Wednesday 8 May 2013

Pouring oil on troubled water - Massage for stress management

 Getting a massage as part of a stress management plan.

Famously Sir Alex Ferguson suggested Tony Blair take a masseur on his political tour bus to manage stress. 

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22449415

 

 

When we experience stress we can develop a wide variety of physical, psychological and behavioural symptoms.  These symptoms are not a sign of disease because stress is not a disease; they are brought about by the bodys Fear-Fight-Flight Response, which is designed to give us extra energy and speed to cope with the threat.  

Fight gives rise to symptoms of anger, Fear to panic.

 Constant emotional, physical or mental stress,
excessive intake of alcohol (more than
one glass of wine per day),
and even minor amounts of sugars and refined carbohy-
drates can lead to insulin resistance, which
in turn can increase levels of cortisol.

http://www.naturalnews.com/stress.html


Stress management tips
 http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/mar/14/young-women-stress-readers-respond

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22298779

Background
http://massageadvancer.com/studies-conclusively-show-massage-therapy-reduces-stress/277

Physical Stress Symptoms   (How Our Body Reacts)

  • Breathlessness
  • Churning stomach
  • Diarrhoea/Constipation
  • Dizziness
  • Dry mouth
  • Excess perspiration
  • Fatigue
  • Headaches
  • Hyperventilating
  • Increased colds/flu
  • Increased heart rate
  • Indigestion

Psychological Stress Symptoms (How We Think and Feel)

  • Abrasive
  • Anxious
  • Blaming others
  • Catastrophising
  • Cynical
  • Depression
  • Depressed/Anxious thinking
  • Excess guilt
  • Excess worries over health
  • Feeling a failure
  • Feelings of fear
  • Feeling unable to cope
  • Frustration
  • Hopelessness/helplessness
  • Hostile
  • Hypercritical of self/others
  • Impatience


Behavioural Stress Symptoms  (How We Behave)
  • Aggression
  • Agitation
  • Avoidance behaviour
  • Crying
  • Decreased/increased sexuality
  • Difficulty relaxing
  • Difficulty with relationships
  • Eating fast
  • Eating too much/too little
  • Gambling
  • Hostile behaviour
  • Impatience
  • Increased alcohol
  • Increased caffeine
  • Increased smoking

Work Related Stress Symptoms (How we may be affected in our work)

  • Absenteeism/presenteeism
  • Accidents
  • Inability to delegate
  • Increased sick days
  • Inefficiency
  • Persistent lateness
  • Procrastination








  • Impotence
  • Nausea
  • Palpitations
  • Pre Menstrual Syndrome
  • Sense of heart pounding
  • Shallow breathing
  • Sleeping problems
  • Tension headaches
  • Tingling in hands/legs
  • Tremor in hands/legs
  • Weight loss/gain




  • Increased worrying
  • Indecision
  • Irritability
  • Jealousy
  • Lack of concentration
  • Loss of confidence
  • Lower self-esteem
  • Mind in a whirl
  • Mood swings
  • Negative thinking
  • Pessimistic thinking
  • Rumination
  • Sensitivity to criticism
  • Snappy
  • Stressful thinking
  • Tense
  • Worrying a lot



  • Losing temper
  • Making mistakes
  • Nail biting
  • Outbursts of anger
  • Poor eye contact
  • Poorer personal hygiene
  • Poor time management
  • Restlessness
  • Risk taking
  • Substance abuse
  • Talking fast
  • Walking fast
  • Withdrawal from relationships
  • Withdrawal from activities





  • Poor decision making
  • Poor interaction with colleagues
  • Reduced work performance
  • Resentment/anger/irritability

No comments:

Post a Comment