Chronic Stress, Mental Illnesses, and How to Combat Them

Whether we want to or not, we all experience stress in varying degrees. While stressful situations are a completely regular occurrence, there’s recent evidence that has shown links between chronic stress and mental health illnesses. The side effects of chronic stress commonly include depression and anxiety, as well as many other symptoms of mental health conditions.

Newfound Claims Regarding Chronic Stress

Rotman Institute at Baycrest Health Sciences recently published an article that looked at the area of our brains most affected by fear, anxiety, and chronic stress. This article has shown that there is a noticeable overlie; a pattern of intertwined activity in the neurocircuitry of the brain pertaining to all of these conditions. This helps explain why chronic stress and developing disorders such as Alzheimer's are connected.The main purpose of this study is highlighted by a post on Current Opinion in Psychiatry. In summary, it makes the following important claims:

The main purpose of this study is highlighted by a post on Current Opinion in Psychiatry. In summary, it makes the following important claims:

“Stress exacerbates mental illnesses such as depression but also appears to increase risk of dementia, suggesting a common mechanism for development of stress-induced affective and cognitive impairment. The purpose of this review is to address the question of whether anxiety 'damages' the brain, and to identify potential mechanisms for the link between stress and neuropsychiatric illness. . .Pharmacological (e.g., antidepressant medications) and nonpharmacological interventions (cognitive-behavioral therapy, exercise) may reverse stress-induced damage in the brain.”

Fortunately, there are ways of getting stress under control. It may even be possible to heal our brains and potentially counteract damage.

Experimenting With Neurocounseling Techniques And Natural Remedies

One modern way that counseling is being approached is at the neural level. Neurocounseling is a fascinating alternative to many other common treatments for stress and other mental illnesses. But why is it so promising, what makes it different from other treatment? And what exactly is neurocounseling anyways?

Neurocounseling is a contemporary form of treatment. It’s a breakthrough advancement in counseling and tech that opens a new window of opportunity. While the technicalities of neurocounseling are complex, the concept itself is fairly simple. Essentially, behavioral and psychological symptoms have parallel  associations. There are neurological and physiological connections to mental illnesses and neurocounseling pinpoints and assists the root of negative qualities.

Integrating knowledge of the brain and related physiology into practice offers counselors and their patients a new wave of treatment: a more holistic approach. The practicalities of neurocounelsing will only continue to increase as this type of technology rapidly advances. Stress and mental illnesses will be approached from a new angle as ‘altering’ backtracking brain functions has become an effective technique for helping those overcome cognitive illness.

Images courtesy of Bradley University

Mindfulness in correlation with stress-relieving practices like meditation, yoga, and even exercise can also help you deal with daily stressors. Practicing mindfulness also helps people slow down; it helps people stay focused on the current moment and perceive situations in a rational and collected manner rather than overreacting.

Always keep in mind the truth that experiencing some stress is totally normal, but if it starts becoming a regular, reoccurring thing then something should probably change. Sometimes simply admitting that you have an abundance of stress in your life is hard to stomach, but it’s a crucial first step toward a happier life.

So if you believe you are experiencing these types of stress induced side effects, the practical self-treatment which has been highlighted in this article can help aid in treatment and potentially recovery.

These methods should first be taken in addition to previous efforts and forms of treatment. They help in the long run. Instant gratification is not realistic, but helping yourself on top of other forms of treatments is a realistic approach to treating the side effects of chronic stress.