Stress and Mental Health
We all live with a certain amount of stress in our lives. It’s not all negative, but when the negative outweighs the positive, it can have a detrimental impact on our mental health. At Change Your Pain Kamloops, we provide an interdisciplinary approach to pain management and physical rehabilitation. We also facilitate programs dedicated to pain and stress care. We know it’s not always possible to remove stressors in our lives. Our focus is on learning how to manage stress successfully to minimize the negative effects.
So How Does Stress Affect Our Mental Health?
Increased anxiety and depression
Stress causes chemical changes in the body. When a stressor occurs, the body releases chemicals, such as serotonin (a mood regulator) and adrenaline (quickly boosts energy). In the short term, these chemicals can be useful in helping us deal with the immediate stressor, but in chronic situations where stress is ongoing and/or repeated these systems are altered and can produce negative effects.
Psychological impacts
Stress can make us more aggressive or irritable. It can also produce feelings of losing control, insomnia, problems with concentration, and more. These feelings can increase our perceived stress level and produce a vicious circle of stress and consequence followed by more stress. Learning to effectively manage stress as we teach at Change Your Pain Kamloops will help break the cycle of stress.
Lowered immunity
During the stress response, potent stress hormones are released into the body systems. These hormones compromise immunity by drawing resources from the immune system to send to other systems to keep us safe. When our immune systems are compromised on a prolonged basis due to chronic stress, it can lead to disease and sickness which inevitably will have negative effects on brain health and is correlated with increased depression.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Instances of extreme stress and/or trauma can lead to a mental health condition known as PTSD. This condition may cause flashbacks, nightmares, and/or persistent thoughts about the event. PTSD is a serious condition that is difficult to manage without help. Our goal at Change Your Pain Kamloops is to ensure patients have a positive clinic experience directed towards treating symptoms and providing preventative treatment programs while offering advice to create permanent positive lifestyle changes. Even if you feel alone, you are not alone. Our highly skilled team is dedicated to increasing the health and wellness of all our patients.
Pain and Stress Care Program
Our Pain and Stress Care Program is individualized and comprehensive. It is coached by Registered Clinical Counsellors, Registered Massage Therapists, Athletic Therapists, and Naturopathic Physicians. Our practitioners incorporate their scope of practice with the most up-to-date research and training in brain science to guide patients through a stress care program. We strive to create a space where individuals can be present with themselves physically and mentally as well as spiritually. Our techniques, classes, resources, and patient education encourage nervous system regulation and self-compassion.
The Pain & Stress Care Program uses an evidence-based approach that involves comprehensive assessments and provides education to teach clients tools and strategies that can be used to create lifelong positive changes. Learn more about the Program.
