Читать книгу Relaxation and Meditation Techniques: A Complete Stress-proofing System - Leon Chaitow, Leon Chaitow N.D. D.O. - Страница 10

Stress is an essential and constant part of life. It is the spur that drives man to all achievement. When excessive, it can also destroy him. All the ages and stages of life are transitional; from baby to toddler, from schoolchild to young adult, from active worker to retired pensioner and so on. Likewise, all change has potential stress implications which, overlayed upon the external and internal stresses of living, are constantly affecting the mind and body of the individual.

One definition of stress, given by the great researcher into this ubiquitous phenomenon, Dr Hans Selye, is simply ‘the rate of wear and tear on the body’. All change requires adaptation on the part of the organism. If we go from a warm room into the freezing cold outdoors, adaptive mechanisms immediately become operative to help the body to maintain its equilibrium. Adaptive processes take place in response to all changes and stressors, whether these are physical, such as heat and cold, chemical, such as polluted water and air, drugs, or self-generated emotions such as anger, grief or joy. Anything that is perceived as threatening the mind or body, arouses a response of an adaptive or defensive nature instantly. This ability to attempt to maintain the safe equilibrium of the body is known as homeostasis. It is, for a variety of reasons, not always successful. The biochemistry of the body may be inadequate for the task, perhaps through faulty nutrition, and this and other possible factors, including structural integrity, will be considered later. If the response is inadequate, or if perception of threats is inaccurate, then unbalanced and faulty body adjustments may occur with harmful consequences.

The normal stress reaction is seldom the result of the outside agency, but rather it is the system’s reaction to it. Whether the stressor is physical, such as sudden exposure to cold, or psychological, such as a sudden crisis or a change of responsibility at work, unpleasant news, etc., the body begins to make biochemical changes in response to its perceived needs. Such changes take place almost constantly throughout life to a greater or lesser degree. If a stressor is prolonged, continuous or extreme in its nature, then the defensive mechanisms of the body become even more active. In response to intense heat, changes take place in the blood chemistry and circulatory system in order to cool the body by means, for example, of extra fluid loss and evaporation through the skin. Should this fail to achieve the desired effect, then an even greater defensive effort might involve fainting and temporary unconsciousness, in order to reduce all bodily functions to a minimum. Such homeostatic efforts, though, fall short of being actual stress reactions, unless prolonged.

In response to any stress or extreme, the body undergoes a series of changes which Selye has grouped under the heading of the ‘fìght or flight’ reaction. Quite logically, the response to being confronted with real physical danger, such as the appearance of a man-eating animal, would be to attack it or to escape from it. Whichever was the choice, the body would require instantly available energy, strength, concentration, etc. There would be no time for slow deliberation or stages of progressive arousal, for by that time the adversary would be commencing its meal! If an appropriate response (fight or flight) to the stressor were forthcoming, then the biochemical and other changes triggered by the initial shock, would be utilized, and no ill effects would be felt.

Today, people are seldom faced, on a daily basis, with such life and death stress situations. However, the mind and body may be felt to be threatened in many other ways than by a man-eating tiger. Any perceived (accurately or not) threat or danger to the mind or body will produce a similar ‘fight or flight’ reaction, and there may be ways of producing an appropriate response to these. For instance, someone might say something which is perceived as being insulting, hurtful etc. The stress reaction, which includes a tensing of the muscles as well as biochemical (hormonal and other) changes, could simply be ‘bottled up’ and remain as an extra degree of muscular tension. If a suitable verbal and/or physical response were to be found, however, then again the preparation for action would have been expressed and used, and no ill effects would result. The degree of stress imposed on the body will vary with the individual’s perception of what constitutes a threat-one man would laugh and shrug off an insult, another would reach for his gun! It will also vary with the individual’s ability to respond appropriately. One man would calmly but firmly state his views and inform the villain of the piece of his feelings. Another would bluster and fluster and add fuel to the fire, and not obtain psychological release from the hurt and anger within. The stress factor, therefore, cannot be seen as the main determinant of the degree of ‘fight or flight’ reaction, but only as its potential trigger. The harm done to the body by prolonged, repeated arousal, is largely an outcome of the individual’s beliefs, attitudes, personality and ability to see objectively what constitutes real, and what constitutes imagined danger, physically or mentally.

