Women And Burn Out

Here's some info on stress and burnout from the Vale Practice in SE London:

Roz Pendlebury, psychotherapist and couples counsellor says: “Women in particular are getting overwhelmed by their busy lifestyles juggling work, relationships, family, friends and the pressure to look good. This results in a wide range of emotional symptoms, the most common of which are panic attacks, angry outbursts and rows with a partner or child; drinking and eating too much and a loss of joy in living.”

Homeopaths Marianne Atherton and Rosy Byatt are also concerned at the stress-related symptoms they see in girls as young as 12 or 13. Rosy Byatt says: “One of the main manifestations of this is a disruption to their whole endocrine system, because of adrenal imbalance. This in turn has a profound effect on their female horomonal balance and menstrual cycle.
“Such an imbalance can lead to debilitating PMT, hormonally-related skin problems and in the long term can affect their fertility.”

Angelo D’Alberto, the Vale Practice’s acupuncturist reports a predominance of “sleeping problems, digestive disturbances, anxiety and panic attacks, emotional volatility, hyperthyroidism, and menstrual irregularities (painful periods, PMT, irregular cycles, and even fertility issues) “ among his mainly 20- to 40-year-old female clients.

Herbalist Heidi Collins explains the reasons for the fairer sex’s particular vulnerability to stress: “Women in particular are greatly affected by stress due to its effects on hormone balance. Prolonged stimulation of the adrenal glands leads to lowered progesterone and consequently oestrogen dominance. This produces premenstrual symptoms such as breast tenderness, depression, anxiety and irritability. These symptoms I see all the time.

“The body responds to stress by activating the adrenal glands to produce adrenaline. The main effects of adrenaline are that it causes the heart rate, blood pressure and blood sugar to increase, and digestive system activity to decrease. In chronic stress this and other adrenal hormones are continuously raised which can lead to high blood pressure and other heart problems, diabetes, and digestive disturbances such as IBS. The adrenals may eventually become exhausted leading to depleted energy levels, dizziness, and lowered immune system. Skin conditions are also very closely related to stress, particularly psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis, and there is often a connection with those who don't deal with stress and tend to ‘pack emotions away'.

“A problem with stress is that for many years it will cause symptoms not thought serious enough for orthodox investigation. Also, as the symptoms of stress are so varied and unspecific, there is no 'target' for an orthodox drug.”

Complementary therapies generally aim to restore the patient’s system to a state of balance, but there is much that the individual can do to improve their own health simply by adjusting their lifestyles.

How to minimise the effects of stress:

- Avoid stimulants such as caffeinated drinks (caffeine inhibits the break down of adrenaline), and replace with calming herbal teas such as chamomile, and lemon balm. Dandelion coffee can make a pleasant coffee substitute which is also beneficial for the liver.
- moderate alcohol intake (it further depletes immune function, vitamin C, lowers vitality)
- Supplement with vitamin C, magnesium and B complex
- Adopt relaxation techniques such as yoga, Tai chi, breathing exercises, meditation
- Do whatever makes you feel relaxed - painting, walking, gardening, listening to music, or try hypnotherapy to release more deep-seated tensions.
- Book yourself regular (once monthly, if possible), therapeutic treatments such as massage or reflexology.
- Seek help for ongoing relationship problems. Couples counselling can help people to manage their behaviour and communicate more effectively.

The Vale Practice has over 27 therapists to call on. Therapies include: Osteopathy, Remedial and Deep Tissue Massage, Reflexology, Reiki, Swedish Massage, Eco Beauty, Chinese Herbal medicine, Nutrition, Naturopathy, Acupuncture, Homeopathy, Psychotherapy, Hypnotherapy, Tui Na Massage, Shiatsu, Allergy Testing, Aromatherapy, Sports Injury Massage, Indian Head Massage, Counselling, Cranial Osteopathy, Group Therapy, Life and Work coaching, Chiropody, Medicinal Herbalism,
Bio Energiser and Child Art and Psychotherapy

For further information contact: Practice manager: Kate 020 8299 9798/020 8299 9942