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In a matter of a
few decades, stress has become one of the major afflictions of
our civilization, not only in terms of the individual but also
in terms of society as a whole. Almost 600 million working days
are lost every year in the European Union due to stress.
Although the use of the term 'stress' has become trivialized, it
refers to a very complex notion which is difficult to specify as
it lies at a crossroads between biology and psychology.
It can be defined as
a set of physiological and
psychological reactions resulting from a demand or pressure from
the environment which requires an a effort of adaptation.
Since man has existed, he has
always been exposed to stress, given that at all times he has
had to face situations likely to generate reactions requiring
the organism to adapt in order to preserve its internal
balance. A certain level of stress is therefore necessary, if
not to say stimulating, for certain types of personalities.
The problem is therefore not the existence of stress, but
rather that of exceeding a certain threshold
beyond which it can become dangerous for our mental and
psychical balance.
There are very many factors which generate stress: they can
come from the environment (noise, heat, cold, viruses..), or
from the family, professional or social milieu.
These factors will trigger
nervous system and hormonal reactions in
order to enable the organism to defend itself against the
source of the aggression it feels: an increase of blood
pressure, acceleration of heartbeat and breathing, rising
sugar levels in the blood, alertness and muscular tonus.
However, if these stressing
agents persist or repeat themselves too often, the
reactions of defence become chronic and illness or
psychosomatic disorders set in: fatigue, anxiety,
heart trouble, high blood pressure, digestion problems,
muscular tensions, and even alteration of the balance of the
immune system.
Faced with a stressful environment, there are two options:
- finding a way to control the environment by modifying or
avoiding it, but in reality, this is not always possible,
especially in the professional situation,
- becoming less vulnerable to stress, by learning to master
one's reactions to the events or situations which generate
stress in the first place.
It is in
relation to this second point, stress management, that the
Tomatis method is of benefit. The Tomatis method sessions make
it possible to
acquire an adequate control over the reactions which cause
stress, in spite of the repeated aggression which we can be
subjected to.
Indeed, the
Tomatis method can provide specific auditory training which will
produce a durable effect of regulation and harmonisation,
both on all of the physical tensions but also on energy
resources. Thanks to the training it will then be possible to
develop strategies of emotional and cognitive control
which can be triggered when needed, in order to deal
with any potentially difficult situation more serenely.
Thus, the
purpose of these strategies of adaptation, which originate from
a very specific remodelling of the listening function, is to
reduce or eliminate stress by enabling people to perceive any
situation or event up to then considered as a source of
aggression differently and more positively.
A readjustment of this kind will consequently bring about
an increase in efficiency
or performance in all everyday activities.
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