Jesse Hanson, Clinical Director

Helix Healthcare Group

Todays Components

Causes and Effects

of Stress

Therapeutic
Techniques

Methods for
Stress Reduction

Stress-Reduction
Exercises

Individual
Well-Being

Under Pr essur e?

But what exactly is

stress?

Stress is a feeling of emotional or physical tension

caused by internal or external triggers

VS.

Cognitive

Emotional

Negative impact on memory

Clouds and/or impairs judgment
Negative thoughts and self-perception
Difficulty concentrating and organizing

Increased irritability
Anger and agitation
Overwhelmed and inability to relax
Short temper
Enhanced Anxiety
Relationship challenges at home and work
Ineffective communication

Physical

Behavioural

Digestive and gastrointestinal symptoms

Increase in frequency and effects of colds
Rise in heartbeat, cardiac risks

Poor eating habits

Decreased motivation for exercise
Sleep disturbance
Isolation
Self-destructive coping behaviours
(smoking, drinking, drugs)
Nervous habits (e.g. nail biting, pacing)

Neurons that fire together, wire together.

Chronic stress can shrink

the medial prefrontal
cortex.

These brain alterations

affect the way we
interact, learn,
remember, make
decisions and accomplish
goals.

Cortisol can kill, shrink,

and stop the generation
of new neurons in a
portion of the brain
called the hippocampus.

Stress can increase

the size and activity
of a portion of the
brain called the
amygdala.

SYMPATHETIC

PARASYMPATHETIC

High blood pressure

Low systolic blood pressure

Fast heart rate (pulse)

Slow heart rate (pulse)

Dilated pupils

Constricted pupils

Tend toward dry mouth

Tend toward increased saliva

Cold, clammy hands/feet

Warm, dry skin (hands/feet)

Quick reflexes

Normal or slow reflexes

Anxiousness

Relaxed

Excessive sweating

Calm, even disposition

High energy, low stamina

Low normal energy, high stamina

Digestive problems

Can digest anything

Mind often races

May tend to laziness or depression

Excess muscle tension

Relaxed muscles

She is now free of

her digestive
issues and has not
been hospitalized
since

As she learns to
heal early life
stressors, she
becomes better at
handling current
stressors

53 Year old
woman diagnosed
with Crohn's
Disease

He examines her
present day and
early childhood
stressors

Traditional
medical world
calls her condition
"idiopathic"

Dr. Mates
research shows
that digestive
issues are stressrelated and stresscreated

You have a choice

Harvard studied two groups: One

was given the task of playing piano
scales for 2 hours daily for 5 days.
The other group was given the task
of merely thinking about playing
the exact same piano scales as
group one.
Scans showed that the same
region of the brain had expanded
in the volunteers who
merely thought about playing.

VS

#1

BREATH

#2

POSTURE

#3

BODY THERMOMETER

#4

TENSION RELEASE

The instruments vibrate in a

way that activates the right
and left brain in a back and
forth pattern called binaural
frequency, which is essential
for healing and theta brain
states.

Book a complimentary
consultation at 416.921.2273 (CARE)
https://helixhealthcaregroup.com/