Stress

Some stress is normal and can enhance performance, however prolonged exposure to stress can create negative entrenched patterns. Chronic stress occurs when the body experiences stressors with such frequency and intensity that the autonomic nervous system does not have an adequate chance to activate the relaxation response on a regular basis and the body remains in a constant state of physiological arousal. Chronic stress affects both the mind and the body and produces physical and psychological symptoms that can take a toll on the capacity to function normally. These symptoms vary in severity from person to person but broadly speaking they manifest as: decreased energy, difficulty sleeping, fatigue, irritability, feeling a loss of control, headache, muscle tension, nervousness and anxiety, difficulty concentrating, feeling overwhelmed, gastrointestinal complications, disorganised thinking, etc. Chronic stress can lead to complications such as acne, depression, heart disease, high blood pressure, irritable bowel syndrome, weight changes, low sex drive, ulcers, etc. Traditionally chronic stress is treated either with talk therapy (like CBT) or medication to help with sleep disturbance or stomach upset. ‘If the system that regulates emotional arousal does not become hardwired in the brain early in life, there is little chance that subsequent experience can engage neuroplasticity to such a degree that it can override the critical periods of development’ (Sebern Fisher). Neurofeedback training brings a new perspective as it raises the brain’s threshold and increases stress resilience and stability.