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Dr. Zafirides
189 Posts |
 Posted - 08/09/2012 : 08:18:14
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Hi Everyone,
I thought the forum would be interested in my latest podcast. This week's topic is the relationship between stress and illness.
http://www.thehealthymind.com/2012/08/08/stress-and-illness-how-anxiety-attacks-your-body/
I discuss recent mind-body research as well as the latest, large-scale study that looked at the effect of anxiety and depression on life expectancy. Here is an article explaining the results of that study:
http://www.thehealthymind.com/2012/08/04/study-even-mild-depression-and-anxiety-can-kill-you/
I think it is important to continue to highlight the growing research on the relationship between stress (which are really our thoughts and emotions) and physical illness. The mind-body relationship is very real. And science is proving that more and more every day.
I hope you find the information helpful. Don't ever doubt your strength!
Kindly,
Dr. Zafirides |
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art
1903 Posts |
Posted - 08/10/2012 : 11:25:12
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Dr Z. ,
Great to have an MD on forum, and I'm sure we're all grateful to have you. But I have to say with all due respect that I'm not sure if these kinds of posts help more than they hurt...
What I mean is that you've got a population who are very likely in the midst of battling anxiety disorders. Telling us that our anxiety is going to make us sick while very likely true, is also very likely to increase that anxiety...
Fear of fear (which is what this kind of post encourages in my opinion), is ultimately extraordinarily difficult to conquer.
Not to put too fine a point on it, but he subtext of a post like this is that we'd damn well better quit this anxiety stuff, or we're in deep trouble. Much easier said than done of course. No one wants to feel anxious, on that I'm sure we agree.
Just one man's opinion. |
Edited by - art on 08/10/2012 11:30:13 |
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Dr. Zafirides
189 Posts |
Posted - 08/10/2012 : 20:48:34
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Art,
Thank you for your reply. I sincerely appreciate constructive criticism. It really helps me to improve.
One of my missions is to do all I can to reduce the stigma associated with what it means to struggle with emotional illness and mind-body disorders. Stigma has literally resulted in people dying because they have been too ashamed or embarrassed to get basic treatment.
I totally hear where you are coming from and I respect your point of view. Obviously, my goal was not to make people feel worse. But I think all of us should take notice of this study as it relates to mild anxiety and depression - which likely ALL of us have experienced. I wanted to emphasize (through the example of that study) how critical the mind-body connection is. It is to show - in very sobering, yet real terms - that emotions absolutely manifest in physical symptoms and consequences.
The singular goal of that post was to show that - if we accept the findings of a large scale study showing a decrease in life expectancy due to emotions (anxiety) - then it is not a stretch at all to see how emotions could manifest in the pain of TMS.
I know for many here, this is not news. We are all believers of TMS and its treatment here, but there are many individuals come here (and the PPD forum) for the very first time every day. Even more are skeptical or dismissive of TMS. I was hoping to add to the information relating mind and body - even if it is sobering news. I certainly understand how this could make people more anxious. Heck, this study even made ME anxious - but I am glad I know of the findings of the study.
I most sincerely appreciate your post Art, more than you realize. Yes, it is always nice to be told I am doing a good job, but I find constructive criticism more valuable. It forces me to consider perspectives I may not have considered. That can only help me to do a better job in the future.
Kindly,
Dr. Z
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Edited by - Dr. Zafirides on 08/10/2012 20:49:20 |
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GMack
USA
10 Posts |
Posted - 08/10/2012 : 21:33:49
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I have to agree with Art here. I agree the study reinforces the relationship between stress and illness, and the information may be helpful to some. But I see enough scary health stories on TV and newspapers. I come to this forum looking for positive messages. I've suffered with anxiety for most of my life. I know it has damaged my health. Hell, it's pretty much ruined my life. So now I know it will cause my premature death too. Bummer...
