New therapy to combat stress

James Alexander explains what stress is and reports on a new, dynamic and safe combined therapy that combats stress

There are many definitions of stress and to understand what it is can help you find out how to deal with it. One definition is that it is the physical and mental “wear and
tear” that we experience as we attempt to cope with the
pressures in our lives. Another definition of stress is that it is a physical and mental response to too much or too little pressure.

Many would assume that those with too little pressure are
unlikely to suffer stress but this is not the case. In fact, if you
look at stress in organisations, it is not higher management who
suffer stress most but those who have less control over their
environment.

A third definition is that stress can be caused when there is
high demand, high restriction and low support, which means
that if you are expected to do too much with too little resources and with insufficient support, you may be prone to stress.

The typical physical symptoms may include palpitations, increased pulse rate, sleepiness, chest pains and tightness, pins and needles, weakness, dilated pupils, insomnia, fainting,
butterflies and an increased frequency in using the toilet.

The psychological reactions to stress can include feeling
under pressure, constant fear, increased irritability, proneness
to tears, impulse to run and hide, and high sensitivity to external stimuli.

Another reaction can be to develop irrational fears, such
as the fear of death or of social embarrassment. A quite important reaction can be the inability to enjoy any present pleasures, such as people who go on holiday and come back more tired and stressed than before they went.

It is estimated that about 40 million working days are lost in
the UK each year as a result of stress-related illnesses and
the cost of this absenteeism is in the region of £1.5 billion
per year. Such illnesses include migraines, digestion problems,
insomnia, rashes, exhaustion and even alcoholism.

The medical profession estimates that almost 80% of modern diseases have their origins in stress. Many common illnesses that can be triggered or worsened by stress include asthma, diabetes, ulcers, IBS, skin complaints, headaches, PMS and depression.

Stress can also cause damage to our immune system by
affecting the thymus gland, which manufactures white blood
cells, called T cells, and also produces various immune-related
hormones.

Stress plays a big part in coronary heart disease, our biggest
killer, which is responsible for over 250,000 deaths annually
in the UK and is the single-most common cause of death in the developed countries.

Stressors
There are many different causes of stress but, broadly speaking, they can be split into two basic categories – external
and internal stressors.

The external stressors would include major life events such
as the death of a relative, losing your job, having a baby, dealing with a traumatic incident or even being promoted. Physical things around you, such as noise, heat, bright lights, can affect you as well as how you interact with others, for example, associates being bossy, rude or aggressive. Rules, regulations, red tape and deadlines, as well as commuting, losing things or even a mechanical breakdown, all count as external stressors.

Internal stressors may include not enough sleep, too much
work, caffeine, being too selfcritical, over-analysing, or being
a per fectionist. Other examples would include having unrealistic expectations, all-or-nothing thinking, taking things personally, exaggerating, rigid thinking or being a workaholic.

You may not think suffering from stress really matters but it can be more serious than you may realise. Prolonged stress
can lead to burnout, posttraumatic stress disorder or, in its worst form, it can produce biochemical changes that can burn-out the nerve endings at the top of the neck and can affect
the mobility of your body.

One factor that many do not consider is that, in a strange
way, stress can be infectious. If your parents were stressed
when you grew up or if friends or work colleagues are stressed,
you can inherit their stress.

If you think of stress as if it were a virus that you have to
protect yourself against, then it becomes far easier to manage.
However, stress is not all bad, in fact, we all need a certain
amount of stress to help drive us through our lives and, without
it, could be just as bad as having too much stress.

Stress can be treated and, with professional help, quite quickly. It involves sitting down with an expert and talking through any issues you may have and making a plan. You may also be taught techniques that will help you focus more and relax in a different way. There are also techniques that will help you feel better about yourself and your life.

Using hypnotherapy combined with stress counselling is often
the quickest approach and also safe as it does not require drugs, which may have side effects and research has shown that people with stress, or mild or medium depression, should be given talking therapies before going down the medication route.

