I think these are worth paying attention to because they each uncover information that goes beyond one illness – and might hold some links to how we can live more ‘productive’ lives.
In this recent study ( Mechanism behind Mind-Body Connection Explains How Chronic Stress Ages Immune System), the researchers have identified some factors that might explain why people who are under “constant stress” are more suceptible to illness.
“… preventing damage to the immune systems of persons who are under long-term stress, such as caregivers to chronically ill family members, as well as astronauts, soldiers, air traffic controllers and people who drive long daily commutes.”
I wonder about the stress that people who live with chronic illness experience. I imagine there’s a huge toll on the cortisol level (which when is lowered with chronic stress and apparently creates this vulnerability to illness) when your body is constantly pushing itself beyond what is comfortable.
“… If we’re successful, one day a pill may exist to strengthen the immune system’s ability to weather chronic emotional stress.” How about weathering chronic physical stress?
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New research shows that cognitive behavioral therapy can be successful in treating the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome. According to this article (Cognitive Behavior Therapy Helps Chronic Fatigue), the research looked data over 1,000 patients and it looks like they did better than those who didn’t receive CBT.
I wonder why the researchers looked at chronic fatigue sydrome rather than the numerous other diseases in which people have debilitating pain or fatigue.
Have you had any success with CBT?
Rosalind aka cicoach.com
Leslie says
Rosalind, I think it’s interestin that you mention chronic illness and stress because I am working on a presentation and paper right now that deal with just that. I’m not looking at cortisol levels, but the professor I work for is going to be doing research on cortisol levels (not related to chronic illness, though, although it might be something I should try and look at with her, if she’ll allow me access to the data). Hope you are well!
Mary says
Research on the long term effects of chronic illness is just being “birthed”. It’s now a boomer issue & whatever is important to boomers, researchers will pick up on. There are not really many studies on long term use of these medications that we all take either.
Plenty of stuff on efficacy-but there’s no money to be made on doing long term studies of drugs.
There was a reference to an article in one of the about.com blogs. It was about whether long term pain wears out the brain.
http://chronicfatigue.about.com/b/2008/02/21/does-pain-wear-out-your-brain.htm
You can follow the link to the actual abstract from this blog.
Mary