Archive for the ‘Mental Health’ Category

Stress and Relationships

Tuesday, May 6th, 2008

In modern world, everyone is running to thump others for a better living. To these people, stress will come definitely. Stress spoils our daily life a lot as anxiety comes first. Consequently there is phobia and depression. A wide variety of bodily problems can be ascribed to stress.

It is fact that men and women are to face their lives in different ways. So, the end result of stress is totally different to them. Women are also exposed to stress and the outcome is obvious in their physical health. To them, the disease process is more obvious. Nevertheless, although men experience the wrench of stress more or less same amount, the apparent expression is less. It is noticed that the number of death is much more in men than in women if they are exposed to stress and its consequences. One of the prominent causes of stress is strain in the conjugal relationship. It may be in between husband and wife, strain relation among the members of a same family, between the child and the parents or stress in the work place. Stress and relationship have intimately related.

Marital stress

The commonest reason of stress is probably the damaged relation between the husband and the wife. In this world of demand to the total independence, the condition of mind echoes the stressed out condition of anybody. All of us must have heard the idiom ‘Marriages are made in heaven’. But we do not remember this divine conjugal relation and our smallest problems may create mayhem. We search for the tiniest shortcomings of our partner and make a hell out of their life. Moreover, if any one of the partner is irascible, then the situation becomes more awful. We continue to blame each other for the entire period when we are staying at home together and trying to make his or her life more miserable. It is the time when stress starts growing. This generates tension more. Again it leads to quarrel. More stress is generated. Some short of vicious cycle is created unless one of us tries to control the situation.

Family life

Today’s world requires us to be parted from our close relatives and family members as our workplace may be miles away from our home and we may be leading a jet set life. And again long business tours are there. We may be taking breakfast in New York, lunch in the London and dinner in the Paris. In a nuclear family setup, we can not be able to spent quality time with our family members. We feel more stressed out quickly due to this.

Stress between children and parents

At the present time, bitter relationship in between husband and wife is very much widespread. They bring their child to earth. Then forget the way to raring the child up properly. If both of them are busy with their work, the child feels terribly unsecured even in the home environments. This put the child in immense emotional agony. In addition, if the child sees his parents are clashing daily after coming back from their respective office, the circumstances make him feel vulnerable. The little brain can not decide what is worn gang what is right, and this creates a negative impact upon his regular performances whether he is in school or playing with his friends.

Stress in the workplace

Our carrier has evolved the main concern for us today. Stress at our workplace is one of the most common causes of all the stressors. Uncertainty of our future, insecurity on the office, non-cooperation and disobedience from the colleagues and unorganized carrier management plan are the main culprits. We need to do a lot of jobs that is not sufficient for us to complete in the time frame we are being provided. All of these can generate tension and subsequently stress.

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Stress and High Blood Pressure

Saturday, April 26th, 2008

All of us must have seen persons suffering from high blood pressure in our surroundings. At times, high blood pressure can affect the comparatively lower age group people either. Have you ever questioned him how he gets his blood pressure increased? Researchers have discovered the truth that stress can have an influence to produce high blood pressure. It also makes worse the situation in the existing hypertensive (people with high blood pressure) patients. Stress activates the secretion of stress hormones in our body. The stress hormones identified are adrenaline, dopamine and cortisol. All of these hormones have a straight role playing activities in increasing blood pressure.

Adrenaline has got an action of positive modulator over the α-receptors present in numerous tissues in our body. The intervention of α- receptors in the mechanism of our body is like this –

The prejunctional α2-receptors helps to inhibit neuronal Ca2+ channels and reduces the availability of intracellular Ca2+ by decreasing cAMP (cyclic Amino Mono Phosphate) production. After that the neurotransmitter (adrenaline and nor adrenaline) secretion is also diminished. Hyperpolarization mediated by activation of K+ channels may also take place.

In smooth muscles of our body as well as the vascular muscles contains a lot of α-receptors. The contraction of muscles takes place by the action of the α1 receptors. The activated G protein amplifies IP3/DAG production. After that there is recruitment of Ca2+ from intracellular organelle. The bulk of the Ca2+ comes from intracellular mitochondria. Ca2+ triggers the Calmodulin dependent Myosin light chain kinase (it is an enzyme present in the striated and smooth muscles). This enzyme facilitates the phosphorylation of myosin fiber. It helps the contraction of Actin-Myosin complex. In this way, the whole muscle fiber is contracted. The α2 receptors which are vasoconstrictor in nature, increases Ca2+ influx without utilization of IP3 most likely.

