Body’s Responses to Stress & Crisis.

Body’s Responses to Stress & Crisis

Stress may have negative effects on one's body, mind, intelligence, social life, and spirituality. Because stress has an impact on the entire person, the results are typically mixed. Stress can physically endanger a person's physiological equilibrium. Stress might result in emotionally unfavorable or unproductive feelings about oneself. Social stress can affect how well a person gets along with other people. Stress may test a person's spiritual beliefs and morals. Stress has been connected to a variety of diseases.

In times of stress or danger, the body has a preserving mechanism that automatically activates. It might be the result of modifications to the body's internal environment. The nervous, endocrine, and immune systems are most impacted by stress and crisis. These include CNS, adrenal gland, lymph glands that affect all organ of the body. If the body responds to stress, the hypothalamus is stimulated, them sympathetic nerves prepare the body for self-defense.

There are two of the Stress Response

• Physiological Response
• Psychological Response

Physiological Response to Crisis

It might be challenging to know what to do when a loved one is going through severe emotional pain. It's normal to feel intimidated and overpowered. It is simple to overreact when one is feeling threatened by the circumstance. We now think that unless we are qualified professionals, we lack the abilities to help someone in need. In times of emotional stress, a supportive friend or family member may in fact be a more effective support than a professional. You are a much more natural support because you are close with the individual. Professional qualifications are not as strong a force as love, which is also a stronger healer. That being said, I believe we can all learn some calming and grounding techniques that help us face the fear of overwhelming situations. Please read “The Danger and Opportunity in Crisis” before continuing.

This is what I’ve learned about being with those who are in emotional crisis:

• An emotional crisis is a deep-seated scream for attention that needs to be heard.
• Every emotional crises has a specific cause. Nothing ever "simply occurs" by itself.
• Although all parts of life have a physiological component, we are more than our body chemistry, and our emotional crises is not only a matter of neurochemistry.
• In every encounter we have, there is always a deeper significance.
• The process of letting go and rearranging one's life to a greater sense of authenticity and wholeness frequently begins with an emotional crisis.
• We possess an unquenchable human spirit and a survival-oriented psyche. We may encounter situations that are overwhelming.
• It is not essential to comprehend what is taking place.
• It is not necessary to understand what is happening.
• Being present with what is happening is crucial.
• Being with someone is significantly more beneficial than correctly identifying and treating a disease.
• The thing we dread the most is frequently on the opposite side of our strength and enthusiasm.
• Being afraid does not imply that we are incapable or weak.
• There is a part of us that is absolutely undamaged, is whole, and connected to a creative life force flowing through all things, every moment, including this one, regardless of what is occurring right now or what has occurred in the past.
• Every aspect of life is advancing toward greater harmony and completeness. Falling apart and breaking down are necessary steps in the process of becoming more whole. Every moment carries the opportunity for transformation.
• We are capable of facing and overcoming almost anything.

A crisis situation is not only about the person experiencing the emotional suffering. It is about everyone involved. Everyone in the room feels afraid, unsafe, and overwhelmed. The following techniques are for all involved

