STRESS – ANXIETY – BURN-OUT

ANXIETY, STRESS, BURN OUT, DEPRESSION

Stress is a natural physiological reaction that allows the body to react quickly to danger. Several physiological parameters change and the body prepares itself to fight or flight. This avoidance strategy is often found in certain behaviors seen when facing conflict.

The hypothalamus sends a signal to the adrenal gland which releases adrenaline, the stress hormone. The hypothalamus and the pituitary gland release other hormones to produce cortisol, which prepares the body for a return to normalcy and replenishes energy supplies.

When stress is directly linked to our western-world lifestyle: mental overload, to-do lists, being always faster, more efficient, professional deadlines to meet, goals to achieve, unlimited demands in exchange for little recognition … Then we burn our capital. Antidepressants and anxiolytics help us to hold on to it. The body, however, somatizes and issues us a signal. When we don’t listen to this signal, the body stops. It tells us that we have exceeded our limits.

This means burn out, depression, sometimes even diseases like cancer or hypertension.

It is not fatal. Several techniques allow us to treat the symptoms before it is too late and, in case of burn-out, to resume the course of our life with a different point of view more in accordance with our natural needs.

Mindfulness meditation, cardiac beat  regulation and hypnosis are the main methods. Consulting is  done over the course of several sessions, including self-hypnosis so that the patient would be able to keep the benefits of the sessions and deal with stressful situations even on his/her own.