Dr. Herb's Solutions to the Root Causes of Stress

Stress is defined as demand on physical or mental energy or the distress (suffering) caused by stress. It is derived from French, estresse, meaning narrowness or oppression, a limiting of power. Strain, tension and burden are synonymous with estresse. Stress is the most debilitating when perceived as negative stress or a threat to increasing demands. This sets off the adrenal/hypothalamic axis of cortisol/adrenaline excess which can contract cardiac muscle fibers, weakening them and raising cholesterol, leading to hardening of the arteries. This mismanaged negative stress affects all body systems: immune, heart, nervous system, memory and thought. It also affects physical coordination and metabolic rate, increases cholesterol, blood pressure and uric acid levels. It also promotes susceptibility to disease. There is a link to greater abdominal body fat and destruction of brain cells, promoting premature aging and triggering emotional lability. Understanding the stress response did not take place until the Great American Depression. In 1935, Walter Cannon described the extraordinary ability of the body to respond to stress, or accidents of existence (Cannon, 1935). He labeled the stressed-induced increases in cardiac output as fight or flight and he recognized adrenal hormones in this response as early as 1924. In 1936, Hans Selye, M.D., labeled this response as the general adaptation syndrome (GAS). In 1956, he published The Stress of Life, whereby he describes how humans respond to stress through neuroendocrine and behavioral-emotional components resulting in the GAS syndrome. Depending on the type of stressor, whether it may be attacking you in the woods, or the boss at work, the response is similar or acute depending on the individual's perception. Initially, we compensate and calm down. In a continued or chronic situation, where stress is ongoing, either at home or at work, we again compensate, i.e., the body rebounds, but hormonally the body resets internally at a higher level with increased blood pressure or higher blood sugar levels which in turn can inhibit certain components of immune function. With ongoing stress or distress, coping moves from an overcompensated to a decompensated state. At the latter stage, we can lose sleep and become more fatigued and depressed. Since stress is cumulative, it becomes more urgent to deal with the "root causes" from both a psychological as well as a physical perspective and see a practitioner who is experienced in this field. Mark Percival, D.C.,N.D. in his Health Coach Program denotes specific environmental stressors that need to be dealt with: Mental/Emotional stressors: Every thought we think (fear, pain, love, hate, etc.) has an impact on every cell in our body. Chemical stressors: Specific toxins we breathe and take in through outdoor and indoor exposure and incomplete or fast foods and drink can determine our energy or lack thereof. This constitutes our data bank for daily labors. Physical/Structural stressors: Gravity as much as injuries can influence our posture and bone structure. Electromagnetic stressors: Our bodies are vulnerable to electromagnetic fields from many sources such as high power lines and electrical appliances and are in a constant state of flux or flow, i.e., electrical as measured by EEG, EKG, and electromyography. In American society of the twenty-first century, a stressful lifestyle is the norm. In particular, competition for job positions brings hundreds of applicants whether in person or on-line. Cash coffers of large corporations are full, yet they hire fewer workers due to advanced technologies. The result is using part-time help in order to avoid paying benefits. Unemployment remains high at 4.9%; up to 12% in New England, and rural Appalachia. Viewing the population as a whole, most drug treatments for stress consist of prescription sedatives or sleeping medications that do not directly address the problem (stress) or dismiss this very important cause as being in the head. There is a constant onslaught of drug advertising in the media which people mistakenly think will cure their stress through treating their anxiety, depression or insomnia. For example, one symptom of stress is reflux or GERD for which Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) are commonly prescribed. In the workplace, worry and anxiety can decrease productivity, affect health, drain energy, and damage relationships. Stress can aggravate existing situations or enhance negative feelings which can reduce team effectiveness. Worry becomes toxic when you feel threatened by the world and have lost the power to control your world. The simple equation illustrates the issue: Increased vulnerability+ Decreased power = Increased worry. You need to recognize the difference between toxic worry that can harm you and healthy, protective worry which will help you to solve problems. Evaluate-plan-remediate to solve problems, i.e., identify the problem, plan a solution and take action. Wise worry can energize you to action. Major work stressors are: Changes in the workplace leading to negative stressors. An unhealthy work environment. Individual responses of anxiety or worry. Work environments can be overloaded with stress when staff is reduced, overtime increases, supervisors are difficult, and coworkers are negative. Negative individual responses to stress arise from fear of failure, low self-esteem, lack of trust, isolation of workers in cubicles and job burnout. Signs of distress can be physical, mental/emotional, and/or behavioral. David D. Clarke, M.D. discusses baffling illnesses which regularly confront physicians. Dr. Clark labels Stress Illness as a 21st century epidemic. In his book, They Can't Find Anything Wrong, he states that physicians treat stress illness as a lifestyle rather than connect physical and emotional symptoms as causative. Symptoms include: Pain from headache, low back/neck, muscle and joint and abdominal pain. Abnormal swallowing, digestive or bowel dysfunction from constipation, diarrhea or flatulence. Nausea and/or vomiting. Discomfort in the bladder or during urination. Heart palpitations. Fatigue. Sleeping or eating disorders. Nervous system: blurred vision, dizziness, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), itchy skin, excessive perspiration, and numbness or tingling. Aside from the physical symptoms above, emotional stress plays an important role as well. There are five types of stress: from childhood, current lifestyle, post-traumatic depression, and anxiety. Identifying the psychological stressors are key to treating the physical components of the illness.