The nature of stress related problems

Stress can be the result of many different influences such as work pressure, family difficulties or chemical imbalance in the brain. People vary in their susceptibly to stressors and this can be because we all have different beliefs or ideas about the nature of life or 'success' and 'failure'. A certain amount of stress is necessary to bring us up to our personal peak performance level. The diagram on the right illustrates a mechanism of the brain, showing how a perceived, external threat (the Cobra) triggers 'immediate' survival behaviours which are stored in the Amygdala, a primitive brain component which is found in all living creatures. Information reaches the Amygdala rapidly (the red arrows) as it is a basic survival tool. This triggers our in-built 'fight or flight' responses.

The pref-frontal cortex area of the brain is able to process information by involving other memories and other learned information which it can pass (the blue arrow route) to the Amygdala via the Thalamus, and so calm it and prevent panic, but sometimes the memories in the Amygdala are so powerful as to override this more sensible information and so stress ensues and grows. Two ways to control over stimulation of the Amygdala are through prescribed drugs such as benzodiazapines or through the use of alcohol. Whilst alcohol produces a quick and easy solution, it is in fact increasing the stress levels of the brain and once its immediate effects have worn off the stress levels will be higher. The best and most enduring way of helping sufferers from stress is via education through therapy which can teach new methods of calming the automatic reactions of the Amygdala.

We experience the negative consequences of too much stress as a growing sense of inability to cope with life. We have physical and emotional reactions such as exhaustion, panic and fear. The intense feelings can become so overwhelming that we become very ill and may have to be hospitalised. The human function curve shown here illustrates this phenomenon and shows how trying to push ourselves to do more and more can lead to total breakdown and burn out. Get in touch with us if this description fits what is happening to you.