• Breathe: One of the most powerful tools we have is the breath. When in crisis it is normal to hold one's breath. The fight or flight response sends a message throughout the entire body. All unnecessary systems shut down, muscles contract and adrenalin are pumped into the system, which magnifies anxiety and agitation. When one is holding the breath or breathing in a shallow way, the whole body is constricted and the effects of fear expand. So take a slow deep breath and release it with a sigh. A sigh sends a signal to the body to relax. Ask your loved one to take some slow deep breaths with you. If you did nothing else, breathing deeply helps us face into things because as we breathe deeply, the oxygen is traveling throughout our entire system. We begin to slow down and feel calmer. Encourage your loved one to continue taking long, deep, slow breaths, releasing them with a sigh.
• Honesty: Acknowledge what is happening. Let the person know you care. Admit that you feel afraid or feel overwhelmed and don’t really know what to do, but you’re willing to be here with her or him. Even though your loved one is having a big emotional experience, they are likely to have very keen radar for sincerity or truth, otherwise known as a “bullshit meter” (technical term ☺). Avoid using platitudes and denial. People usually appreciate and relax when others are honest with them. Denial helps no one. It is ok to admit that you may feel helpless and wish you had a way to make the loved one feel better.
• Control: When someone is in emotional crisis, they are usually hyper-vigilant. Any attempt to control a person in crisis will usually exacerbate the crisis. Let your loved one know you want to help them figure out what they need and want, and that you are there for THEM.
• Presence: A solid presence is very comforting. To stay present to the situation, focus on what is happening right now. Focusing on what has happened in the past or might happen in the future takes you out of this moment and makes it difficult to respond to what is happening now. Do not over-react. Talk in a slow, calm manner, continues breathing slowly and deeply, focus on your loved one, providing a steady presence.
• Suspend the need to fix: Trying to brainstorm solutions and ‘fix’ the situation is not helpful at his time. Trying to fix the situation is often about the helper needing to feel in control, rather than actually providing help. Think about what has been helpful to you, in times of distress.
• Deep Listening: Listen, Listen, Listen. Tell your loved one that you are interested in what is going on for him or her. Listen even if you don’t understand what your loved one is saying. Suspend your own judgment and know there is meaning is this, even if you do not see what it is. Try to find a place of fascination in yourself…the inner workings of the psyche are quite brilliant in its coping ability. When we can move from trying to control and stop the process, the process can actually become quite fascinating.
• Expressing Emotions:Allow your loved one to express feelings. Simply hold witness to these feelings. If you are having trouble being with your loved one's feelings, admit that to yourself and your loved one. Often our loved ones feel responsible for our feelings or are unable to express their own authentic feelings because of our difficulty in being with them. It’s ok to set limits. Let the person know you will © 2006 Debbie L. Whittle holds space for their feelings as long as they are not destructive. If anger is a prevalent feeling, suggest beating a pillow, stomping in the woods, making sounds like growling or toning, etc. Suppressing feelings are often part of the cause of an emotional crisis.
• Trust the Process: Be aware that emotional crisis is often the first step in the process of releasing and reorganizing one’s life into a greater sense of authenticity and wholeness. The breakdown is often a step toward a breakthrough. Let your loved one know you believe they are going through an important process and you are willing to support them to find what they need.
• Ask what is needed: Despite what it looks like, most people know what they need, most of the time. Ask your loved one what they think they need. Support your loved one to find what works for them.
• The Basics: The emotional crisis requires getting down to basics. It is really very little that must be done. Food, Water, Rest, and perhaps a walk are all you need to concentrate on. Avoid sugary foods. Sugar triggers emotional instability. A high protein meal is helpful to a ground and often balances the emotions. Be sure your loved one drinks plenty of water. Walking or sitting on the earth is a good grounding technique. Holding someone’s ankles gently for several minutes draws their energy back into their body. Emotional crisis is often very draining. Your loved one may need a great deal of sleep to recoup the energy expended. You also need sufficient rest and may need help from other friends or supporters.
• Providing Comfort: Often a person in crisis feels ungrounded and unsupported. Perhaps they would like a warm bath, or to wrap up in a warm blanket. Ask your loved one if they would like a hug or would allow you to hold them. A good way to hold someone to provide support is to sit on the floor with your back against a wall or stable piece of furniture. Have your loved one sit in front of you, back towards you, leaning back allowing you to support him or her with your arms gentle holding them. Encouraged them to breathe deeply and sigh. This is a good way to release tension and when they feel supported they can often surrender into a deeper place of ease. Do not be surprised if emotional release also comes with this surrender. You might also try rubbing your loved one’s back or feet. Think about what would help you feel more relaxed and cared about if this were you.
• Non-Pathology: Being with a loved one during emotional crisis takes a lot of time and energy. If you must seek outside support, be sure it is what your loved one wants. Your love and support cannot be duplicated. If at all possible find ways to support yourself and your loved one without pathologizing the experience. Trust there is a much larger process moving through this individual than an “illness.”
• Spiritual Support: Seek whatever spiritual support and faith make sense to you and your loved one. Ask for the transformation of this situation. You need not know what that might look like. Be open to the notion there is a larger creative intelligence flowing through all things all the time. Every moment has the potential for transformation.

Physiological Responses to a Stressor

It is ‘fight or fight’ response in which the body prepares itself for survival. When an individual face stress, his/her body adjust automatically to maintain equilibrium there are three major homeostatic mechanisms:

• Medulla Oblongata:
  • Controls vital function(either increase or decrease)
• Reticular Formation:
  • Controls vital function as well as continuously monitor the physiological status of the body.
• Pituitary Gland:
  • Supplies numerous hormones that control vital function, hormones are necessary for adaptation to stress. In a case of the stress, the pituitary gland work of all the glands some of the hormones it releases will stimulate certain glands to produce hormone and other to produce fewer hormones. A body reacts to stress both generally and in s local way.

References

• Mandal, G. (August 2013). A Textbook of Adult Health Nursing (2nd ed.). Dilllibazar kathmandu: Makalu publication house. Retrieved August 2013
• medicarepdf.net/tag/definition/page/3/
• power2u.org/downloads/RespondingToEmotionalCrisis.pdf
• ssuu.com/homeworkping/docs/62914591-case-study.docx