The actual processes that take place during arousal and ‘fight or flight’ reactions are quite amazing to contemplate. It is possible to extrapolate these immediate changes and to see their potential for major physical damage if they are repeated or prolonged. The following process occurs instantly within the body in response to stress: the muscles tense in preparation for activity; the hypothalamus (part of the brain) co-ordinates a number of hormonal changes; the pituitary gland is activated, and among other results of this is the production by the adrenal glands of the hormones, adrenaline and noradrenaline. As a result, a vast number of bodily changes occur; the pupils of the eye dilate – no doubt to see more clearly; the heart pumps more rapidly to service the extra requirements of the tense muscles and this increases the blood pressure; the extra blood for the muscles requires extra oxygen, and the respiratory rate therefore quickens to cope with this, as well as to help expel additional waste products resulting from increased activity. Blood being diverted to potential muscular activity requires the shut-down of some other functions, including reduction in blood through the kidneys, as well as the ceasing of digestive functions. To this end, saliva dries up and the intestines and stomach stop working. The body’s need for additional energy is met by the liver releasing stored glucose into the blood stream, where the oxygen changes it into readily available energy. In anticipation of extra activity, the skin cools the body down by opening its pores to encourage perspiration. Since blood is being diverted to the muscles, there is a tendency for the skin to become paler. There may be involuntary urination or defecation, due to an over-reaction of that part of the nervous system responsible for restoring the status quo (the parasympathetic nervous system); normally, however, the sphincters controlling these functions close to prevent any further activity until the crisis is past. Other aspects of the body’s defence capability, the immune system, becomes less active during such arousal. This makes infection more likely at such a time. Since the muscles are tense, they will be producing lactic acid break-down products, which have the effect of re-inforcing the anxiety and tension felt by the individual. This list of activities is by no means fully comprehensive, but it should give an idea of what a devastating effect prolonged stress has on the normal body functions.

In the initial stages of arousal, most systems adapt to and accommodate such changes. After arousal there is a return to the status quo, especially if the response is adequate. However, if arousal is repeated over and over again, then some of the changes mentioned above stop being temporary and become chronic. The term employed to describe this process is the General Adaptation Syndrome (G. A. S.) As the body adapts to repeated and constant stress factors, and as chronic symptoms become an accepted part of life, the general level of health declines. Such symptoms include headaches, dizziness, insomnia, blurred vision, swallowing difficulties, aching neck and shoulder muscles, high blood pressure, heart problems, circulatory problems, palpitations, asthma, allergies, indigestion, ulcers, backache, skin rashes, excessive sweating, colitis, sexual problems, depression, phobias, irritability, etc.

Disturbances occur in the blood-sugar equilibrium, giving rise to wild swings in energy levels and mood. If this is accompanied by the excessive use of sugar in the diet, and of stimulants such as tea, coffee and chocolate, the body’s ability to maintain a normal blood-sugar level can be severely damaged. (Some researchers see this as a major cause of diabetes.) There is often a tendency to under-perform; self-doubt and insecurity become apparent, and there is a tendency for the defence mechanism to break down, making allergies and infections more likely. Personal relationships become strained, libido often disappears and, as a result of all these changes, further anxiety and stress are created. A vicious circle of declining health, resulting from stress, is the bleak picture which is all too familiar in modern society. Accompanied, as it often is, by poor nutrition, lack of exercise, and debilitating habits such as alcohol, tea, coffee, consumption and cigarette smoking, the formula for disaster is well underway. There is no way in which treatment of any such condition, by the use of drugs and medication, can alter anything but the superficial symptoms. Indeed by doing so and neglecting the underlying causes, symptomatic treatment can do nothing but further harm. Masking and disguising a problem will never provide an answer to it.

