Stress is a normal part of life and it is a well-known fact that it can lead to many ailments. If left unmanaged, stress can lead to emotional, psychological, and even physical problems.
For instance, it can give rise to anger, hostility and depression and a host of other ailments such as heart disease, diabetes and kidney failure.
Findings of a recent study suggest that stress is one of the most significant factors affecting heart health and it can increase the risk of heart disease by contributing to high blood pressure either directly or indirectly through an increase in cholesterol levels, which can clog the arteries and lead to cardiac problems.
Prolonged stress can also lead to elevated levels of stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol that can induce irregular heartbeats and increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke. Heart disease has been shown to have a higher correlation to stress with studies indicating that 30 per cent of all heart diseases are caused by psychological factors. Steps should therefore be taken in order to reduce stress from one’s daily life.
Is CBT really a cure?
Being able to identify stressors and releasing the tension they cause are the keys to managing stress. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) aids in altering the thought process to help cope better with stress and in doing so reduce the risk of heart attacks.
The premise of CBT is that by changing the way you think about something, you can help yourself feel or behave better.
A recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine has shown that patients in the CBT intervention group had a 41 per cent lower rate of fatal and nonfatal recurrent cardiovascular disease events and 45 per cent fewer recurrent acute myocardial infarctions (heart attacks) compared to patients receiving traditional care.
This study is especially significant for India where an estimated three million people die of cardiovascular diseases every year.
CBT seeks to help the patient identify and change dysfunctional thoughts, behaviour, and emotional responses. It also helps patients develop skills in modifying beliefs, identifying distorted thinking, relating to others in different ways, and changing behaviour patterns. Treatment is based on collaboration between the patient and therapist.
CBT is a very effective treatment for mental and emotional problems. But in order to reap its benefits, it’s important to choose the right therapist — someone who can establish a rapport with the patient and has the adequate qualifications and experience to impart this form of therapy.
Trust is also an important component of this treatment modality.
The challenges CBT faces
Although very useful, CBT may not be suitable for some patients. Those who don’t have a specific behavioural issue they wish to address and whose goals for therapy are to gain an insight into the past may be better served by psychodynamic therapy.
Patients must also be willing to take a very active role in the treatment process.
In India, any form of psychological intervention, even CBT, has a stigma attached to it, with people avoiding such therapy due to fear of judgment and ridicule. They are afraid to be perceived as mentally unstable or not totally in control of their lives.
This stigma, however, should be overcome by patients with a desire to get over the stress in their lives. The support of family members and friends is thus, very important.
*The writer is Senior Consultant, Psychiatry, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals
No comments:
Post a Comment