Glucocorticoid hormones inhibit capillary permeability. It also maintains the muscular tones of the arterioles and contractility of the myocardium (heart muscle). They have a lenient and pressor action of Adrenaline and Angiotensin. They also play a permissive role in the formation of high blood pressure to occur. The chief mineralocorticoid action is augmentation in the Sodium reabsorption from the distal convoluted tubule in the nephron of the kidney. There is relative increase in the excretion of Potassium and hydrogen ion. If there is high level of mineralocorticoid, as in the cases of stress, the maximal tubular reabsorptive capacity for Sodium is increased. In turn, this high level of Sodium brings water from the distal convoluted tubules of kidney (reabsorption). The total blood volume is increased and it helps in the formation of high blood pressure.

The peripherally formed Dopamine (DA) is responsible for increase in the heart rate in amount to its action on β-adrenergic receptors. Though Dopamine stimulates adrenergic receptors of blood vessels too, major increase in the blood pressure is not seen. It affects more in the younger people because they have more active adrenal gland which is capable to secrete stress hormones in a bigger scale as compared to aged persons.

So, it is obvious that stress has a direct triggering effect on the hormone production and consequently, into high blood pressure. If stress can be withdrawn, all the stress hormone level will be back to its normal level and the blood pressure will be normal too.

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Music Therapy and Stress Relief

Monday, April 14th, 2008

In this jet set age, people are often exposed to immense stress and anxiety. Pressure from every nook and corner of the society creates havoc. We often don’t find enough time to ease up our stress. Also we don’t find the ways to de-stress. We often fall into wrong hands advising pills that are of no use. But why don’t we try something that is readily available into us and that will not harm you any way? Yes, I am talking about music as stress reliever.

You must be thinking can it be true? Can music really help us in a condition of stress? Well, if you can believe me, music has the power to lessen your stress. Actually, the World Federation of Music Therapy describes it like ‘the use of music and/or its musical instruments in a process designed to facilitate and promote communication, relationship, learning, mobilization, expression and organization in order to develop or restore functions of the individual’. If you count on them, please go through the entire discussion here and give it a try.

Now the question comes – does music just soothe or it has really the power of healing? It may be hard to believe that the body’s vital organs and systems like blood, different glands, hormones, cells, muscles, nerves, brain and bones besides the celestial life energy system are regularly affected by the sound waves generated by the environment. Anxiety is the bodily response to high level of stress hormones (adrenaline and cortisol). The moment somebody listens to relaxing music, the levels of the hormones are lessened and the person feels calmer. The harmony between mind and body is reinstated thereafter. Researchers have proved in a recent study that music defies all kinds of blockage – retention of excretory products, diabetes, inflammations, arthritic pains and menstrual cramps. It assists the development of communication and motor skills in infants with physical or learning disabilities. Music induces the release of important healing hormones and fights against stress and depression. There are also impressive results seen in the patients of Schizophrenia. The basic idea of music therapy is to reorganize the body’s regular functions and establish balance between them.

However, music therapy is not meant for the stressed persons alone. Every healthy people can use music to de-stress everyday through active music making like playing the piano or through passive listening. Hum your favorite tunes whenever you are in stress and you need to boost you up or your spirit. You will feel good within couple of minutes.

Music has a vast arena starting from a lowest pitched note from a stringed instrument to the deafening rhythms of drums. So, which one to choose? It depends to the individual requirements. A general blend that helps is percussion with the flute or sitar. It has to be kept in mind that the tempo matches the heart rate – within 60-80 beats per minute. It is imperative to note that the tune may have different effects upon different persons. As for an example, a tune that resonate the belly of a tall and thin person may not produce the same result in case of an obese person; the optimum frequencies must be individualized to them.

The basis of all music therapy is its undertones or sometimes named as drones. Most of the undertones are prolonged, undisturbed and continuous – the magic comes from the interval of the tones. Most of the music instruments like the sitar, bagpipe, jaw harp, didgeridoo, mountain horn, chiming bowl, and all the single and multiple-stringed instruments can be tuned to the drones. Some cardiologists say music therapy works best when jointly administered with meditation or yoga.

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Kill stress – before it kills you

Wednesday, April 2nd, 2008

In this modern jet age, we are compelled to face stress and anxiety at some part of our life. Anxiety is the forerunner of stress. The intense pressure from every nook and corner of modern life is calling the anxiety and stress around. Although our entire life, we have to face an array of changes regarding the way of lifestyle, grooming, our workplace, close relationships and the environment. Every transformation, whether it is gratifying or obnoxious, leaves some amount of stress upon us. Conversely, if the intensity of stress becomes severe or if it goes for a longer time, it may create depressing states or anxiety disorders.

In our day to day life, we spend most of our times at our workplace. Its condition, job hazards, challenges in the jobs and job dissatisfaction are some of the most common stress factors. A recent study conducted involving the volunteers from different fields revealed that highest level of stress are found in the persons who come from medicine, business and finance.

