Stress Stress managementmanagement

Physiological approachesPhysiological approaches

Anxiolytic drugs

BenzodiazepinesBenzodiazepines

Enhance the activity of gamma-amino-butyric acid GABA

GABA = body’s natural form of anxiety relief.

Allows chloride ions into neurons to slow down activity – relaxation

Reduces serotonin activity.

Beta-blockersBeta-blockers

Reduce activity of sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system.

Reduce heart rate, blood pressure and levels of cortisol

STRENGTHSSTRENGTHS

Effective: Placebo checks provide evidence (Kahn et al 1986)

Easy to useLifts blame from patient

WEAKNESSESWEAKNESSES

Addiction to BZs. Withdrawal symptoms even on mild doses.

Side effects – drowsiness, dizziness, tiredness, weakness, dry mouth, diarrhoea, upset stomach, changes in appetite, blurred vision, changes in sex drive, seizures, severe skin rash, irregular heart beat.

Treats symptoms, not the cause

PHYSIOLOGICAL APPROCHESPHYSIOLOGICAL APPROCHES

BIOFEEDBACK

4 PROCESSES OF 4 PROCESSES OF BIOFEEDBACKBIOFEEDBACK

FEEDBACK

Machines provide information about various ANS activities: e.g. heartbeat, blood pressure.

RELAXATIONTechniques used to reduce activity of sympathetic nervous system – reduces heart rate, blood pressure etc

Operant conditioning

Reduced heart rate = rewarding

Leads to repeated behaviour

Leads to ‘stamping in’

Transfer

Skills are transferred into real situations

strengthsstrengths

Successful in treating a wide range of behaviours e.g. heart rate, bp, skin temperature and brain waves.

Successful in treating disorders, e.g. curvature of the spine, migraine, asthma, Reynaud’s disease (restricted blood flow to fingers and toes)

Biofeedback found to work more effectively than just relaxation (Bradley 1995)

No side effects

WEAKNESSESWEAKNESSES

Expensive – specialist equipment and needs supervision

Treats symptoms rather than the cause - but does provide the individual with potentially long-lasting method of dealing with symptoms

Requires lots of commitment and effort (although this could be a strength)