The Stress Protection Plan

The Stress Protection Plan
Leon Chaitow

Migraine, chronic back pain, colds, fatigue, panic attacks and high blood pressure can often be caused by stress.We now know that stress has a disasterous effect on our immune systems and can be a major cause of both mild and serious health problems. This book examines psychoneuroimmunology, or PNI, a science that attempts to solve these more common health problems. It points to new ways of controlling the damaging emotions that cause these complaints, thereby protecting the bodies natural defences and helping to ward off illness. Leon Chaitow is the author of "Clean Body, Clean Mind" and "Stone Age Diet".

Copyright (#ulink_cdcd0c11-8917-5b1a-adca-4ab4ce47c9ae)

Thorsons

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First published as Your Complete Stress-Proofing Programme 1983

This completely revised and expanded edition published 1992

© Leon Chaitow 1983, 1992

Leon Chaitow asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

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Source ISBN: 9780007272938

Ebook Edition © JULY 2016 ISBN: 9780007569038

Version: 2016-08-17

Dedication (#ulink_20954337-110c-5766-ab37-8f2a540cba40)

To my darling wife, Alkmini,

a counsellor of rare skill from

whom I have learned much.

Contents

Cover (#ubf412d38-ce9c-58df-8d49-ae43ada43879)

Title Page (#u57d291cd-1cfd-5f79-85bf-ccfbcd9f2a93)

Copyright (#ulink_87b10b7b-479b-5d73-9b38-3659296c40a6)

Dedication (#ulink_ac03d8b5-f747-58d1-8bb0-b1ea8555d3e2)

Introduction (#ulink_0b84c699-cca9-51f7-b004-6611e7c96b3d)

1. The Causes and Nature of Stress (#ulink_af8ddf3e-5b67-5a4e-a1cd-0c234cf9037a)

2. The Physical Effects of Stress (#ulink_e48ee136-2a98-5937-94b3-a2209de75812)

3. The Musculoskeletal System and Stress (#litres_trial_promo)

4. The Healing Power of Hardiness, Happiness and Self-Esteem (#litres_trial_promo)

5. Assessing Your Stress (#litres_trial_promo)

6. Starting to Stress-Proof Yourself (#litres_trial_promo)

7. Relaxation Exercises (#litres_trial_promo)

8. Additional Relaxation Methods (#litres_trial_promo)

9. Meditation (#litres_trial_promo)

10. Using the Power of Your Mind for Healing (#litres_trial_promo)

Keep Reading (#litres_trial_promo)

Acknowledgements (#litres_trial_promo)

About the Author (#litres_trial_promo)

Other Books By (#litres_trial_promo)

About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)

INTRODUCTION (#ulink_22ae1d35-2862-59a6-8e12-7ee90832dcc1)

Choosing to Become Less Stressed (#ulink_22ae1d35-2862-59a6-8e12-7ee90832dcc1)

There will always be stress in life, and really what we have to look at is our reaction to it rather than trying to make the stress go away. In this book I explain a number of practical ways to enable you to better cope with the pressures you find yourself under.

But, first, let us look at exactly what stress is, since once you have understood the diverse nature of it, and its possible ramifications in terms of ill health, you will more readily be able to see the importance of these stress-management methods.

Where applicable wrist watches used to be described as ‘waterproof’, but this expression now tends to be altered to ‘water resistant’. In stating the degree of resistance the manufacturers have, of course, to take into account the nature of the hazard and the properties and quality of the instrument, as well as the different sorts of water it might be immersed in (salt water, fresh water, acid or alkaline water etc.), and the depths beyond which its resistance begins to deteriorate. There are other hazards, too, facing wrist watches, such as shock, heat, cold, magnetic fields and so on.

In the same way we face a range of stress factors, and it is not possible to ‘stress-proof’ ourselves absolutely. Stress resistance can be increased, however, and as in the case of the watch, we have to look at the variable stress factors and the nature of the instrument at risk – that is, you. The aim is, therefore, not to try to eliminate stress, but to modify it where possible and to encourage in yourself appropriate responses to it.

Variables exist not only in the nature and intensity of the stress you face, but also in the unique characteristics which each of us possess. Some of us are born with a strong degree of what is termed ‘hardiness’, whilst others seem to be short of this innate defensive shield.