Stress is defined as A mentally or emotionally disruptive or upsetting condition occurring in response to adverse external influences – American Heritage Dictionary. A condition or circumstance (not always adverse), which can disturb the normal physical and mental health of an individual. In medical parlance it can be defined as A physical and psychological response that results from being exposed to a demand or pressure.- Neurological Glossary Thompson & Gale
This demand on mind-body occurs when it tries to cope with incessant changes in life. A ‘stress’ condition seems ‘relative’ in nature. Extreme stress conditions, psychologists say, are detrimental to human health but in moderation stress is normal and, in many cases, proves useful. Stress, nonetheless, is synonymous with negative conditions.
Today, with the rapid diversification of human activity, we come face to face with numerous types of stress and depression.
Right from the childhood up to the old age everyone is facing various kind of stress.
Stressed out and negligent parents, high expectations in academic or other performances, abused or deprived childhood, growing up tensions and demand for familial responsibility are the main causes of childhood and teen stress.
Growing up can be a difficult experience for both males and females. During this period, rapid physical transitions necessitate transition in a child’s mental make-up, its attitude towards people and circumstances. Children are often ill equipped to cope with stress during these transitions from a child to pre-adolescence, and from pre-adolescence to adolescence phases.
For pre-adolescents and teens, an identity crisis, the perils of peer interaction, acceptance and rejection ofsituations, persons and ideasare a constant source of teen stress and teenage depression.
Stress is created by parental pressure to perform every time and to stand out among other children. When they can’t rise up to that expectation, or during the process of meeting it, children may suffer from frustration, physical stress, aggression, undesirable complexes, and depression.
Students who are under-performers, develop negative traits such as shyness, unfriendliness, jealousy, and may retreat into their own world to become loners.
The young or the post educational years are marked by stress of getting good jobs and then coping with the good job and demands (physical / psychological) of the same.
The old age is marked by the stress due to loneliness, physical debility etc.
In todays era everyone has to face stress throughout his life. This is a consequence of modernization. We must find some concrete solution to overcome the stress and related problems.
In Ayurved we find detail information about stress as an etiological factor. Stress can be defined as any type of derangement in the functions (thinking, decision making etc) and powers (Dhee, Dhriti and Smriti) of mind.
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It is mentioned that any perturbation in the powers of mind (Dhee, Dhriti, Smriti) lead to Pradnyaaparaadha and it is the root cause of all diseases.
We can include the following Hetu related to Mana mentioned inAyurved under stress Achintaa, Asooyaa, Bhaya, Chintaa, Chitta Viparyaya, Durmanastva, Eechchhaa, Eershyaa, Kaama, Krodha, Lajjaa, Laulya, Lobha, Moha, Pradnyaaparaadha, S`hoka, Sankshobha, Udvega, Vishaada
In Ayurveda Chintaa is mentioned as a cause of following diseases Aamadosha, Apasmaara, Hridroga, Kaars`hya, Beejopaghaataja Klaibya, Dhaatukshayaja Klaibya, Peenasa Naasaa Roga, Timira Drisht`igata Netra Roga, Nidraanaas`ha, Paan`d`u, Raajayakshmaa, Stanya Dusht`i, Tandraa, Vaataja Unmaada, Vaatavyaadhi.
The common symptoms of stress can be identified as
The psychological symptoms
Anxiety, Restlessness, Worrying, Irritability, Depression, Sadness, Anger, Mood swings, Feeling of Insecurity, Lack of concentration, Confusion, Forgetfulness, Resentment, Tendency to blame others for what you feel, Tendency to see only negative aspects of people and situations, Guilt etc.
The physical symptoms
Heart Pounding, Sweating of palms, indigestion, skin breaks out, shortness of breath, holding breath, headaches. Stress can act as an etiological factor for some diseases like irritable bowel syndrome, eating disorder, allergies, insomnia, backaches, frequent cold, fatigue, hypertension, asthma, diabetes, heart ailments and even cancer.
Management of Stress
First of allit is very much important to diagnose whether stress manifests as a disease on its own or manifests as some other disease like Prameha or Hridroga. The management changes accordingly.
If it manifests as a stress alone then the following is the line of treatment. But if it manifests as another disease then along with the next mentioned treatment the specific treatment of the disease should also be followed.
- Therapeutic management This includes the formulations like Medhya Rasaayana, Braahma Rasaayana, Chyavanapraas`ha and single drugs like Jat`aamaamsee, Braahmee.
- Procedural management This includes the major procedures like Vamana, Virechana and Basti according to the S`haareera Dosha vitiation. But the more effective procedures are the procedures like Snehana, Svedana, Abhyanga, S`hirobhyanga, S`hirodhaaraa, S`hirobasti and Nasya.
- Dietary management Cow milk, Ghee, the diet should contain naturally available foodstuffs. The rules of preparation, combination, quantity and suitability for own should be followed rigorously.
- Counseling – Satvaavajaya Chikitsaa This includes As`hvaasana Chikitsaa, Mantra, Japa, Poojana
- Healthy Conduct In Ayurved many specific conducts are described which have importance in social as well as individual health care.
- Day to day – Dinacharyaa
- As per season – Ritucharyaa
- Generalized social code of conduct Aachaara Rasaayana.
- Suppressible urges
- Gradual withdrawal of inappropriate & acquiring appropriate
- Relaxation techniques Physical exercises, Praan`aayaama, meditation, Listening to soothing music, Visualization
Prophylactic Treatment –
Ayurved always emphasizes the importance of maintenance of health than the cure of diseases. Considering this Ayurved suggests following conduct for prevention of diseases of mind such as stress.
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- Dhee This is the intellect which decides which factors from the environment are beneficial and which are harmful to our body.
- Dhairya This is the strength of mind which helps us to acquire the beneficial and refuse the harmful things.
- Aatmaa This is the knowledge of oneself like Prakriti (constituent), Kaala (age / season), Des`ha (place)etc.
- Vidnyaana This is the specific knowledge.
This means if we have perfect knowledge of what is beneficial to our body and if we behave accordingly we can avoid stress. All this can be achieved through Aaachaara Rasaayana, Praan`aayaama and Meditation.
Last updated on March 9th, 2021 at 05:17 am