stress and Disease: New Perspectives
By Harrison Wein, Ph.D.
For thousands of years, people believed that stress made you sick. Up until the nineteenth century, the idea that the passions and emotions were intimately linked to disease held sway, and people were told by their doctors to go to spas or seaside resorts when they were ill. Gradually these ideas lost favor as more concrete causes and cures were found for illness after illness. But in the last decade, scientists like Dr. Esther Sternberg, director of the Integrative Neural Immune Program at NIH's National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), have been rediscovering the links between the brain and the immune system.
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How Stressed-Out Are YOU?
By Dr. David L. Thomas
Are you feeling stressed out? Too many things to do, too little time? One more thing added to the To-Do list and you feel like you'll explode? Whoa there, no exploding allowed! You can handle it-just listen in. Listen? To what? To your self-talk. Not yourself talk, but your SELF-TALK. Listen in to the demands you're making of your time, but more importantly listen in to how you're saying them and what you're saying.
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The Stress Test
By Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN
Stress happens. It’s a perfectly normal part of daily life. But it's how we react to and manage stress that really dictates how great a toll it takes on our lives. Overwhelming amounts of stress can eventually lead to back pain, headaches, raised blood pressure, indigestion, sweating, palpitations, irritability, and anxiety. It can also contribute to the development of certain diseases such as cold sores, ulcers, and heart disease.
Are you feeling stressed out? Take the following test to see if stress is causing you problems and if so, read on to learn how to manage the stress in your life.
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Stress and Depression are Killing Us!
By Paul Shearstone
The financial impact from stress related illnesses is alleged to be in the Billions of Dollars with devastating effects on business and healthcare costs. But there is still a larger issue for chronic fatigue or depression sufferers. The social safety nets aren't there. In fact, chronic depression is still politically and socially misunderstood and society has very little empathy-appetite for it.
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Stress Management
By Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN
How well do you handle stress? Some people go for a long walk, while others take solace in talking over a stressful situation with close friends. No matter how hard we try, there will always be stressful events that find their way into our lives. It’s how we manage stress that determines whether it will be a minor nuisance or a major disorder. Here’s what you need to know about stress and some management techniques you can use to tame it.
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How Stress Effects Neurotransmitters
By Bev Storer
The brain uses feel-good transmitters called endorphins when managing daily stress. When the brain requires larger amounts of endorphins to handle increased stress, the ratio of many of the other transmitters, one to another, becomes upset creating a chemical imbalance. We begin to feel stress more acutely -- a sense of urgency and anxiety creates even more stress. As a result, harmful chemicals are released in our bodies that may do damage, causing more stress. This vicious cycle is called the "stress cycle." Emotional fatigue might result and be experienced and felt as depression.
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How to Prevent Suicide
By Michael G. Rayel, MD
Recent studies have shown the correlation between suicide and serotonin deficiency in the brain. Moreover, the presence of significant stress has far-reaching consequences especially if such stressor, such as legal entanglements, results in profound hopelessness and depression. Frequently, when there is no immediate resolution to the problem, suicide becomes an attractive escape.
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The Truth About Stress
article syndicated from Psych Drug Truth
Stress is defined by the dictionary as, "mental or physical tension or strain." Although this is a simple definition, it seems to have enormous ramifications, especially in this day and time. A search through the Internet on the word yields hundreds of stress-related sites which include therapies, books, tapes, self-help techniques, and more, all designed to help alleviate stress.
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Natural Methods of Managing Pain & Stress
By Joyce Zeller
The stress-ridden society we live in today is just beginning to rediscover some half-forgotten truths about healing our battered physical and emotional being. There is a healing magic that goes beyond drugs and prescriptions. It involves the strength of plants from the Earth, the water that is a part of all life, and the mineral salts from which our bodies are created. The way to deliver these things to our bodies is through bathing.
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Weight Loss Stress
article syndicated from Diets Reviewed.com
The competitive world we live in puts much pressure on us leading to stress. This stress could be personal or professional but it has one major effect on the body: weight gain. Yes, stress adds to the weight, creates weight loss stress, and makes us feel worse as a result. Thus, stress and weight share a direct relationship. More stress leads to more weight, and the cycle of weight loss stress becomes a vicious circle.
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Facts about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
article syndicated from NIMH
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened. Traumatic events that can trigger PTSD include violent personal assaults such as rape or mugging, natural or human-caused disasters, accidents, or military combat. PTSD can be extremely disabling.
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Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome
By Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN
Post traumatic stress syndrome is a mental disorder that may develop after someone witnesses or participates in a traumatic event. Childhood abuse, rape, war, even natural disaster are all possible triggers of this condition. People suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome may develop a wide range of physical and emotional symptoms including flashbacks, hypersensitivity, and depression. If left untreated, post traumatic stress syndrome can become a long term problem. It's unfortunately, very common for people afflicted by this condition to forego treatment so as to avoid discussing or reliving the traumatic event.
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Stress Reduction
By Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN
Life is full of surprises, some good, some not so good. And it is the not so good ones that can lead to stress. Learning to reduce stress is the best way to get through the little bumps and turns that life occasionally throws at us. Stress reduction techniques can help you maintain your physical, emotional, and mental health while staying focused on your life, your relationships, and your daily activities. Ready to learn more? Here's what you need to know to reduce stress and enjoy life.
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Stress Management Techniques That Actually Work
By Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN
Sometimes, Life is just full of stressful events. Here is a good list of Stress Management Techniques that actually work!
