INTRODUCTION
According to WHO, Stress can be defined as a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation. Stress is a natural human response that prompts us to address challenges and threats in our lives. Everyone experiences stress to some degree. The way we respond to stress, however, makes a big difference to our overall well-being.
There are three stages in stress response:
- Alarm
- Adaptation and
- Exhaustion or recovery.
Alarm stage
This first stage involves the “fright-or-flight” response. This is the stage which enables us to deal with the difficult (adverse) situations. The body is prepared either to face the perceived threat, or to escape from it. This stage invokes various reactions in the body such as release of stress hormones: cortisol, nor adrenaline and adrenaline from the adrenal glands, increased heart rate, rise in blood sugar level, increase in blood pressure, etc.
If the stressful situation isn’t resolved the body uses all its resources (for example, continuous secretion of stress hormones to provide energy to deal with the situation) to adapt to the stressful situation.
Adaptation stage
This results in various types of physical sleep problems, general tiredness, muscular pains, indigestion, allergies, minor infections like common colds etc.,), mental (lack of concentration), emotional (impatience and irritability) and behavioural problems (smoking and drinking).
If the body‟s compensation mechanisms have succeeded in over coming the stressor‟s effect there follows the recovery stage. But if the body has used up its resources and is unable to maintain normal function it leads to exhaustion stage.
Exhaustion stage
If exhaustion stage persists for a long time it can cause long term effects where the individual is at risk of suffering from more serious health conditions. It may lead to depression, hypertension and coronary diseases.
BENEFITS AND COSTS OF STRESS
Although some stress is beneficial, prolonged or intense stress can be associated with a variety of negative physical and psychological outcomes.
For example, whereas moderate amounts of stress helps to focus our attention, excessive stress leads to diminished attention, concentration, decision making, and short-term memory. High stress can also lead to a variety of emotional disturbances, including irritability, depression, and anxiety disorders. Indeed, many researchers consider stress a core component of the cause of emotional disorders. Chronic high stress is associated with serious physical health concerns, including cardiovascular disease, hypertension, immunosuppression and more frequent illnesses, sexual dysfunction, gastrointestinal disorders, and recurrent headaches.
High levels of stress are also associated with a variety of behaviors and lifestyle choices that can have negative health outcomes.
Research indicates that individuals experiencing high stress are more likely to engage in excessive alcohol consumption and increased use of drugs and tobacco products.
It is important to recognize that exceptionally low levels of stress can have negative consequences as well. For example, when arousal levels are too low, people generally experience boredom, poorer cognitive and physical performance, procrastination, and lack of attention to detail.
SIGN AND SYMPTOMS OF STRESS Cognitive Symptoms
Memory problems
Inability to concentrate
Poor judgment
Seeing only the negative
Anxious or racing thoughts
Constant worrying
Emotional Symptoms
Moodiness
Irritability or short temper
Agitation, inability to relax
Feeling overwhelmed
Sense of loneliness and isolation
Depression or general unhappiness
Physical Symptoms
Aches and pains
Diarrhea or constipation
Nausea, dizziness
Chest pain, rapid heartbeat
loss of sex drive
Frequent colds
Behavioral Symptoms
Eating more or less
Sleeping too much or too little
Isolating yourself from others
Procrastinating or neglecting responsibilities
Using alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs to relax
Nervous habits (e.g. nail biting, pacing)
HOMOEOPATHIC APPROACH
Homoeopathy, an out and out rational therapeutical system with its holistic, integrated, multi-disciplinary, totalistic view approaches the subject of stress in a convincing rational way.
Homoeopathic Medicines from materia medica
| Work Stress | Family Stress | Society Stress |
| Ammonium group | Acid-fluor | Acid-nit |
| Arg-nit | Anacardium | Alumina |
| Ars.alb | Calc group | Ambra grisea |
| Aurum. group | Chamomilla | Anacardium |
| Bryonia | Coffea cruda | Baryta group |
| Calc-fluor | Kali group | Hepar sulph |
| Carbon group | Natrum group | Hura |
| Carcinocinum | Paladium | Hyoscyamus |
| Conium | Acid-phos | Magnesium group |
| Kali – ph | Platinum | Medorrhinum |
| Lycopodium | Pulsatilla | Merc sol |
| Nux-vomica | Sepia | Natrum-carb |
| Ophidia group | Staphisagria | Phosphorus |
| Silicea | Thuja | Stramonium |
| Tuberculinum | Syphilinum |
Table 1. Showing list of Homoeopathic medicines according to source of stress
Homoeopathic medicines from Different Repertory
BOENING – MIND- homesickness: CAPS., PH- C.,
BOERICKE – MIND-MOOD, disposition: melancholic, despondent, depressed, low- spirited, gloomy, apprehensive, “blue”: Acon., Alum., Anac., Ars., Aur., Cimic., Con., Ign., Lyc., Nat-m., Ph-ac., Puls., Plat., Phos., Psor., Sep., Staph., Stann.,
BOERICKE- MIND- MOOD, disposition: despairing, hopeless, discouraged easily, lack of confidence: Acon., Anac., Aur., Ars., Ph-ac., Puls., Sep.,
KENT- MIND- CONFIDENCE, want of self confidence: ANAC., BAR.C.,SIL.,
KENT- MIND- SUICIDAL DISPOSITION – thoughts: Aur., Aur –m., Nat-s.,
KENT- MIND- SADNESS- mental depression: Acon., Ars., Ars-i., Aur., Aur-m., Cal., Cal-ar., Cal-s., Gels., Ign., Cham., Chin., kali-br., kali-p., Sep., Puls.,Platina.,
KENT- MIND- anxiety: Acon., Arg-n., Ars., Ars-I., Aur., Bry., Cact., Cal., Caust., Kali-p., Kali-ar., Nat-c., Nit-ac.,
KENT- MIND- MOOD- changeable, variable, etc: Ign., Lyc., Nux-m., Puls., Sars., Zinc.,
REFERENCES
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http://-https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Pathophysiology-of-stress-response- and-its-influence-on-periodontium-5_fig1_272879478
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- Boericke W. New manual of homoeopathic materia medica & repertory with relationship of remedies: Including Indian drugs, nosodes uncommon, rare remedies, mother tinctures, relationship, sides of the body, drug affinites & list of abbreviation. New Delhi, India: B Jain; 2021.
- Vithoulkas G, Materia Medica S. ESSENCE OF MATERIA MEDICA, SECOND EDITION.
- Kent JT. Repertory of the homeopathic materia medica. New Delhi, India: B Jain; 2023.
- Williams F. Best medication for stress: Types, benefits, and safety [Internet].
Medicalnewstoday.com. 2022 [cited 2023 Aug 7]. Available from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/best-medication-for-stress
AUTHORS
Dr Deepika Shishodia, PGR MD 2 (Hom.) Psychiatry
Dr. Chandrabhan Sharma, MD (Hom), Assistant Professor in Department of Psychiatry.
Swasthya Kalyan Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital, Jaipur.
