Stress is an unavoidable aspect of our daily lives. We face deadlines and get stuck in traffic, experience conflict and financial struggles, and live in a race against time. All things considered, humans are remarkably resilient against stress. It’s even useful to a point. When stress becomes chronic or excessive, however, it can exceed our natural ability to cope, resulting in harmful consequences for both the body and mind. Stress can result from any change you must adapt to, because change–good or bad–poses a threat to our homeostasis, or internal stability. It can result from both external and internal factors. External stressors include physical, environmental, social, financial, and political influences, such as crowded transportation, problems with loved ones, or bodily danger. Internal stressors, on the other hand, include our perceptions of these outside forces, as well as any thoughts and feelings that surpass our ability to respond effectively. Examples include negative self-talk, unrealistic expectations, and inability to accept uncertainty.
HOW IT LOOKS IN THE BRAIN
Stress acts on various levels of our being, including the physiological, neurological, psychological, and social levels. All of these levels are interconnected and affect one another, influencing the overall state of one’s wellbeing. Our brain is the master controller which interprets what is stressful or not, and thus manages the physiological and behavioral responses suitable to that interpretation. Whenever a threat is identified, an automatic alarm reaction is triggered throughout our body. A part of this reaction is the activation of the body’s sympathetic nervous system, which controls the fight-flight-freeze response.
The fight-or-flight reaction is our body’s way of “clearing the decks” to face immediate danger with defensive or aggressive action. It does this by rapidly signaling a series of biochemical changes and nervous-system firings. Overall, we become more alert, attentive, and prepared to fight for our lives.
While the responses of fight or flight tend to be the most commonly recognized, there is a third physiological response to stress that we occasionally utilize, which has been termed as the freeze response.
When faced with an inescapable stressor, our body responds by releasing endogenous opioids (otherwise known as endorphins or our body’s natural morphine). These neurotransmitters have an analgesic effect and thus serve to numb pain–both physical and emotional–when death or harm seems inevitable. In humans, this response often manifests as dissociation, immobility, or “shutting down.”
While the brain is the manager of the stress response, it too can fall victim to its consequences. Researchers have found extensive evidence of how wide-spread the effects of stress are across various brain regions. For example, the limbic system, which plays a large role in emotional processing, becomes activated when an individual is stressed to help the body process and prepare for a response. In cases of chronic stress, however, the prolonged activation of the limbic system may contribute to irrational decision-making and exaggerated emotional reactions to daily stressors. When a person feels threatened by a stressor the rapid limbic system reacts before the slower prefrontal cortex has a chance to evaluate the stimulus. Usually, the prefrontal cortex modulates limbic activity and helps to inhibit inappropriate responses, but extreme stress interrupts this usual flow so that the body can respond as quickly as possible, although the response may not be rational or well thought-out in the moment. Excessive stress hormones also impair the functioning of the prefrontal cortex. In situations of chronic or excessive stress these hormones are overproduced and can cause physical harm. Exposure to large amounts of hormones can damage the central nervous system, hippocampus, and several other organs of the body. It can also age brain cells more rapidly, build fat around the body’s midsection, and cause learning deficits.
WHAT WE CAN DO
We take a holistic, integrative approach to stress management that includes not only healing the negative effects stress has had on the brain and body, but also teaching you skills and supporting you in making lifestyle changes necessary for managing the stress you face in the future.
The first step of any treatment package is a comprehensive assessment that includes QEEG brain mapping, LORETA 3D neuroimaging, various testing, and a thorough discussion of symptoms and goals. This allows us to assess for the brain patterns and physiological symptoms most commonly associated with chronic stress.
Both neurofeedback and neuromodulation can be used to restore healthy brain wave activity, calm down overactive regions, and improve communication across the brain. Heart-rate Variability Training and Mindfulness Training can help you to gain more control over your autonomic nervous system, allowing you to modulate anxious physiological responses like breathing, heart rate, body temperature, and muscle tension.
Whichever services you choose to engage with, we will work collaboratively with you to improve your overall brain-body wellness so you can be the best version of you!