Powerful new treatment
There are three main ways of addressing stress: psychological
– using a talking therapy such as stress counselling and
hypnotherapy; physical – using therapeutic massage; and the
third – using medication / drug therapy.

Most agree that the drugs approach is the most risky because
of possible side effects, and medication without a talking
therapy will not address the issues so it’s likely to be a
short-term fix.

In the past, people suffering from stress may have opted
for stress counselling and hypnotherapy or therapeutic massage therapy. Now, a dynamic new therapy that offers
a combination of self-hypnosis and therapeutic massage, available in clinics and spas, has been launched.

The Mind and Body Therapy Protocol for Stress was piloted
at the Orchard Clinic (near Pangbourne in Berkshire) with
outstanding results. It has been developed by a top therapist specializing in stress counselling and medical hypnotherapy and
a chartered physiotherapist.

During a six-month pilot period this year, all those receiving this
new combined therapy have reported a massive reduction in
stress levels – even after just one treatment. Many clients
saying this was the most relaxing therapy they have ever had
and a truly amazing experience.

Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy has become very popular over the past ten
years following the publication of numerous medical studies;
some only possible thanks to the recent development of highpowered CT scanners.

Experts in the USA, UK and around the world have shown
that hypnosis can help to activate different parts of the
brain and the outcome can be very positive.

A dramatic shift came about thanks to the research of Professor Peter Whorwell in the UK, Professor David Spiegal at Stanford University in the US and other top experts around the
world who have looked at numerous uses for hypnotherapy as a
safe alternative to other medical treatments.

Its benefits in treating stress have been known for decades
but, in recent years, research has also shown that hypnotherapy is very useful in treating common conditions such IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), which as many as one in five people are believed to suffer from.

Even the independent body of experts who evaluate treatments in the UK, known as NICE, have been forced to
amend their advice to doctors to include hypnotherapy, which
suggests it will soon be considered as mainstream rather than
complementary treatment.

In addition to IBS and similar stomach disorders, hypnotherapy
is known to be helpful in treating a number of medical
conditions and is also used for safely reducing long-term pain,
such as with arthritis, and making childbirth less painful and
reducing the need for pain killers, which may have harmful
side effects.

Hypnotherapy has been used for psychological issues for
many years, such as treating phobias, changing learnt behaviours, recovering lost memories and treating insomnia. It has also proved very effective in safely helping to deal with addictions such a smoking, alcohol and drugs.

For several years now, medical schools around the UK have
offered training modules in hypnotherapy, which have been
well-received by young doctors, and there is now an association for medical students and doctors who are involved in medical research using clinical hypnosis (www.msha.org.uk) – which just goes to show how times have changed.

Massage therapy
There is a wide range of massage therapies available which,
for many years, have been proven to help people with various
types of muscular and bone conditions caused by disease or
injury.

It is also known that massage is enormously helpful in relieving
the physical symptoms of tension and stress.

There is a wide range of therapeutic massage available – from
medical interventions such as physiotherapy, which you can arrange with your GP or hospital, to some of the more relaxing
treatments such as aromatherapy (using special healing oils)
and general massage.

The Mind and Body Therapy (MaBT) massage has been
devised by an experienced chartered physiotherapist to
complement and enhance the psychological benefits of
the Mind and Body Therapy self-hypnosis protocol. When
administered by a MaBT-trained and licensed massage therapist, the two powerful treatments will be synchronised to provide an amazing experience.

The MaBT massage treatment typically takes around 45 minutes and the massage is very gentle. There are two stress
protocols – one where you lie on your back and the other where you lie on your front – and most people will book both treatments for maximum effect.

The Mind and Body Therapy is now being rolled out around the
UK and a home version of the stress protocol is available on
CD at £15.

Over the next 12 months new MaBT treatments for IBS, pain
reduction, insomnia and other conditions will also be available
through all MaBT appointed clinics and spas.

Visit www.mindandbodytherapy.co.uk for full details and to
order the home CD.

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