Emotional stress can trigger a host
of health-related problems, ranging from memory loss to impaired
immunity; it definitely plays a role in pain. However, thanks to
extensive research, scientists have a better understanding of how
stress affects the body. The fact is stress is simply a pain trigger. Whether there will be health consequences after a stressful episode depends on your responses
to the external event. These responses involve the immune system, the
heart and blood vessels, and how certain glands secrete hormones that
help regulate various functions in the body, such as brain function and
nerve impulses. All of these responses interact and are profoundly
influenced by one’s coping style and psychological state.
Review the Stress Observation Signs
(SOS) on page 189, and determine the particular ways your body responds
to life’s stressors. These reactions are well-documented symptoms that
occur with the “fight-or-flight” response; the initial stress response
that happens automatically when you feel threatened. When the mind
perceives a threat, the pituitary gland at the base of the brain
responds by stepping up its release of adrenocorticotropic hormone
(ACTH). The burst of ACTH is followed by a flood of stress hormones
such as cortisol, epinephrine (adrenaline), and norepinephrine
(noradrenaline) that pour into the body to help you respond in a
hyperalert, quick manner.
When the stress
has passed, epinephrine and norepinephrine subside and return to normal
levels. But Cortisol continues to stay elevated, especially in those
over age forty. And elevated cortisol over a period of time results in
excess abdominal fat and pro-inflammatory markers.
In
short, stress does not cause pain but, rather, your response to stress
can increase your reaction to pain. By learning to recognize the
physical and emotional signs and symptoms of stress and deal with these
in a positive manner, you can block the negative effect before they
cause you to have increased inflammation and pain or become ill.
25 Common Stress Observation Signs (SOS)
CHECK THE FOLLOWING symptoms that you experience with chronic stress:
1. Anger
2. Anxiety
3. Apathy
4. Asthma
5. Back pain
6. Chest pains or tightness
7. Depression
8. Headaches (including migraines and tension headaches)
9. Heart palpitations
10. Hives
11. IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)
12. Insomnia
13. Inability to relax at night
14. Inability to concentrate
15. Irregular menstrual periods
16. Jaw pain
17. Loss of sexual desire or function
18. Mood swings
19. Neck pain
20. No energy
21. Rapid pulse
22. Rashes
23. Short temper
24. Short-term memory loss
25. Weight loss or gain
Stress and Chronic Illness
A LARGE PROPORTION of
all visits to doctors’ offices are for stress-related complaints. Along
with pain, stress is linked to an increased risk of the following
diseases:
• Allergies, asthma, and hay fever
• Back and neck pain
• Cancer
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Migraine headaches
• Peptic ulcer disease
• Stroke
• TMJ (temporomandibular joint) syndrome
• Tension headaches
Accepting Your Pain
Your
ultimate goal is to get the point where you can accept your pain, and
then start making modifications to handle it in your life. The opposite
of acceptance is denial, and this behavior will work against any pain
rehabilitation efforts. It is vital to accept that issues such as
anger, anxiety, and loss of self-esteem can affect your pain. An
interesting study of patients with pain found that higher levels of
acceptance were associated with less attention to the pain, greater
commitment to daily activities and social affairs, higher motivation to
complete activities, and greater confidence rating personal performance
of daily activities.
