Holistic Medicine Series HANDOUT #5: Understanding the Stress Response
Holistic Medicine Series HANDOUT April 2, 2009
Aumdoc (Richard J. Clofine, D.O.) 770-633-4257
aumdoc@aumdoc.com WWW.AUMDOC.COM
*** Session #4 ***
The Stress Response in Modern Life
(Opening Intention)
Stress Defined
Stress is the unconscious response to a demand.
We experience some degree of stress in everything we do and everything that happens to us.
Eustress & Distress
Stress becomes distress when it reaches excessive levels and the demands exceed our ability to respond or to cope effectively.
External Stressors (living in the modern world)
Stress is not ‘something out there’ it is what happens inside our mind and body as we react unconsciously to external stimuli.
Significant Life Events (relationship change, relocation, job, change,death or birth).
Internal Stressors
Our response to stimuli (external or internal).
CHANGE (challenges, frustrations, conflicting demands and occasional loss, grief and suffering are among the many unconscious
responses to change).
Different individuals respond differently and experience the symptoms of stress differently (and this is strongly influenced by differences
in upbringing, past understandings, present experiences, attitudes, belief structures, family values, perceptions and coping skills developed over years and generations).
(Progressive Relaxation Exercise)
Relaxation
Meditation – a self-directed practice for the purpose of relaxing and calming the mind and body; stilling the restlessness of the mind so that
the focus can be directed inward.
The Relaxation Response (generic medical meditation)
Find 10-20 minutes without distraction >>> use focus word (mantra) >>> sit quiet and comfortable >>> close eyes >>> relax muscles >>> breath slowly and naturally repeating your focus word on exhalation >>> assume a passive attitude, don’t judge your progress, acknowledge wandering thoughts and return to repetition >>> continue for 10-20 minutes and slowly open eyes and sit for 1-2 minutes before standing >>> practice once or twice daily
(Relaxation Response Exercise)
Physiology of The Stress Response
Perception and Reality
Physiology of the Stress Response
Central Nervous System
Peripheral Nervous System
Autonomic Nervous System
Sympathetic NS Parasympathetic NS
Fight or Flight Relaxation & Vegetative
Thoraco-Lumbar Cranio-Sacral
Neuro-Hormonal System (adrenals) & PsychoNeuroImmunology
Cortex (expectancy/placebo), Emotional Centers (subjective feelings), Hypothalamus, Pituitary & Autonomic Outflow, Hormonal & Autonomic
Brain-Immune Channels exerting direct influence over function of immune tissue (bone marrow, thymus, lymph nodes, spleen, mucosa)
Learning & Conditioning
Changing Stress in our Life – Changing our Objective Reality - Serenity Prayer
Transforming our Stress Response
Changing our Objective Reality (external stressors)
Changing our Subjective Reality (Mind-Body Medicine)
Meditation
Relaxation Response
Movement Therapies (walking, yoga, tai chi)
Imagery
Affirmations & Energy Psychology
Biofeedback
Hypnosis
Psychotherapy
(Guided Imagery Exercise)
(Closing Intention)
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Ritual & Ceremony Temple of Health Radio Show Links & References
Events Divine
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