3. STRESS LASTING MORE THAN 100 MINUTES IN
DURATION CAN SUPPRESS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM.
INCLUDING THINGS LIKE:
- DEATH OF A LOVED ONE,
- UNIPOLAR DEPRESSION,
- PARALYSIS FROM A CAR ACCIDENT
4. THIS IS YOUR BODY’S IMMUNE SYSTEM
DEALING WITH CHRONIC STRESS.
5. THE IMMUNE SYSTEM’S ARMY
• SOLDIERS: WHITE BLOOD CELLS, AKA: LEUKOCYTES
PROTECT AGAINST FOREIGN PATHOGENS
• MESSENGERS: CYTOKINES
CHEMICAL MESSENGERS BETWEEN LEUKOCYTES TO MEDIATE INFLAMMATORY
& IMMUNE RESPONSES
TWO TYPES:
PRO-INFLAMMATORY
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY
6. PRO-INFLAMMATORY CYTOKINES
• ATTRACT LEUKOCYTES TO MINISTER TO THE HEALING PROCESS.
• ACTIVATE HPA AXIS
WHAT IS THE HPA AXIS YOU’RE ASKING? GOOD QUESTION!
8. CORTISOL INHIBITS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
• ACTIVATION OF THE HPA AXIS INVOLVES MESSAGES TRAVELING FROM
THE HYPOTHALAMUS GLAND TO THE PITUITARY GLAND. IN RESPONSE,
THE PITUITARY GLAND STIMULATES THE ADRENAL GLAND TO PRODUCE
CORTISOL. CORTISOL IN TURN, AMONG OTHER THINGS, SUPPRESSES
THE IMMUNE SYSTEM AND PROVIDES NEGATIVE FEEDBACK TO
DECREASE THE MESSAGES RELEASED FROM THE HPA AXIS WHICH IN
TURN ALSO REDUCES THE RELEASE OF CORTISOL. CHRONIC STRESS
HOWEVER CAN KEEP REACTIVATING THIS FIGHT OR FLIGHT RESPONSE
10. • IMMUNE SUPPRESSION THROUGH CORTISOL
GIVES ALL AVAILABLE RESOURCES FOR A
FIGHT OR FLEE NOW, & HEAL THE BODY
LATER WHEN IT’S SAFE RESPONSE.
• THIS AGAIN BECOMES COMPOUNDED WITH
THE STRESS WE INTENTIONALLY PUT ON
OURSELVES THROUGH OUR ENVIRONMENT
14. • CHRONICALLY STRESSFUL SOCIAL SITUATIONS WE GET INTO
OR STAY IN CAN BE POISONOUS TO OUR IMMUNE SYSTEM
BY FURTHER SUPPRESSION THROUGH YET MORE STRESS.
16. STRESS EFFECTS ON BODY
• ALL OF THESE STRESSORS CAN ALSO COMBINE TO CREATE
AND/OR EXACERBATE DEPRESSION WHICH FURTHER
SUPPRESSES THE IMMUNE SYSTEM .
18. • CHRONIC STRESS CAN CAUSE PSYCHOSIS LIKE A
PSYCHOTIC BREAK OR MULTIPLE PERSONALITY DISORDER
WHICH COULD AGAIN FURTHER THE STRESS INDUCED
IMMUNOSUPPRESSION ….
• ENOUGH SO EVEN ALL THE WAY TO ….
22. • ALL OF THESE CHRONIC STRESSORS CAN SUPPRESS AND
MODIFY THE IMMUNE SYSTEM TO A POINT OF NOT BEING
ABLE TO FIGHT PATHOGENS AND/OR OUR OWN CELLS
THAT HAVE BECOME CANCEROUS!
24. • BY INHIBITING THE IMMUNE SYSTEM, CHRONIC STRESS CAN
EVEN CAUSE DEATH BY LETTING IN PATHOGENS THAT IT
WOULD HAVE NORMALLY KILLED UNDER BETTER
CIRCUMSTANCES.
26. YOU CAN HELP BOLSTER THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
AGAINST THE EFFECTS OF CHRONIC STRESS.
• KEEPING THE BODY IN GOOD PHYSICAL AND MENTAL
CONDITION SEEMS TO HELP PROMOTE IMMUNE FUNCTION
28. • MEDITATION, BIO-FEEDBACK, PROFESSIONAL THERAPY AND
YOGIC BREATHING TECHNIQUES CAN ALL AID IN
ACHIEVING A RELAXED STATE OF MIND TO PUT A BREAK IN
THE IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE CYCLE OF STRESS.
30. • YOUR BODY NEEDS REST FOR PROPER FUNCTION AND
REPAIR. YOU CAN ACTUALLY DIE FROM ENOUGH LACK OF
SLEEP. GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP HELPS TO INSURE THAT THE
BODY IS READY FOR A NEW DAY OF ACTIVITY.