Stress managment

Biofeedback

A technique to help with stress. Someone is connected to a machine which measures stress e.g. blood pressure and heart rate. The person gets taught relaxation breathing techniques which bring the blood pressure and heart rate down.The person sees this happen on a screen and learns that this method calms them down.

So, they can transfer this breathing method to other stressful situations in life.

Strengths:

• Effective for children, non invasive.
• Multi dimensional.
• Long term technique to deal with stress.
• Passive technique/no harm

Weaknesses:

• Placebo
• Expensive
• Time consuming

Beta blockers

They reduce stress.Beta blockers causes arteries to widen and slow the heart down. It works by controlling adrenaline.Usually they are taken once or twice a day to reduce blood pressure.

Benzodiazepines

Common forms of these are Valium and Librium. They work by releasing more GABA. At junctions between nerves there are substances called neurotransmitters that are released. During times of stress and anxiety the neurotransmitters that is important to GABA (gamma amino-butyric-acid) because it is released as the body's natural form of anxiety relief.

strengths:

• Direct impact
• Research support
• Prescribed quickly

Weaknesses:

• Side effects
• Addictive
• Tolerance
• Withdrawal symptoms
  
• Easy to forget
• doctor monitoring