Chronic Stress is at Epidemic Levels
Chronic stress is at epidemic levels in the western world. The World Health Organization
estimates that stress-related disorders affect nearly 450 million
individuals worldwide.
Millions of people suffer from health
complications linked to chronic stress and more than half of
all patients visiting their doctor complain of stress-related
fatigue. In 2011, in the United States, nearly 75 million
unique prescriptions were written for Xanax and Ativan, two
anti-anxiety medications.
Linda Page, N.D. Ph.D.
"The stress-disease connection is today's norm; the result of every day stressors like air pollutants,
toxic reactions to metals or chemical halogens like chlorine and fluoride, chronic
low-grade, but debilitating infections, parasite invasions, allergies and sensitivities
to today's foods and of course, strong emotional reactions."
Stress and Depression Can Be Nutrition Related
It’s remarkable how much the
foods we eat can impact our brain
chemistry and emotions. What and when we eat can make the difference between feeling anxious
and staying calm and in control. But most of us don’t realize how much our diets influence our moods,
thoughts, and feelings until we make a change.
There is increasing evidence that diet may play a causative role in cases of depression.
The food production in industrialized societies uses intensive farming and processing techniques.
This can contribute to depleted levels of magnesium, omega 3 fatty acids,
certain amino acids and other essential nutrients in the food we eat.
Dr Joan Larson, Ph.D believes that many doctors misdiagnose nutritional
imbalances as psychological disorders. She argues that most people who
are depressed, fatigued or addicted to food,
cigarettes or alcohol suffer from a deficiency of vitamins or amino
acids that is only exacerbated by drugs like Xanax, Prozac and lithium.
Dr. Larson plausibly links biochemical emotional problems with the
gradual shift in the American diet over the past 60 years toward
sugary, carbohydrate-laden and processed foods, which disturb the
body's insulin production and deprive the brain of much needed
vitamins and nutrients.
The Microbiome: A Key Regulator of Stress and Neuro-inflammation
According to a study in ScienceDirect, there is a growing emphasis
on the relationship between the complexity and diversity of the
microorganisms that inhabit our gut (human gastrointestinal microbiota)
and health/disease, including brain health and disorders of the central nervous system.
The gastrointestinal microbiota has also emerged as a
key regulator of centrally mediated events including
stress and neuro-inflammation.
Depression and Anxiety Disorders
Russell L. Blaylock, M.D - "It has been estimated that 14.8 million
Americans suffer from major depressive disorder and of this number
6 million are elderly. If we include anxiety disorders, which commonly
accompany depression, the number jumps to 40 million adults. At a cost
of $44 billion dollars a year just for care of the seniors, this impacts
the national budget as well."
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), by 2030, the
amount of disability and life lost as a result of depression will
be greater than that resulting from any other condition, including
accidents, war, suicide, cancer, and stroke. Depression removes all the joy from
people's lives, leaves them unable to function and causes their family and friends
much distress. What’s even worse is they are told the same old story about their depression and prescribed
powerful anti-depressants to "cure" them. These drugs may help temporarily.
But that’s it. And if you aren’t told what depression really is, how can you defeat it?
Russell L. Blaylock, M.D - "Anxiety is a major problem
with depression, and vaccinations will greatly worsen the condition. In fact,
vaccination, especially multiple vaccinations, will maintain the brain in a
state of inflammation that will be self-perpetuating, because the
excess release of glutamate in the brain, as well as glutamate in
the diet, will further enhance microglial activation and excitotoxicity."
Psychiatric Medications may just be your Problem
Michael B. Schachter, M.D. - "Psychotropic drugs are not
the complete answer to the critical and growing problem of depression in this
country. In fact, I believe that in some ways they contribute to it."
Dr. Med. Heinrich Kremer of the Niedersachsen and Schleswig-Holstein
clinic, specializing in medications of the states Berlin, Bremen, Hamburg,
describes in detail the effects of the drug Ritalin in the brain and to introduce
alternative, Ritalin-free therapies for restless children.
No conscientious doctor will prescribe Ritalin after studying this article.
Antidepressants, Suicide and Violence
The FDA has warned that children and adults taking antidepressants can become suicidal in the
first weeks of therapy and that physicians should watch
patients closely when first giving the drugs or changing dosages. The FDA is
asking drug manufacturers to place explicit warnings about the drugs' side
effects, including the risk of suicide, on their labels.
Michael B. Schachter, M.D. - "As I sit down to write
What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Depression , the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) has just approved another antidepressant.
The name of the drug doesn't matter; it joins the ranks of about one dozen others
already on the market. Presently, more than two dozen additional antidepressants
are under development, according to the trade group Pharmaceutical Research
and Manufacturers ofAmerica.
