Posted by Bob Johnson (208.234.124.40) on August 31, 1999 at 10:01:06:
In Reply to: Cognitive Restructuring for Gary G. et al posted by Michelle C. on August 31, 1999 at 00:40:19:
The role of stress in CH is a major focus of the book, TAKING CONTROL OF YOUR HEADACHES, (see message, CH books, posted several weeks ago). The idea is that folks who sustain high stress levels are more easily triggered for a CH and their response to pain is more intense. (Careful! This book is NOT saying that stress causes CH or that they are caused by a mental/emotional problem.)
There has been some excellent research over the last decade linking high stress levels to the development of a range of physcal illnesses (not only to anxiety and depressive problems). Repeated studies have shown htat as much as 2/3 of visits to docotrs are triggered by emotional/stress problems--which are expressed or revealed by our body. An extraordinary decade long study showed that people who completed a one to three hour long stress control program reduced their use of medical services by as much as 60%.
Bottom line: there is increasing evidence of how subtle--and potent--is the link between stress and biochemical changes in our bodies which directly affect health. Learning how to reduce stress responses has potential for helping both our CH and general health.
Cognitive therapy: good newas! These techniques work from the idea that there is a direct link between how I thihnk and the ideas I hold and my emotional responses; and this link has a direct effect on what we call "stress" (stress being a complex of psychological AND physical/body reactions). It has a long history and has been well researched: it has proven to be an effective form of therapy to the degree that cognitive therapies are a major player in the world of psychotherapy/counseling. A problem in using cognitive therapy, however, is getting someone to believe that this link between thinking-emotions-body is real and it takes a good bit of self-discipline to practice the techniques to the point of making the changes work on automatic.
If you are interested in exploring: you may find the easiest book to locate in the self-help section of your bookstore is, THE FEELING GOOD HANDBOOK, , Au. David Burns. While it's aimed at issues of anxiety and depression, the approach has application to any stress related issue. Rational Emotive Therapy is a well established approach and they is a pot full of material available. You can get a catalog from: Institute for Rational-Emotive Therapy, 45 E. 65th St., NY 100-21-6593.