This adaptation stage is critical in as much as most, if not all, of the symptoms are still reversible if the underlying stress factors are dealt with and attention is paid to nutrition, exercise, structural integrity, etc. How long this stage lasts depends upon many variables, including inherited factors, as well as the degree of stress, basic health habits, and the degree of emotional support available. After a period of years (ten, twenty or more), depending on this and other variables, the exhaustion stage of the G.A.S. will be reached. At this time, the body simply ceases to be able to cope, and there is a collapse into one or other disease state. Break-down finally occurs when even minor stress factors are not dealt with satisfactorily. At this point there may be collapse into a catastrophic illness, such as coronary heart disease, cancer, etc.

Knowledge of the signs and symptoms of stress, and of some of the ways in which the body copes with stress, can be seen as a necessary step towards understanding the enemy. Without being able to recognize and become aware of stress, it is possible to delude oneself that ‘it just won’t happen to me’.

The combination of prolonged stress and chronic fatigue has been put forward by some researchers, (Drs Poteliakhof and Carruthers in their report, Real Health: the Ill Effects of Stress and their Prevention), as a major factor in the cause of such conditions as rheumatoid arthritis, asthma and hypertension. The combination of lack of sleep, persistent overwork and chronic anxiety is thought to result in hormonal imbalance, notably adrenal exhaustion or sluggishness. This is thought to interact with constitutional and inherited factors to determine the type of disease which develops.

In the field of heart disease, research at Charing Cross Hospital by Dr Peter Nixon (detailed in Stress and Relaxation by Jane Madders, published by Martin Dunitz) has shown contributory causes to be sustained and inappropriately high levels of arousal. This is mainly, he suggests, the result of the following factors:

1. pressures exerted by people from whom there is no escape; 2. unacceptable time pressures, deadlines, etc; 3. sleep deprivation, and 4. a high score in the life-style changes list (see page 15).

Dr Nixon states that drugs are unsatisfactory in the treatment of hypertension, since the underlying causes are not dealt with.

Among other stress-induced conditions are those that mimic more serious conditions. ‘Symptoms suggesting serious neurological disease are common in patients suffering from anxiety states, or depressive illness, partly, or wholly, attributable to the effects of stress’, states Dr Richard Godwin Austin, consultant neurologist of Nottingham General Hospital. ‘The most common example seen in the neurological outpatient clinic is the patient suffering from recent onset headaches … Patients under physical or psychological stress, frequently develop tension headaches. These may occur in the setting of a depressive reaction, with symptoms of agitation or phobia. The headache often fails to respond to any form of simple analgesic.’

There has also been a good deal of research into stress and its relation to the onset of cancer. The German researcher Dr W. Herberger has noted that chronic anger, disappointment, fear and inability to cope with misfortune often play a role in its development. It has been found that the majority of cancer sufferers have a tendency to dwell on past misfortunes, real or imagined, and they have little sense of the future. Dr Hans Moolenburg, a noted Dutch physician, has described cancer patients as people who have been ‘battered by fate’. It has also been noted that in the U.K., where six out of ten members of the general public acknowledge some belief in God or some spiritual agency, that nine out of ten cancer patients had no such belief. Cancer might therefore be described as, in part, a disease of ‘spiritual deficiency’.

Carl Simonton M. D. is one of the world’s leading researchers into the effect of the mind on the development of and recovery from cancer. He stated¹: ‘To summarize what I consider the salient points from the literature and my own experience in working in these areas for four years now, the biggest single factor that I can find as predisposing factor to the actual development of the disease is the loss of a serious love object, occuring six to eighteen months prior to the diagnosis. This is well documented in several long-term studies. Now, the significant thing about this is that obviously not everyone who undergoes a serious loss, such as loss of a spouse or a child, develops a malignancy or any other serious disease. That’s only one factor. The loss, whether real or imagined, has to be very significant; and even more important is the feeling that it engenders in the patient. The loss has to be such, and the response to the loss such, that it engenders the feeling of helplessness and hopelessness. Therefore, it’s more than a loss – it’s the culmination of the life-history pattern of the patient. And this also is well defined in the literature.