And as you sit today and read this book, another
antidepressant has been, is being, or soon will be released to the market, to
be followed by others currently in research-and-development or trial phases.
While the good intentions of those who work so diligently to find remedies for
the millions of people who suffer with depression may be commendable, I remain
largely unimpressed. Why? Because regardless of the number of antidepressants
introduced to the market or when they appear, the bottom line is that psychotropic
drugs are not the complete answer to the critical and growing problem of depression
in this country. In fact, I believe that in some ways they contribute to it."
Julian Whitaker, M.D. - "As much as 70 percent of all
visits to family doctors or general practitioners are related to chronic stress, high blood pressure, and stoic
stress. Stress can be associated with both good and bad circumstances — getting
married, having a baby, going through a divorce, losing a loved one, selling
a home, or retiring — but none of these situations is inherently stressful.
It's your response to a situation
that defines it as stressful. While a little stress can be useful in keeping
us on our toes, problems arise when stress becomes chronic. Eventually, chronic
stress takes its toll on body and mind, impairing physical and mental health."
Traumatized Societies and Psychological Care
by Vamik D. Volkan, M.D.
Stress From Violence, Disaster Can Linger For Years. People who survive natural disasters or severe violence are at high risk
for suffering years of post-traumatic stress disorder. In 1988, thousands of
Armenians were devastated by a severe earthquake; in that same year, political
violence erupted against ethnic Armenians in neighboring Azerbaijan. Both countries
formed after the break-up of the Soviet Union. In a study of 78 Armenians who
experienced either of these traumas, researchers found that both groups had
similar, long-term symptoms of post-traumatic stress.
First
widely recognized in veterans of the Vietnam War, post-traumatic stress
disorder is now recognized to be a problem in the larger population. Anyone
who survives intensely traumatic circumstances may show its signs and symptoms
-- including withdrawal from others, flashbacks, and feelings of helplessness.
The researchers looked at post-traumatic stress in three groups of adults whom
they had first studied 3 years earlier. In one group, subjects had experienced
minor earthquake damage, but were exposed to "graphic depictions" of destruction
in other parts of the country. In another group, people had their lives directly
threatened by the earthquake and had witnessed the death and destruction it
caused. Subjects in the third group had experienced persecution in Azerbaijan,
suffering threats to their own lives and witnessing the torture or murder of
family or friends.
The investigators found that people in the two most seriously traumatized
groups had the same level of post-traumatic stress symptoms. Moreover, time
did nothing to abate symptoms in either group. On the other hand, depression
in these groups had faded. The group that had experienced mild earthquake damage
saw their post-traumatic stress symptoms ease.The persistence of post-traumatic
stress in the other two groups, the authors write, mirrors findings from studies
of World War II prisoners-of-war and Cambodian refugees. Armenians in this study
were surrounded by "pervasive trauma reminders" such as destroyed buildings,
"shoddy" homes, and media reports of violence in Azerbaijan. In addition, the
post-traumatic stress had spurred other emotionally draining problems, such
as difficulties at work and in marriage." American Journal of Psychiatry June
2000;157:911-916
CrazyBusy: Overstretched, Overbooked, and About to Snap!
Edward M. Hallowell M.D. -
"The rush, the gush, the worry, and the blather (which also includes clutter)" into allies, so that one can have the
things one wants with the speed, volume and emotional energy of the crazy-busy
lifestyle. The roadmap Hallowell offers is helpful; that is, if one can manage
to pick this book out of the never-ending stream of stimuli and find the time to read it."
The adrenal glands function in the body to help handle stress. They act as
our body's "shock-absorbers." When the body encounters stress or has low blood
sugar, the adrenal glands release the hormone adrenaline into the blood. This
hormone immediately increases blood pressure, stimulates the heart, and relaxes
the muscles in the lungs. Adrenaline is ideally supposed to be released in situations
where "fight or flight" decisions are being made.
In modern society, however,
high stress levels cause adrenaline to constantly circulate in the body. This
can contribute to nervousness, anxiousness, and insomnia. Exercise, dance, walking,
and high-energy work help diminish the levels of adrenaline in the blood. Increased
levels of these hormones and their metabolites, and other stress-related chemicals
left circulating in the blood awaiting removal, can leave a person feeling anxious,
irritable, tense, and nervous.
The multiple stresses of modern day life combined with the standard American diet, along with the consumption or
use of sugar, caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, and prescription or recreational drugs can over stimulate
and place stress on the adrenal glands. When the intensity and frequency of stress overcomes the
level at which a person can cope with such stressors, something is bound to break down. At this point,
people become more vulnerable and susceptible to colds, flu, and infections.
