The SIRPA Approach

What is Stress Illness?

Stress is the effect on our body, produced by the demands we put on it. It can be perceived as good or bad. Therefore it has physical and psychological elements to it. If anything or anyone has too much pressure or demand placed on them, for too long, there will be adverse effects on physical and emotional health. This is when we start to see Stress Illnesses occur.

 

 

Stress Illnesses can present in a variety of different ways and cause very real pain and in many cases fatigue. The symptoms will often baffle medical professionals, with a number of tests and investigations often being performed, and specialists, doctors and holistic remedies being sought.

 

 

Diagnoses are given to groups of symptoms, but often treatments focus on alleviating symptoms, rather than curingthe underlying causes. This is because those are not well recognised by mainstream medicine as yet. This is not due to lack of research or evidence. It is just that it can take a long time for new approaches to become well known and accepted by the medical profession (especially when they are different to what they have previously been taught).

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Stress Illness can also be know by many other names; Psychophysiological Disorder (PPD), Tension Myoneural Syndrome (TMS) or Mindbody Syndrome (MBS). Whatever you call it, there are a number of ways to recognise it.

 

 

Symptoms that have lasted for more than 6-8 weeks are likely to be Stress Illness, unless there is evidence of an ongoing infection, fracture, cancer or autoimmune condition. This is because an acute injury or infection is likely to heal or recover in that time span. If it has not then the physical sensations that remain (that may well still be experienced as pain) will be using the established neural pathway to the brain. In imaging studies it has been shown that there is more activity in the region of the brain associated with the body part where the pain is sensed in the first few weeks. But after approximately six weeks the activity is much more pronounced in the emotional centre of the brain.

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There are times that sensations or other symptoms are produced without an initiating injury or illness. Yet, in all cases, symptoms are seen to be a signal to bring attention to something, either in the here and now, or the past. This approach is based on the understanding that pain (and other unpleasant symptoms) are produced as a warning sign, by the brain, that something is needing attention. It does not necessarily mean that there is damage in the body!

 

 

In the short-term, the symptoms can be due to physical injury or illness that needs time to heal. Or may require medical attention to support it to return to 'normal'. However, if symptoms become chronic i.e. lasting more than 8 weeks, the body has physically healed and the signal is created to inform us of unresolved emotional content that requires attention.

 

 

If the underlying cause is not adequately addressed then the pain/symptom continues. Other symptoms (itching, burning sensations, bloating, aches, anxiety, depression etc.) may also occur as the brain tries to draw attention to unresolved issues. This is why it is difficult for medical professionals to diagnose and treat Stress Illnesses. They are focused on the biomechanical working of the body, and tend not to consider the role of our brain, thoughts, emotions, or actions, on our overall health.

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This misunderstanding by medical professionals fuels mistrust by friends, family and society as a whole. It can lead other people to think those with Stress Illness are lying, lazy, or crazy.

 

 

This obviously adds significant stress and upset to an already difficult situation. It can cause people to feel misunderstood, invisible, unsafe, lonely. And lead to further issues with mental health such as depression, PTSD, or anxiety disorders. 

 

 

Living with the many misunderstood and invisible symptoms caused by Stress Illness does not have to be a life sentence, however. Read on to find out what treatment and support is available. But first check out if you recognise any of these symptoms (you probably have 2 or 3 at least).

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Symptoms, syndromes and conditions classed as Stress Illnesses: