STRESS
MANAGEMENT
You Can Increase Effectivemess, Avoid Burnout
The
human brain receives messages from several sources, each dealing with
separate types of information. Input dealing with everyday matters
such as new, music, jobs, relationships, weather, etc., comes from
the external environment. Our own bodies provide data concerning movement,
digestion, tension, pain, etc., all in the form of message units sent
to the brain.
The conscious mind deals with reasoning and logic, decisions,
goals, planning and conscious activity. the unconscious mind,
which includes both the subconscious and superconscious, wields the
greatest influence. It receives all the message units from our social,
spiritual and genetic backgrounds and all the conflicts and disturbances
which enter our consciousness each day. The unconscious mind
receives and holds its information, neither accepting nor rejecting
the messages. It does not evaluate. That procedure is reserved
for the conscious mind.
From primitive times the human animal has possessed an escape mechanism
that even today, under severely threatening conditions, can cause
regression to primitive behavior. The fight/flight syndrome, always a means of dealing with fears, threats, attacks and other disturbances,
has gained tolerance through evolution with the addition of Reaction
vs. Action and Repression vs. Depression. Without these, when the
message input volume reached overload conditions, the escape would
be toward the denial of reality. However, the desire for social acceptance
provides motivation to cope with and adapt to reality.
Nevertheless, when the conscious mind can no longer handle the message
units overloading the brain, the subconscious prepares us for fight
or flight -- the heart pumps harder, blood pressure rise, super strength
can be generated. But sometimes there is nothing to fight. We can’t
fight the environment. We can’t fight a new job, an accident,
a bad decision. What now?
Enter Stress/Anxiety
Unable to fight , the reaction turns to the alternative of flight,
which in present day life can prove impossible. Often a state of apathy,
depression and/or hypersuggestibility ensues. Negative input finds
acceptance. Futility and melancholy develop and an overreaction to
the senses develops together with a loss of tolerance. The road turns
downhill.
Imagine a group of musicians playing together. Imagine the trumpet
player getting a measure or two ahead of the rest. Imagine the saxophone
player, trying to figure out what the trumpeter is doing, dropping
a measure behind. Imagine the drummer, becoming confused, missing
his beats so that the whole group gets off beat. Imagine the conductor
waving his amrs desperately trying to orient the players. Imaging
the cacophony as the musicians collapse, give up and quit playing.
A person experiencing continuing stress may well become subject to
such a frenzy, in the process developing any or several forms of stress-related
illness. While certain types of stress are even desirable (romantic
stress, job promotion, winning a lottery), stresses that produce debilitation,
depression, excessive smoking, overeating, anger, grief, and similar
reactions need attention and usually professional help.
The
first recognition of a therapist dealing with stress is likely to
be that while the world, or the past if it is a factor in the condition,
cannot be changed, it is possible to alter the client’s perception
of and reaction to them.
Again, casual factors need to be investigated. And not infrequently
regression ca be helpful in this process. Stress may be a reaction
to people, places, events, or things. The threats may be real or imagined.
Remember, the subconscious mind does not analyze, and usually by the
time depression appears the conscious mind has lost its ability to
do so. However, there are several common basic causes of stress which
can be recognized, defined and other eliminated.
What’s Behind It All
Why me? Stress victims ask the question quite often. Many factors
enter into the picture of possibilities. Overachievers, typical Type
A personalities, are hyper-competitive. They can be addicted to stress.
They can’t enjoy it, until it gets out of control. Victims can
learn stress early in life from parents, teachers, relatives and others.
Through early experience they simply consider stress a normal part
of life; they see it all the time.
Fears, valid or otherwise, can lead to the development of symptoms
of stress. They can expand into full grown phobias and psychiatric
disorders. Unrelenting pain or worries over health situations are
factors, as are repressed emotions such as hurt, anger, grief, etc.
Specific incidents are frequently involved, such as the necessity
to speak to a group in th e course of job performance when such activity
is uncomfortable.
Every individual is different in tolerance levels, coping abilities,
reactions and therapeutic needs. Dealing with stress is best accomplished
through a trained, experienced and sensitive professional who can
determine causes and evaluate reactions. Sheer willpower is not th
e remedy in stress cases. Effective and permanent relief responds
to desensitization, which can be brought about through hypnotherapy.
It is important to analyze the stress stimuli and the physical and/or
emotional responses which they bring about. Through hypnosis positive
new responses can be created to replace the devastating reactions
of the past. Buried feelings can be brought to the surface and released.
Outside pressures can be relieved. And finally, new responses to old
disturbances can be induced with major changes in attitudes and reactions. |
