Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 alpha 4/3/85; site ukma.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ukma!wws From: wws@ukma.UUCP (Bill Stoll) Newsgroups: net.med Subject: The Modern Concept of "STRESS" Message-ID: <2145@ukma.UUCP> Date: Fri, 6-Sep-85 20:49:30 EDT Article-I.D.: ukma.2145 Posted: Fri Sep 6 20:49:30 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 7-Sep-85 13:30:40 EDT Distribution: na Organization: U of Kentucky, Mathematical Sciences, Lexington KY Lines: 60 Keywords: systems theory; dysautonomia; biofeedback; reserves determine response A number of responses, to articles I have shared on the net (as well as a number of letters directly to me), indicate that many people do not have a good understanding of the modern definition of STRESS. Up to now I have answered many letters directly to their authors because of my belief that most people already knew. I have finally been forced to the realization that too many readers of the net need more information in this area. Access to massive amounts of data was necessary before students of the new paradigm could begin to see the shape of what now is known as a systems approach to EVERYTHING. Unfortunately, the same thing is true of the new understanding of stress. I will endeavor to make a simple explanation. Those who really want to know can use it as a starting point. Those who are looking for an arguement will be able to advance much skepticism. I have given all day workshops on the modern day definition of stress. Those who truly are interested can get diagrams, biblio and specifics by sending me a SASE and requesting info on "Stress". Hans Selye spelled out much of what we know now about stress. More is being learned every day. Basically, ANYTHING that causes a response in an organism (good or bad) is considered a stress. In this discussion I will consider humans only although most concepts are transferrable to any living creature. The only response to stress known is the fight or flight phenomenon. The body actually gets ready to run or to fight (physically). In this culture there are few stresses that are appropriately addressed that way. Unfortunately, our still primitive physiology doesn't know that. If the readiness to fight or flight (FOF) is not actually used to run or fight, it stores in the system. This gradual buildup of sympathetic response finally reaches the point where the person is always switched on "sympathetic" autonomic mode. Then when there is a new stress there are no more buttons to push on because they are already all on. This is called dysautonomia (look it up). Biofeedback research demonstrates that the closer one gets to their limits (& this is true of EACH system in the body/mind) the more each stress effects the organism: If you were walking across a field, and tripped over a rock, you would have a fight or flight response (if you had biofeedback instruments attached to you they would show a measurable response). Now, trip over that same rock, in exactly the same way, at the edge of a cliff. The stress you experience would be totally different--you didn't fall over the cliff; the trip was identical--the biofeedback readings would be totally different too. This forms some of the basis for Holistic Medicine: if we can get you back from the edge of your cliff--which is not very hard to do--each, and every, one of those thousands of daily stresses will take a little less out of you. Or--we can extend the cliff (health promotion improves your reserves). It doesn't matter how we create the distance between you and the edge of your cliff. cbosgd!ukma!wws(Walt Stoll) -- Walt Stoll, MD, ABFP Founder, & Medical Director Holistic Medical Centre 1412 N. Broadway Lexington, Kentucky 40505