Women suffer from anxiety and stress most in their personal relationships. Personal or public, no matter what is the reason, stress can lead acute psychological and physical trouble including anxiety and depression both in men and women.

While depression generates sensations like desolation, worthlessness and irritation, anxiety neurosis results into feeling of horror and panic even when you are under normal circumstances. The precise cause of depression is not known to us, although scientists have thrown some light into it. Today we can identify the depression is an end result of an anomalous communication between the neural circuits of brain and the chemical neurotransmitter of the central nervous system. Apart from this, stress can be generated from environmental, genetic and emotional reasons.

Stress can result various setbacks in our body. It may reduce the state of our cardiovascular system. It can lead to high blood pressure and coronary thromboembolism. Stress can affect our gastrointestinal system, renal system and nervous system. Almost all organs of our body may have an effect if we are exposed to stress for a long time. A frightful disease – Alzheimer’s disease can be the outcome of protracted stress that insults our memory function. It is one of the most debilitating diseases at present. Anxiety neurosis is resulted by panic attacks, also defined as agoraphobia. It is an extremely panic condition where a man gets scared of panicky feeling upon exposed to open spaces. The anxiety is so severe he may experience terrible notions at such places which may seem normal to others. Women are more victimized by this kind of panic attacks.

There must be some solutions of stress. Let us take a brief note.

Laugh – laugh, as it helps to pacify the stressed mind. No matter how you are stressed out, a session of laughter can lower down your stress. It is not necessary to get a laughing cause, artificial laughing may also benefit you in some ways.

Cry – crying eases out our stressful mind as it helps to release the angst from our body.

Positive approach – maintain a positive approach always. At all times it helps to make our own way towards our goal and eliminate many complexities.

Values – delineate your values. Always remain under the self imposed bindings.

Exercise – do some workout regularly. Just simple walking, jogging, gardening, cleaning the yard has enough power to reduce anxiety. It is not necessary to go for extensive exercises always. You may join meditation, yoga or aerobics classes. Regular workouts purify our body system from harmful chemicals that is produced because of stress.

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Can stress accelerate aging?

Tuesday, March 18th, 2008

All of us must have felt the curse of stress at some part of our life. Both the older and the comparatively younger persons are forced to face difficult situations and learning to coexist with them. While the elderly persons are to deal with the physical and financial problems, the younger generation is facing the difficulties in their studies, friends, emotional relationships and workplaces. Luckily, we learn to cope up with the difficulties that are the effect of stress with due course of time. But during the last couple of decades in our life, the natural defense mechanism of our body fails to perform in an effective way.

We can spot the relation between how we live and how we die. The earlier in our life we are confronted by stress, the scenario becomes worse. The stress will leave a negative impact upon the way we become older and how fact that occurs.

In earlier years, the belief was that the animals those who have lower heart rate will live longer. No more that is considered reliable. Modern hypothesis is that it is because of the long term effects to various stressors and stress hormones which are responsible for accelerating the aging process.

A specific case is very much interesting and has a worth for separate study. It is the relation of body and the secretion of glucocorticoid hormones during stress. The hypothalamus present in the central nervous system regulates the secretion of glucocorticoids from the adrenal gland by releasing a hormone – Corticotropin Releasing Hormone (CRH). CRH consequently commands the adrenal gland to release the glucocorticoid hormones.

How does the hypothalamus decide when there is enough glucocorticoid in the blood pool? Actually it is regulated by the mechanisms present in our body for controlling the secretion of all the hormones. The hypothalamus controls the secretion of CRH and consequently the glucocorticoids using a feedback mechanism. Hypothalamus in the aged people can not work as it should be. This is the reason the higher level of glucorticoids in the blood even the person is not suffering from any kind of stress.

What may be the reason of the malfunctioning of the feedback system? The answer is not obvious, but the most likely reason is the increased level of glucorticoids during the period of chronic stress. Again it may be concluded that a prolonged exposure to glucocorticoids will result in Hippocampal damage, which may lead to more glucorticoids being released in the blood stream.

Hippocampal damage leads to another disease called – Alzheimer’s disease. This is undoubtedly one of those extremely debilitating diseases known to man. Hippocampus is a part of the brain that is a vital area for storage and retrieving memories. This is the reason; the persons suffering from full blown Alzheimer’s disease can not recall any of his long term or short term memory.

Experts have proved that the chronic stress can accelerate the rate of aging. So it is imperative to say that everybody should control the stress as far as possible.

You can do some relaxation techniques. You can do a course upon yoga and meditation. These two ways have an immense potentiality for relieving stress. Regular exercise is another effective approach. Fix a time from your schedule everyday that is suitable for you to exercise. Regular workout helps to wash out the surplus stressors and stress hormones from your body. Proper planning in life is essential to reduce stress. You must bring laugh in your life.

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