There are many methods on stress management. In this essay it will outline and evaluate two physiological and two psychological methods of stress management. Physiological methods work by relieving the symptoms of stress such as fast heart rate. Two physiological methods include drug therapy and biofeedback.
Drug therapy helps manage stress by altering the body's response to a stressor and making it easier to deal with. The two most common drugs used in drug therapy are Benzodiazepines and beta-blockers. Benzodiazepines slow down the activity of the central nervous system by enhancing the action of a neurotransmitter gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA is the body's natural form of anxiety relief. Benzodiazepines react with GABA sites on …show more content…
Studies have shown that drug therapy can be highly effective, clinical trials which have tested against a placebo have proven that drugs are a quick and effective way to treat signs and symptoms of stress. Drugs are a cheaper and convenient method to treating individuals, patients would be monitored and checked up on by a doctor, which means it is supervised. Disadvantages to drug therapy are that they only treat the symptoms and not the cause of stress. Drugs can also become addictive and individuals could rely on them, this could have an impact on other aspects of there life such as work and relationships, and could also become part of the problem. The increased use of drugs can increase a tolerance, this could mean that higher doses would be needed to achieve the same effect, this is because the body adapts to the presence of drugs, if an individual was to stop taking them after this it could have side effects, such as increased anxiety. Drugs are a quick and convenient way to managing the symptoms, but should be a short term solution, they are not a good long term solution to managing …show more content…
Biofeedback technique involves recording the activity of the physiological systems of the body's stress response, such as heart rate, blood pressure or muscle tension. Recording is usually made via electrodes on the skin that lead to a monitor held by the patient. This method allows an individual to find techniques which can help them with relaxation, and pain relief. This methods helps people to recognise their symptoms and find an effective way of reducing them, such as their heart rate and blood pressure, in the long term they can adapt this to their everyday life. There are only a couple of advantages to biofeedback, one is that this method has no side effects. Secondly studies have shown it to be effective, Attanasio et al (1985) found that biofeedback helped teenagers and children with stress related disorders to gain control over the symptoms of migraine headaches. (Cardwell et al 2009)
Although biofeedback has been shown to be effective, there are many disadvantages. Biofeedback can be costly, specialist equipment is used and so trained people will be needed to carry out the process, an individual may also need several treatments. Attanasio study although proven to be effective, can not be generalised to other people such as adults as this study was only done using young children and teenagers. Older people may show different results as they have relatively more
Drug therapy helps manage stress by altering the body's response to a stressor and making it easier to deal with. The two most common drugs used in drug therapy are Benzodiazepines and beta-blockers. Benzodiazepines slow down the activity of the central nervous system by enhancing the action of a neurotransmitter gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA is the body's natural form of anxiety relief. Benzodiazepines react with GABA sites on …show more content…
Studies have shown that drug therapy can be highly effective, clinical trials which have tested against a placebo have proven that drugs are a quick and effective way to treat signs and symptoms of stress. Drugs are a cheaper and convenient method to treating individuals, patients would be monitored and checked up on by a doctor, which means it is supervised. Disadvantages to drug therapy are that they only treat the symptoms and not the cause of stress. Drugs can also become addictive and individuals could rely on them, this could have an impact on other aspects of there life such as work and relationships, and could also become part of the problem. The increased use of drugs can increase a tolerance, this could mean that higher doses would be needed to achieve the same effect, this is because the body adapts to the presence of drugs, if an individual was to stop taking them after this it could have side effects, such as increased anxiety. Drugs are a quick and convenient way to managing the symptoms, but should be a short term solution, they are not a good long term solution to managing …show more content…
Biofeedback technique involves recording the activity of the physiological systems of the body's stress response, such as heart rate, blood pressure or muscle tension. Recording is usually made via electrodes on the skin that lead to a monitor held by the patient. This method allows an individual to find techniques which can help them with relaxation, and pain relief. This methods helps people to recognise their symptoms and find an effective way of reducing them, such as their heart rate and blood pressure, in the long term they can adapt this to their everyday life. There are only a couple of advantages to biofeedback, one is that this method has no side effects. Secondly studies have shown it to be effective, Attanasio et al (1985) found that biofeedback helped teenagers and children with stress related disorders to gain control over the symptoms of migraine headaches. (Cardwell et al 2009)
Although biofeedback has been shown to be effective, there are many disadvantages. Biofeedback can be costly, specialist equipment is used and so trained people will be needed to carry out the process, an individual may also need several treatments. Attanasio study although proven to be effective, can not be generalised to other people such as adults as this study was only done using young children and teenagers. Older people may show different results as they have relatively more