Stress Management

The human brain receives messages from several sources, each dealing with separate types of information. Input dealing with everyday matters, such as news, 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 messages 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 the super conscious, wields the greatest influence. It receives all of the messages from our social, spiritual, and genetic backgrounds, and all of 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 has 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 pressurizes, super strength can be generated. But, sometimes, there's nothing to fight. We can't fight the environment, we can't fight a job, an accident, a bad decision. What now?

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 hyper suggestibility 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 trumpet player was 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 arms desperately, trying to orient the players. Imagine 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 promotions, 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, causal factors need to be investigated, and not infrequently, regression can 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 often, eliminated.

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 enjoy it until it gets out of control. Victims can learn stress early in life from parents, teachers, relatives, and others. Through an 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 the course of job performance when such activity is uncomfortable.

Medical conditions, including dietary deficiencies, can lead to stress, as can such female experiences as PMS. External factors, such as continuous or intermittent bothersome noise levels, can create or add to stress levels.

Every individual has a difference 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 the remedy in stress cases. Effective and permanent relief responds to desensitization, which can be brought about through hypnotherapy.

It's 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.

© 1999 National Guild of Hypnotists, Merrimack, NH 03054

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