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Homeopath doctor stress treatment London
Stress is a reaction, a psychological and physical
state resulting from what happens to us and also what we carry inside. Put
another way, it arises from an imbalance between life’s demands and the
resources that determine our ability to cope.
 Modern
lives
Life for many people today is characterised by a challenging environment
and an awareness of some degree of internal stress. If this becomes
chronic (long term), an unhealthy state of affairs develops that
undermines further our ability to cope. This tends to lead to emotional
problems, wellbeing problems and eventually to physical problems. Most of
us are someway down this road.
Stress and disease
This is why stress is known to exacerbate almost all known diseases and be
a primary factor in many. From my experience with cancer patients, I
estimate 80% to have an identifiable history of sustained peak stress in
the two or three years preceding diagnosis.
Psyche
Emotionally stress is about worrying. This in turn is very often about
opposition to what is. We can focus on fears for the future (things that
very probably won’t happen), on situations we feel powerless to change in
the present or on something that has already happened (when there is
little you can do to alter it). Worry occurs subconsciously too, and is
all the more powerful for being invisible. Family/relationship issues,
work concerns and information overload are three of the main sources.
Physiologically, worrying stimulates the fight or flight response which,
if sustained, becomes damaging both emotionally and physically.
Soma
Physically stress is predisposed to by the many unnatural or noxious
physical influences around us these days and also by our poor nutritional
status. Compared to 30 years ago, our bodily mineral levels have steadily
declined while toxin levels have increased. We are physiologically running
on empty (especially those carrying too much weight). Now factor in lack
of exercise, insufficient quality sleep, unhealthy habits, treadmill
lifestyles, city living...
Effects of stress
The effects on our bodies are many and reach to our deepest levels of
functioning because the very control mechanisms to our organs and
physiology, namely the nervous and endocrine systems, are at the core of
the stress response. Needless to say the effect is adverse; upon the
heart, brain, hormones, digestion, immune system, liver, ageing process,
blood pressure…in fact probably every aspect of our being.
The manifestations of these processes show up in our emotions (eg
irritability), mental functioning (eg forgetfulness), performance at work,
associated ailments, energy levels, sex drive and so on. In the medium and
long term serious disease becomes more likely. The term ‘burnout’ is a
modern and telling word for too much coping on empty.
 Symptoms
and signs
These are the main signs of stress overload:
Anxiety or panic attacks
A feeling of being constantly pressured, hassled, and hurried
Irritability and moodiness
Physical symptoms, such as stomach problems, headaches, or even chest pain
Allergic reactions, such as eczema or asthma
Problems sleeping
Drinking too much, smoking, overeating, or doing drugs
Sadness or depression
Here are some of the behavioural signs:
No time for relaxation or pleasurable activities
Proneness to accidents and forgetfulness
Increased reliance on alcohol, smoking, caffeine, recreational or illegal
drugs
Becoming a workaholic
Poor time management and/or poor standards of work
Absenteeism
Self neglect or change in appearance
Social withdrawal
Relationship problems
Insomnia or waking tired
Recklessness
Aggressive or angry outbursts
Nervousness
Uncharacteristic lying
And here are some of the common thought patterns of the stress-overloaded
person:
I must perform well
Life should not be unfair
Self or other-damning statements
Low frustration statements such as I can't stand it
I must be in control
I want to scream/explode/be violent
It's awful, terrible, horrible, unbearable etc
I must have what I want
I must obey 'my' moral code and rules
Others must approve of me
Cognitive distortions e.g. all or nothing thinking
Stress related conditions
The problems a doctor sees that are most immediately associated with
stress are:
Anxiety
Irritable bowel syndrome
Depression
Fatigue/burnout
Insomnia
Tense muscles
Fibromyalgia
Hormone problems
Cancer
Allergies and intolerances
Headaches
Substance misuse
Relationship problems
Job problems
…and the rest!
 Treatment
So what to do to prevent and treat stress? Usually some things can be
changed quite easily, while other factors take longer to address. A few
basic steps almost always help. Professional input may be required and has
the potential to change things much more than can be achieved alone as it
is often possible to ‘flick a switch’ physiologically and make an
immediate difference in both mind and body.
Managing stress
The first step is to learn to recognize when you're feeling stressed.
The next is to choose a way to deal with your stress. One way is to avoid
the stressful stimulus, another is to change how you react to stress.
TIPS
Here are some of the keys to stress management:
Take a stand against over scheduling
Be realistic about your expectations of yourself and others
Get a good night's sleep
Learn how to relax - this is your body's opposite of stress. Breathing
exercises, meditation, reading, making time for a
 particular
interest, spending time with your pet, a relaxing bath, a massage, having
some fun…
Treat your body well – regular exercise, intelligent eating, juicing, a
‘multi’ nutritional supplement, vitamin B complex, avoid
chemical
stimulants
Watch what you're thinking – even if you are a pessimist, everyone can
learn to think more optimistically and reap the benefits
Solve the little problems - avoiding things puts you out of control and
increases the size of the perceived mountain. Resolving
things, one at a
time, makes you stronger
 My
approach to stress
I try to treat the physiological consequences of stress alongside the
emotional tendency to get into that state in the first place, and find
this approach works well.
Each person has a combination of circumstantial, psychological and
physical factors and individuals vary as to where the biggest improvements
can be made.
There are a number of different strategies that can be used to ease a
stressful mindset, support the adrenal glands, give more energy and deal
with the various aspects of being stressed.
What people tend to report after successful treatment is feeling much
better in themselves, being able to do more while taking less time about
it, feeling more creative and open (particularly with emotions), being
less wound up, feeling refreshed on waking and so on.
Further resources
 Stress
Questionnaire
Ten Stress
Busting Tips
60
Second Tranquilliser
Homeopath doctor stress treatment London
homeopathy in London
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