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Stress at Work
By Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN
Stress at work has become a common and costly problem in the American workplace, affecting most, if not all American workers. A recent study by Northwestern National Life found that one-fourth of employees view their jobs as the number one stressor in their lives. A similar study by the Princeton Survey Research Associated concluded that three-fourths of employees believe the average worker has more on-the-job stress than a generation ago. And according to the St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company, problems at work are more strongly associated with health complaints than are any other life stressor-more so than even financial problems or family problems. Here is a closer look at job-related stress and what you can do to keep it from becoming a problem for you.
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Effects of Stress
By Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN
It has been estimated that 75-90% of all doctors’ visits are due to the effects of stress. Acute stress causes an imbalance in the body's biochemistry. When stress continues for prolonged periods of time, it can lead to the deterioration of both physical and mental health. Stress weakens the immune system and can cause or aggravate certain illnesses and diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and digestive disorders. It can also stimulate the progression of a disease and inhibit our ability to recover from disease. Therefore, the balance of stress and its effects plays a major role in the welfare of our overall health.
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Teen Stress
By Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN
The most common misconception about children and teens is that their lives are filled with happiness and bliss and void of any insecurities or turmoil. But this couldn't be further from the truth. Adolescence is a time of emotional upheaval, hormonal surges, relationship difficulties, and rebellion. All and all, it's a time of considerable stress.
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Stress and Incontinence
By Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN
Urinary incontinence is a surprisingly common condition that affects roughly 35% percent of women over fifty. It's also known as "stress urinary incontinence," genuine stress incontinence, and urethral hypermobility. This condition is characterized by an involuntary loss of bladder control caused by physical exertion or intra-abdominal pressure. Coughing, sneezing, physical exercise, laughing, lifting and standing could all cause urine loss when coupled with this condition. Approximately 60% of women with incontinence have stress incontinence.
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Stress Levels
By Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN
It starts with a crying child, who can't find their homework. You rush all around the house in search of her school project, acutely aware of the time on the clock. You're already running late, and now you won't have time for breakfast.We all experience some degree of stress in our lives. It comes in many different shapes and sizes and develops from a wide variety of sources. So in order to understand stress, and the effects it can have on us, it's important to understand the different types of stress and the characteristics, symptoms, duration, and treatment approaches of each one.
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Stress and Anxiety
By Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN
Stress affects our bodies both physically and mentally. It can lead to the development of health problems such as headaches, upset stomach, rashes, insomnia, ulcers, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke, as well as depression, and other mental health conditions. Anxiety, or excess fear and worrying, can lead to stress and vice versa. The remedy for both of these conditions involves learning new and better ways to handle stressful or anxiety producing situations before they become a problem.
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Coping With Stress
By Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN
Stress can be defined as any change that requires you to adapt. Physically, stress can be a demand placed on the body such as a force, pressure, or strain. Everyone who lives and breathes will experience stress at some point in their lives. Sorry. But when stress becomes overwhelming, it can lead to symptoms such as fatigue, sleep disorders, frequent headaches, appetite changes, mood disorders, and the development of conditions such as heart disease, stroke, and ulcers. The key to keeping stress from becoming a problem in your life is learning how to cope with the stresses in your life, both individually and as a whole.
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Understanding Stress and Anxiety
By Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN
Stress can develop as a response to any situation or thought that upsets you. Anxiety is a feeling of apprehension or fear. Stress can vary day to day from person to person. What’s stressful to one person is not necessarily stressful to another, and what bothers you today may not be as upsetting tomorrow. The same goes for anxiety: that is, it’s not always possible to determine the cause of anxiety, or what one’s reaction to it might be.
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Stress Balls
By Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN
Whenever you make a fist, regardless of whether or not you have something in your hand, you create muscle tension. And when you release your grip, your muscles relax. This process of acute muscle tension and relaxation can flush out muscle tension and relieve stress. You can perform this stress management technique without a stress ball, by simply tensing and relaxing the muscles or your hands, or anywhere on the body that tension exists. But a stress ball gives you something to focus on and may aid in relieving stress.
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Stress Relievers
By Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN
In order to stay healthy, prevent illness, and premature aging, it’s important to find ways of relieving the stress that we experience in our daily lives. Here are a few everyday reactions to stress, both positive and negative, presented in an easy to follow list of do’s and don’ts.
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Stress Symptoms
By Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN
We all experience stressful situations and events throughout our lives. Sometimes the stress is temporary, such as being stuck in a traffic jam. Other times, such as when a loved one passes away, the stress can be more intense and long lasting. Stress can manifest in our lives through physical, emotional, and behavioral symptoms. These symptoms may vary in duration and intensity depending upon the stressor. Under normal conditions, these symptoms will dissipate with time. However, if stress builds up and becomes overwhelming, the symptoms of stress may become chronic. Here’s a look at some of the classic symptoms of stress.
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Holiday Stress
By Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN
The holidays are a joyous time. But there are also many factors that come together during this time of year that can cause undue stress. Over-commercialization, financial hardships, perceived expectations, and the inability to be with loved ones can make the holiday season particularly stressful. The demands of the season, such as holiday parties, shopping for gifts, house guests and traveling can also add to the burden. Some people seem to take the holidays in stride, never worrying about a single detail. But for many others, the stress of the holidays becomes overwhelming. Do you suffer from holiday stress? Read on…
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Reducing Stress
By Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN
How do you handle stress? We all experience stressful situations in our lives, be they money troubles, cranky kids, or a difficultly at work. Sometimes, the stresses may seem overwhelming. When stress reaches this stage, it may begin to have a detrimental effect on our sleeping and eating patterns and our overall cognitive ability. Learning ways to reduce stress can help you cope more easily with stressful situations and protect your general health. Here are some techniques that will help you reduce the stress in your life.
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