People exhibit adrenal gland stress or exhaustion in a
variety of ways, some of which can even seem conflicting.
Some people exhibit anxiety, nervousness, hyperactivity,
or insomnia, while others experience only fatigue or low
energy. Some unfortunate individuals experience both.
Other signs include overreacting to noises or sudden stimuli,
or a craving for salt. One of the most obvious signs of
adrenal fatigue is when a person wakes up tired even after
a good night's sleep. Because adrenal fatigue and exhaustion
have a negative effect on the immune system, these are often
the individuals who catch every cold and flu that goes around
or are sick during every flu season.
The stress from deepening debt is also becoming a major issue resulting
in severe depression and stress-related illnesses. Almost three-quarters
of Americans are experiencing financial stress at least some of the time,
and nearly a quarter of us are experiencing extreme financial stress,
according to a study released today by the American Psychological Association.
Homeopathic Medicine for Chronic Anxiety & Stress
Addictive habits and superficial attempts to change one’s
lifestyle may not work in severe cases of anxiety or stress
because they fail to address the root issues that lead
to symptoms. Homeopathy is one of the best ways to address underlying issues
and ultimately remove stress and anxiety, which in turn brings
physical health if the remedy is prescribed professionally.
Homeopathic Guide to Stress presents inexpensive, easy-to-use
ways to self-treat its symptoms and to handle its causes.
From nervousness and anxiety to the effects of caffeine,
allergies, and long hours in the workplace, we’re bombarded with emotional and physical stress every day.
Written in a clear and engaging style, It offers an introduction to homeopathy,
with a focus on stress. For more than four dozen specific emotional states or
physical causes of stress, Miranda Castro suggests several homeopathic treatments,
with clear instructions on how to choose the most appropriate solution. These
remedies help you cope with current or recent stressors, and also can be taken as preventive measures.
A comprehensive section describes each remedy in detail and each entry gives
a clear picture of who should use It, how, and why. Castro also provides several
case studies and practical advice on avoiding and dealing with stress. Homeopathic
Guide to Stress Is an easy-to-understand guide to safely and effectively treating
the effects of stress at any time of life, from infancy to old age.
Related:
Overcoming Stress and Anxiety with Homeopathy audio Radio Program
Can Stress and Depression Make you Feel Tired?
In the United States and European Union
1 out of 4 persons suffers from tiredness. Why are some people always so full
of energy – while you try everything you can think of and still feel tired all
the time? Well, the answer is simple – you are probably doing something wrong.
The problem is that there are so many different things that can make you feel
tired – and while some might be obvious, I'm sure others will surprise you…
If you would like to know why you are so tired and how to get the energy back
into your life.
Most people do not get enough sleep, and the sleep they do experience is
often of poor quality. Substandard sleep causes increased cortisol levels, poor
memory and contributes to weight gain, all of which adds to one’s stress level.
Obtaining enough sleep on a regular basis is essential to stress reduction.
Regular exercise also reduces stress by reducing cortisol and releasing the
body’s natural endorphins. Cut down or eliminate caffeine, alcohol and nicotine
as these contribute to stress on the nervous system and adversely effect sleep
quality. Increase dietary calcium and magnesium, which are essential nervous
system nutrients.
Emotional Freedom Techniques
Are You Feeling Emotionally Stressed ?
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is a therapeutic approach to discharging
excess emotional distress and liberating one's natural growth process. It has
its roots in ancient Chinese medicine and the modern science of Applied Kinesiology.
EFT is the most effective therapy that I know of to rapidly and efficiently
resolve the physical consequences of severe emotional trauma.
All, not some, but ALL negative emotions are due to disruptions in
one's bioenergy system.
EFT was put together by Gary Craig and is a derivative of Thought Field Therapy
that was developed by Roger Callahan. TFT was my first introduction into energy
medicine which I learned in 1998.
However, EFT is much more streamlined and seems to achieve fabulous results
by balancing one's energy meridians while saying positive affirmations about
the addiction in question.
EFT is psychological acupuncture without the needles. It works by inputting
kinetic energy (tapping) onto specific acupuncture meridians on the head and
chest while actually activating the brain circuits that are involved in the
energy disruption by thinking about the problem.
Combining the above with a positive affirmation seems sufficient to disrupt
the field that is created from the emotion and its consequence on one's physiology.
EFT centers around the profound effects of the body's subtle energies using
the theory that "the cause of all negative emotions is a disruption in the body's
energy system." Accordingly, EFT is an emotional form of acupuncture except
that we don't use needles. Instead, we tap with the fingertips to stimulate
certain meridian energy points while the client is "tuned in" to the problem.
