The Science of Stress Management

The Science of Stress Management www.StressManagementCoaching.co.uk

What is Stress? Response to external threat Picked up by senses Fight or Flight response Release of adrenalin and cortisol Shut down of non essential functions

Chronic Stress Continuation of stress response after threat subsides Physiological damage: ulcers, diabetes, heart disease, brain damage Shortens life span – damage of telomeres

Roll-on Effects Relationship difficulties Addiction difficulties Career difficulties Economic difficulties

Statistics on Stress UK adults spend 2 hours per day worrying 45% admitted stress had affected their health 13.7 million working days lost to stress & anxiety p/a Cost to UK business: £14 billion p/a Presenteeism(work less productive than normal) costs businesses 105 time more than sickness absence Source: Aviva

Biggest ‘causes’ of Stress High cost of living Feeling out of shape Mounting debt Getting old Job security Relationships Source: Benenden Health

It’s all in the Head “Patient’s emotional state is responsible for the chemical activity in the spinal chord that signals pain between body and brain. Positive emotion diminishes the perception of pain, while negative emotion keeps the floodgates open.” Source: Melzack & Wall

It’s all in the Head “We looked at those people who were the most persistent, most hard-working, most involved, and achieved the most success (and often that meant the most stress) those were the people who stayed healthier and lived the longest. The people who said, ‘I don’t stress, I take it easy, I retire early,’ were the people who tended to die at a younger age.” Source: Terman & Friedman

So who’s the culprit now? My children Being overweight Getting old Worried about finances Low energy levels Job security My diet Keeping the house clean Sex life Deadlines My partner A family rift Which ‘cause’ of stress applies to you all of the time?

There’s no such thing as Stress Stress is the physical reaction to the senses, it’s a self created response and, as the research points to, it’s actually ‘all in the head’.

The New Approach to Stress A simple understanding of how stress is created in the first place - the real source of stress, is proving extremely successful

The New Approach to Stress Used in: US Penal System Business: BAE Systems American Military Addiction counselling Stress Reduction

The New Approach to Stress Our thinking creates the physical effect in the body Understanding ‘thought’ is the key to understanding the effects New approach is ‘upstream’ of traditional methods

The New Approach to Stress Every thought is linked to a feeling If you think a sad thought, you’ll feel sad If you think a happy thought, you’ll feel happy If you have a stressful thought, you’ll feel stressed

The New Approach to Stress We are always in thefeeling of our thinking

The New Approach to Stress Look, not at what’s being created (stress), but at what’s doing the creating (thought) Understand the process

Stress: the Process Event occurs Recognised by senses Processed in brain Thought = Feeling

Stress: the Process All living beings use 3 Principles to do this We’re alive We’re conscious We think

Stress: the Process Through this process, reality happens ‘for us’ INSIDE OUT

Stress Relief: the Process A realisation of this process leads to an insight: “When we see that the feelings of stress are created by us, we’re less likely to keep it up.”

Stress Relief: the Process A realisation of this process leads to an insight: “If we see that we’re the ones doing it, not the circumstances, we’re less likely to carry on doing it”

Stress Relief: the Process A realisation of this process leads to an insight: “Like hitting yourself on the head with a frying pan. You see you’re the one doing it, you stop. There’s nothing for you to do, other than… stop”

Stress Relief: the Process 1. See that you are doing the creating (via thought) 2. Realise that this is ‘just’ thinking 3. Wait for new thought

Find out more: If you would like to know more about the science of stress and how to deal with it, please contact me damian@stressmanagementcoaching.co.uk or call 07714 853294

The Science of Stress Management