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stayfit65
54 Posts |
Posted - 08/11/2012 : 04:36:16
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| I respectfully disagree. I feel Dr. Z is trying to educate, not create an alarmist attitude in us. I have benefitted many times from Dr. Z's posts and hope that he will continue to inform us when new articles and information come available so we can INDIVIDUALLY understand what is going on inside of us. Having suffered from anxiety for 20 years, any new insight on this topic is helpful to me, but of course we all have our individual issues, so all I am saying is don't put us all in same basket. Everybody benefits in different ways from this forum. |
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 08/11/2012 : 07:51:34
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THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU DR. ZAFIFIRDES! This study confirms what I feel in my TMS anomalized bones. I've seen people die prematurely when they were so unhappy with their lot in life, who gave up and "took to bed" or gotten cancer due to long term loneliness. I know people in their nineties who were traveling the world, super active and sharp as tacks because they were living life to the max. Life is more rewarding and fun when you have a raison d'etre.
As a wise psychiatrist told me once, "This is NOT a dress rehearsal". Too many of us are stuck in bad relationships, bad jobs, bad situations, which we see no way out of except death through the TMS affective dis-ease of anxiety--and the ultimate boredom, the high anxiety of anger driven inward causing depression. It's like the poem by T.S. Elliot, "The Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock", measuring our lives in coffee spoons.
I believe, even if we cannot fully overcome forces such as TMS, the KNOWLEDGE, the knowing and the trying are almost as good--or as good-- for their positive side-effects.
Thanks for the study giving proof and the wake-up call.
Doc Z, Z Doc, I like your style and thanks for the clear water and the minnows.
Cheers Good Doctor!
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"The Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock by T.S. Elliot:
http://people.virginia.edu/~sfr/enam312/prufrock.html |
Edited by - tennis tom on 08/11/2012 08:33:25 |
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susan828
USA
291 Posts |
Posted - 08/11/2012 : 08:27:25
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I am one of the most hypochondriacal people, Dr. Z and I can say that your podcast did not scare me. I have many friends who are in constant pain, most of whom have some kind of cancer and I have a feeling that they won't last long. Not because of their cancer...they are all cured or in remission, but I do believe their stress caused their body to just succumb to it. Even before the cancer and now, they are always sick with other things..their immune system is shot from stress.
I can see how the podcast can scare the newbies but I think it's important for people to realize the toll stress takes on our immune system. People read this all the time so I don't think it's news to 95% of people. I personally loved your podcast and your posts and look forward to them. Thanks much! |
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MatthewNJ
USA
691 Posts |
Posted - 08/11/2012 : 09:29:42
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Dr. Z,
I learned from Dr. Sarno that knowledge is the penicillin for this "disease". I agree whole heartedly with your sharing of this important knowledge. Also my TMS success has come directly from reducing my reactions to stress. The ancient practices of
Yoga, Meditation and Ayurveda have said this for over 5000 years. I am so glad the "proof" is now coming out so more of this can be integrated into modern western medicine.
Matthew
Ferretsx3@comcast.net
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Less activated, more regulated and more resilient. |
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pspa123
672 Posts |
Posted - 08/11/2012 : 17:22:01
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| Leaving life expectancy out of it, which is a depressing thing to think about, stress -- or put more accurately, the INABILITY TO DEAL WITH STRESS -- has dominated my life for years, resulting in pain, exhaustion, and a host of other physical symptoms. I have searched for years for the "answer" in all sorts of phantom ailments, blood tests, supplements, outrageous pseudo-scientific crap being peddled on the internet, name it. I have spent insane sums of money on junk medicine. And at the end of the day, the answer has been staring me in the face the whole damn time -- I NEED TO LEARN TO COPE WITH MY STRESS. (sorry for the rant, but I suspect my story holds true for others) |
Edited by - pspa123 on 08/11/2012 17:22:39 |
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MatthewNJ
USA
691 Posts |
Posted - 08/12/2012 : 12:08:08
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PSPA,
Rant away. It is a good way to let it out. I would not leave life expectancy out of it. that itself is an equivalent of TMS.
You are right on! There will always be stress. It is how we choose to respond to it.
"Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom." Viktor E. Frankl
The above is the answer to that. Mindfulness is the trick to the above!
Matthew
Ferretsx3@comcast.net
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Less activated, more regulated and more resilient. |
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Stress and Illness: How Anxiety Attacks Your Body