The subtle energies that circulate throughout the body have been largely
ignored (until recently) by western scientists. As a result, our use of them
for emotional and spiritual healing has been sparse at best. With EFT, however,
we consider these subtle energies to be the front running cause of emotional
upsets. As a result, we generate results that are FAR beyond those of conventional
methods. Even a cursory review of the case histories on this web site will reveal
that.
Further, EFT often provides relief for a very wide range of physical symptoms.
This, too, is abundantly clear in our case histories, which provide unmistakable
evidence of the link between our physical ailments and our emotional issues.
EFT is a Doorway to the new Healing High-Rise. It is where a growing number
of newcomers to this exciting field get their start. We now have thousands of
practitioners using EFT throughout the world.
Compared to other techniques, EFT is usually quite gentle and substantial
relief is often achieved with little or no pain. This is not true for everyone,
however. Some people's issue are so intense that the mere mention of them causes
emotional or physical pain. Although truly serious instances of this (sometimes
called abreactions) is most likely to occur in seriously emotionally damaged
people (best estimate is less than 1% of the population), newcomers to EFT are
advised to exercise common sense in this regard and not go where they aren't
qualified.
Anyone Can Learn This Technique in Five Minutes
This technique is so amazing it is to good to be true. It has been a major benefit
for nearly all of the patients we have trained in it. Most people who were deeply
saddened by this terrorists attacks had enormous levels of peace and reassurance
after having the technique performed.
Shirley's Journey to Health
In my Journey Into Health I explain how I suffered
from debilitating chronic depression for decades. I was also struggling
with failing health and a weight problem. I had become a "junkie' of prescription
drugs, but instead of getting better, I was only getting worse, much worse.
In my thirties, I switched from a SAD diet (Standard American Diet) to a raw
food diet. I overcame a lifetime of
ill health and depression. Now, in my late sixties, I'm the happiest and
healthiest I've ever been with an amazing level of energy and vitality. Following, is a list of nutritional
supplements that I take daily to help overcome tension and to optimize my health and immune system.'
- Dr. Mary Meagher MD - "People exposed to chronic social
conflict experience high levels of stress and consequent dysregulation of the immune system, thereby increasing
vulnerability to infectious and autoimmune disease.”
- Called the 'anti-stress mineral,' magnesium aids in relaxing nerves, relieving tension,
assisting digestion, activating enzymes important for protein and carbohydrate
metabolism, and modulating the electrical potential across all cell membranes. Magnesium
has a calming effect on the nervous system and is frequently
used to promote good sleep. Nervous fatigue, stress, depression, tics and twitches,
tremors, irritability, hypersensitivity, muscle spasms, restlessness,
anxiety, confusion, disorientation and irregular heartbeat all respond to increased magnesium levels.
- "I have suffered from depression and anxiety
for many years. I never told anyone about what I was going through. However,
the people closest to me were aware of my mood swings and how I acted during
certain stressful times in my life. I went to my family Doctor to get
some help with severe anxiety and depression. Of course, the only thing they
can do is prescribe various popular medications that carry all sorts of other
symptoms and side effects for which more medications are prescribed, thereby
compounding the problems. I learned about a double-blind randomized
placebo-controlled trial study noted that both depression and bipolar disorder are
complicated by glutathione depletion. After taking
a natural supplement that help boost my glutathione level, I noticed that I felt better. I had more energy,
and most importantly I didn’t feel the effects of the depression. I felt 100%
better in a matter of days and it only took a short time to decrease and then
discontinue the medical prescriptions. Of course, I kept my personal physician
completely informed of what I was doing throughout this period. I have heard
that discontinuing anti-depressant medication carries with it certain withdrawal
stages, but I experienced none of that" Melina Coates Disbury, AB
- Aman Shah, MD - "It may sound fishy,
but researchers say taking a daily fish-oil supplement may boost the effectiveness -- or even replace
-- antidepressants for treating depression in some people. In a new
study, people who added a daily dose of fish oil omega-3 fatty acids to their
regular antidepressant treatment had significant improvement in symptoms,
including anxiety, sleeping problems, sadness, decreased sexual desire,
and suicidal tendencies. Researcher Malcolm Peet, MD, of Swallow Nest
Court Hospital in Sheffield, England, and colleagues found that patients
who took the lowest, 1-gram daily, fish-oil dose showed significant
improvements on all major measures of depression compared with those
who took a placebo. In particular, 69% of the patients who took the
1-gram dose had a 50% reduction in their symptoms, compared with only
25% of those who took a placebo."