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Neuroscience informs us that events are processed and transmitted within our brain and CNS system in nanoseconds. Experiences that are psychologically distressing become processed in our limbic system and stored in our memory system, often before the executive function of the brain has a chance to organize and reflect on the experience. As a result, these experiences become expressed within our body's physiology as symptoms.
Because of our integrated mind-body circuity, symptoms may occur in mutiple areas of the body. Each person's symptom manifestation is unique because of his or her personality, physiology, genomic structure and environment.
Most patients come to prinmary care offices exhibiting symptoms of stress. Awareness of stress is the first step towards health prevention and diease management. Herbert Benson, M.D., founder of the Mind-Body Medical Institute at Harvard, developed a checklist of 37 stress signals that spans across the physical, behavioral, cognitive and emotional realms.
Print the checklist attached at the bottom of the page to use with your patients. You can evaluate their stress by examining areas of vulnerability that may be precursors to more serious disease processes.
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