TMS principles go mainstream at #1 US health insure

[JanAtheCPA]

We've all encountered an increasing amount of media coverage in the last several years about the effects of stress and how to reduce it, blah blah blah. This is the first time I've come across a definitive distillation of all of our TMS principles in one fairly short, very readable article, published by the top rated health insurance group in the US, Kaiser Permanente. I feel like that's significant.

https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/health-wellness/healtharticle.7-ways-stress-affects-body (How stress affects your body: 8 common symptoms | Kaiser Permanente)

The article was highlighted in a monthly newsletter to members, and although our experienced community won't find anything new here, what excites me is the fact that the article definitively associates multiple different types of physical symptoms with stress, including the less-straightforward ones, and it clearly identifies the negative long-term damage caused by untreated stress. The latter issue is usually not directly addressed enough IMHO (speaking as the local poster child for stress-induced RA).

To top it off, journaling is included in the list of recommendations.

I would love to learn about other examples of mainstream/traditional consumer health organizations offering this level of comprehensive information to their members. It gives me hope that a younger generation of health care professionals are going to offer a different focus of care.

 

[Ellen]

I believe it was Kaiser Permanente that did the Adverse Childhood Events (ACEs) study that linked childhood adversity to physical ailments back in the '90s.

 

[JanAtheCPA]

Nice catch, @Ellen - indeed they were! https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces/about.html (About the CDC-Kaiser ACE Study |Violence Prevention|Injury Center|CDC)

 

[Joulegirl]

Wow! This a great article by them. Nothing new for us TMS'ers, but it's so good to see it in a mainstream article!

 

[Cactusflower]

This is great. Les Aria headed up Kaisers TMS program for while but left when it did’t seem to take off. Glad to see it is alive and going!

 

[Bonnard]

Here it is! Finally. Thanks, Jan, for highlighting an article that provides some kind of answer to that persistent, seemingly never-to-fully-go-away question.
"I have xxxx weird symptom. And maybe even this other oddity going on.
Could this possibly be TMS?? I really don't think so. Nah, no way, right?. Can't be."

I mean, If just stress alone can cause dry mouth, hair loss, GI issues, muscle aches, sleep problems, jaw pain, head pain, ear pain, dizzyness, lightheadedness, sexual issues, and on & on...
With all of that, what could TMS cause?

This is pulled right from the article:
8 common physical signs of stress
If these symptoms sound familiar, stress could be to blame.

Dry mouth and trouble swallowing
Stress can reduce the production of saliva. This can give you a dry mouth and make it uncomfortable to swallow.

Hair loss
Hair falls out naturally all the time. Hair grows, takes a little rest, and falls out to make room for new hair. Normally each strand on your head is in a different phase of this cycle. Stress can cause more of your hair to enter the resting phase. This can lead to increased and noticeable hair loss.

Upset stomach
Stress can mess up your digestion. Common symptoms include stomach pain, heartburn, nausea, diarrhea, and constipation. You might even throw up when stressed.

Difficulty sleeping
Stress can make it hard to fall asleep or stay asleep. A stressful event may cause your mind to race and keep your body alert for a day or two. Chronic stress can lead to long-term insomnia or fragmented sleep.

Muscle aches and pains
Stress can cause your muscles to tense up — and over time, this can lead to pain and soreness almost anywhere in your body. Often, you’ll feel stress-related aches and pain in your neck, back, and shoulders.

Jaw, ear, or head pain
Stress can make you clench your jaws or grind your teeth, often without noticing it. But you’ll feel the tight soreness in your jaw or neck and the toothache.

Lightheadedness and dizziness
Stress can raise your heart rate and cause rapid, shallow breathing. This can make you dizzy or lightheaded.

Lack of sexual desire
The burst of speed and energy you get with stress is powered, in part, by hormones. With chronic stress, these can interfere with other hormones and lead to decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction, irregular menstrual cycles, and problems getting pregnant.2,3

Symptoms of chronic stress
Being under stress for a long time can take a toll on your body. Besides the symptoms above, you can also develop:

• High blood pressure
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Addiction disorders

If you have an ongoing condition like heart disease or Type 2 diabetes, chronic stress can make it worse.