Coping With Stress (Physiological methods)

Coping With Stress (Physiological methods)

1. Drugs

   • Benzodiazepines (Librium and valium)
     • Increase the activity of a chemical called GABA
       • GABA increases the uptake of chlorine ions at the synapse which prevents other neurotransmitters being so effective
         • This acts to reduce the activity of other neurotransmitters such as serotonin
           • By increasing the activity of GABA, BZs therefore dampen activity and arousal of neurons in the CNS.
     • Unfortunately GABA reduces activity in about 40% of the brain’s neurons so doesn’t just effect stress pathways
       • Side Affects
         • Increased Aggression
         • Depression
         • Drowsiness
         • Memory Loss
   • Beta Blockers
     • BBs slow down activity in the sympathetic branch of the ANS by reducing levels of adrenaline and noradrenaline
       • This has two positive effects; it reduces heart rate and blood pressure
         • and because it is difficult to feel stressed when your heart isn’t pumping away like a mad ‘un, it helps to make us feel calm.
     • Because they have fewer side effects they tend to be the drug of choice for sports people and especially musicians. Lockwood found that 27% of musicians had used BBs and generally found them useful.
   • Evaluation 2
     • However, they can be addictive. BZs especially can induce withdrawal symptoms even when taken in small doses. There is also the issue of tolerance with greater and greater quantities needed to gain the same stress reduction when they are taken for any length of time.
   • Evaluation 1
     • Drugs are convenient being quick and easy to take. Compared to lengthy sessions of therapy they are cheap and far less time consuming.

2. Busiprone

   • New kid on the block and works by increasing the effects of serotonin. It has fewer side effects than benzodiazepines; fewer headaches, less drowsiness but it can cause headaches!

3. Biofeedback

   • The body is not designed to allow us to be consciously aware of subtle changes in our bodies such as blood pressure.
   • Biofeedback aims to provide this information allowing us to take steps to reduce heart rate etc. by relaxation. A biofeedback machine produces precise information (or feedback) about bodily processes such as heart rate and/or blood pressure. This may be presented in visual or auditory form (or both).
   • The fact that some people can apparently regulate some bodily processes has led to biofeedback being used with many types of stress-related disorders. These include migraine headaches, tension headaches and high blood pressure.