Disorders Treated: Stress Management

Description

The stress response is characterized by the body's reaction to stressors.  The sympathetic nervous system plays a critical role in preparing various systems to deal with the potential problem.  This is a healthy and effective response. Unfortunately, chronic stress can be dangerously detrimental to our physical and mental health.  Our sympathetic nervous system can remain "on" beyond what is healthy and continue to demand that various stress hormones are produced.  This has cascading effects as our immune function, digestive systems, and even muscles can be compromised.  Many physical problems and mental disorders have been associated with chronic stress, including obesity, heart disease, hypertension, insomnia, and phobias.

Treatment

Cognitive restructuring, relaxation techniques, problem solving, and time management have all been demonstrated to reduce stress.  Very simple relaxation techniques can produce such powerful effects that changes in immune function can be easily detected in blood tests after only a few days.