This is the clearest statement of something we all know but that most of the neuro research community seems oblivious of.

1: Rev Neurosci. 2007;18(3-4):209-22.

Stress as a modulator of motor system function and pathology.

Metz GA.

Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge,
Lethbridge, Canada. gerlinde.metz@uleth.ca

Stress is one of the most significant influences on behaviour and performance.
The classical account is that stress mainly affects functions of the limbic
system, such as learning, memory and emotion. Recent evidence, however, suggests
that stress also modulates motor system function and influences the pathology of
movement disorders. Most parts of the motor system show the presence of
glucocorticoid receptors that render their circuits susceptible to the influence
of stress hormones. Stress and glucocorticoids have been shown to modulate
temporal and spatial aspects of motor performance. Skilled movements seem to be
most prone to stress-induced disturbances, but locomotion and posture can also be
affected. Stress can modulate movement through activation of the
hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and via stress-associated emotional changes.
The dopaminergic system seems to play a central role in mediating the effects of
stress on motor function. This route might also account for the finding that
stress influences the pathology of dopamine-related diseases of the motor system,
such as Parkinson's disease. Clinical observations have indicated that stress
might lead to the onset of Parkinsonian symptoms or accelerate their progression.
Glucocorticoids are modulators of neuronal plasticity, thus determining the
degree of structural and functional compensation of the damaged motor system.
This may particularly affect slowly progressive neurodegenerative diseases, such
as Parkinson's disease. That stress represents a significant modulator of motor
system function in both the healthy and the damaged brain should be recognized
when developing future therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.


PMID: 18019607 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

He/She "Gets It". We "Get It" Now, somebody who can DO SOMETHING with "IT" has to "Get IT!!!" But, the info you presented is a start and the longest journey starts with the first step. So, I suppose this represents a "small, shaky shuffle" (like mine) forward.

It's just so frustrating that the simple message "stress impacts us negatively" would take so long to get the attention it deserves. Thanks for the info.
Keith

That is, what things that you would have brushed off in times gone by now pose a problem?

For me, it verges on the ridiculous at times.

Trying to reach a ringing telephone in time.

Waiting in a line knowing others are behind me.

A need to carry on a conversation when not quite "on".

A disruption of my plans for the day.

Any of these can screw me up for the whole day.

Sound familiar?

This may explain why so man teachers get PD! Is teaching a stressful job? Need I reply?

Peg

Teachers are right up there Peg, and we never do learn to settle down do we?

We have to control this and I find that I have to walk away from stress...break away from it, but that isn't always possible.

We do have to attempt to manage it somehow tho, as a primary symptom and possibly cause, and eliminate unnecessary stress if possible to survive longer.

paula

Maybe the placebo effect works in the reverse. I want so much to harness the placebo effect without taking a placebo in a trial.

What steps can we take to imagine we're taking a miracle drug, so we get the same effect as sham surgery. I really don't know how to go about doing that. Does pessimism get in my way? I don't know.

I keep putting off taking Zandopa (mucuna pruriens) because I can never afford to be nauseous. I'd like to use it with a belief that it will really work great for me, even if it's just a placebo effect.

Why not try it with self-hypnosis? Should be a natural. And PWP have a high response to placebo which means they are probably more receptive to suggestion anyway.

And, by the way, Zucchini Flower, I have been using Zandopa for a week and it does not make you nauseous......

and it does not make you nauseous........

it does not make you nauseous.........

does not make you nauseous.......



but seriously, it does not make ME nauseous in the least. I do, however, have to discipline myself not to take too much.

There are, of course, several popular ways to alter our stress response.
Self-hypnosis.
Yoga.
Tai Chi
Meditation.
Music.
Exercise.
Ginkgo (purportedly for acute)
Ginseng (ditto for chronic)

The adaptogens supposedly work this way.

There are bound to be others.

It is important to realize that if the researcher that I began with is right (and I think that we of all people should take it as obvious) then we are not talking about managing stress in the way that pop culture talks about it. We are talking about fighting for our lives. It is too easy to slip into a "oh everyone has stress" mindset. Yes, everyone does indeed have stress. But WE have stress combined with a hypersensitivity to stress. That ain't good.

Next time something stressful happens think: "I don't give a darn!" THEN: stop your mental process and apply your energies to make it real. Really walk the talk! It's called reprogramming our brains and it works! Not only do you learn how to do it, if you work at it religiously you will get very good and very quick at it. You are driving it into your automatic response system.

we cant afford to stress out over everthing and by being stressed it doesnt help you or change your condition except more than likely -ruin your day

offer up your stress - just say nothankyou, or change the mental channel
click...