Transcript Stress management

Stress management
Physiological approaches
Anxiolytic
drugs
Enhance the activity of gamma-aminobutyric acid GABA
 GABA = body’s natural form of anxiety
relief.
 Allows chloride ions into neurons to slow
down activity – relaxation
 Reduces serotonin activity.

Benzodiazepines

Reduce activity of sympathetic branch of
the autonomic nervous system.

Reduce heart rate, blood pressure and
levels of cortisol
Beta-blockers
Effective:
Placebo
checks provide evidence
(Kahn et al 1986)
Easy to use
Lifts blame from patient
STRENGTHS
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

WEAKNESSES
PHYSIOLOGICAL APPROCHES
BIOFEEDBACK
4 PROCESSES OF
BIOFEEDBACK
 FEEDBACK
Machines provide information about
various ANS activities: e.g.
heartbeat, blood pressure.
 RELAXATION
Techniques 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
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

strengths
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)

WEAKNESSES