Therapeutic Knitting
Ask any knitter why he or she likes to knit. Some will say it is fun hand-making things. Others will say because it is relaxing. Researchers have recently become interested in this claim, and are trying to figure out the neuroscience and psychology of how knitting is relaxing. The bigger question has become, how can it be used to help people with certain long-term disorders? Knitting can be a low-cost, but still effective alternative way to treat psychological disorders such as stress, depression, ADHD/ ADD, PTSD, and dementia.
Although annoying, stress has kept the human race alive for thousands and thousands of years (Rx. Reduce Stress). It has helped humans evade a large animal or fight off an enemy. Stress is anything that puts a strain on a person’s state of psychological balance (Rx. Reduce Stress).
The endocrine system is the system of the human body that controls body functions through the use of hormones, which are chemicals that the endocrine system releases into the bloodstream (Utiger). One of the things that the endocrine system regulates is stress (Rx. Reduce Stress). When a person feels stressed, a chain of events unfold.
The body produces a stress hormone called corticotrophin, which activtates the endocrine system (Rx. Reduce Stress). In turn, the endocrine system releases the hormones adrenaline and cortisol into the bloodstream to give the body the energy it needs to meet the demands of the stressful event (Rx. Reduce Stress). This extra surge of energy can give the body the speed it needs to run away from a situation or the strength to fight off a predator (Rx. Reduce Stress), more commonly known as the fight-or-flight response.
Once the stressful situation of life or death is over,...
... middle of paper ...
...ademic Medicine. Web. 09 Mar. 2014.
3. "Frequently Asked Questions about Depression." Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (Formerly NARSAD). Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, n.d. Web. 09 Mar. 2014.
4. Hamlin, Ardeana. "Bangor Daily News - Google News Archive Search." Bangor Daily News[Bangor] 2 Sept. 2008, Lifestyle ed.: C6. Bangor Daily News - Google News Archive Search. Web. 09 Mar. 2014.
5. Kime, Patricia. "Hobbies as Therapy." Navy Times. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Mar. 2014.
6. “Rx: Reduce Stress.” Consumer Reports On Health 17.11 (2005): 1. TOPICsearch. Web. 8 Mar. 2014
7. The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Depression (psychology)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 07 Mar. 2014.
8. Utiger, M.D. Robert D. "Human Endocrine System (anatomy)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 09 Mar. 2014.
Williamson, J. S. (2008). Depression. Phi Kappa Phi Forum, 88(1), 18-18, 24. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.library.capella.edu/docview/235187495?accountid=27965
Beck, A. T., Steer, R. A., & Brown, G. (1996). Beck Depression Inventory-II. Retrieved August 18, 2011from EBSCOhost.
Cortisol is in the class of hormones called glucocorticoids and affects almost every organ in the body. One of the most important functions of cortisol is to help regulate the body’s response to stress. Cortisol is also responsible for other necessary functions including: helping to maintain blood pressure and cardiovascular functions, helping to slow the immune system’s inflammatory response, helping to balance the effects of insulin in breaking down sugars for energy, helping to regulate the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats, and helping to maintain proper arousal of sense of well being. The amount of cortisol is precisely balanced and regulated by the brain’s hypothalamus.
Endocrinology can be defined as the study of the structure and function of the endocrine system (Tortora & Grabowski 1996). The endocrine system is composed cells, known as endocrine cells, which are distributed around the body and produce the chemical messengers known as hormones. Following secretion by endocrine cells, hormones travel in the blood where they affect tissues outside of their tissue of origin - and are therefore a form of cellular communication. In multicellular organisms, such as humans, cellular communication is essential for a number of body processes and the maintenance of homeostasis (Campbell, N.A. et al. 2015). In this essay, I am going to outline some of a number of body
Stress means different things to different people and stress effects people in different ways. Some people think stress is something that happens to them such as an injury or a promotion and others think that stress is what happens to our mind, body and behaviors in response to an event. While stress does involve events and how one responds to them these are not the critical factors, but our thoughts about the situation in which we are involved are the critical factors. Essentially, stress exists whenever homeostasis is disturbed or cannot be maintained (Stress and the Social System Course Guide, 2013). Homeostasis refers to the body's ability to keep the internal chemical and physical environments constant. As your body begins to react to stress several changes occur. These changes include increased heart rate, blood pressure and secretion of stimulatory hormones. Ones body prepares itself in stressful situations to either stand ground and fight or to flee from the situation. Walter Cannon called this stressful reaction the fight-or-flight response (Greenberg, 2012).
Chakaburtty, Amal. "Atypical Depression." 12 Sep 2009. n.pag. Depression Health Center. Web. 13 Nov 2011.
"Depression." NMH - Depression. National Institute of Mental Health. 1, 3. Web. 6 April 2014.
The endocrine system is a collection of glands in the body that help to control bodily metabolic activity by producing endocrine secretions. Although there are many glands in the endocrine system the main glands include the pancreas, ovaries, testes, kidneys, thyroid gland, parathyroid gland, adrenal glands, pineal gland, gastrointestinal tract, hypothalamus and pituitary gland.
Retrieved February 13, 2011, from MedicineNet: http://www.medterms.com. Jaffe-Gill, M. E., Segal, M. R., & Melinda, S. (2010, October). Stress Management. Retrieved February 13, 2011, from HelpGuide.org: http://www.helpguide.org. Kessler, R., Chiu, W., Demler, O., & Walters, E. (2005, June).
Each gland of the endocrine system is responsible for the releasing of different hormones, and those hormones trigger different activities in different places of the body. Hypothalamus, pineal body, anterior and posterior pituitary glands, adrenal gland, and thyroid gland are the main glands of the endocrine system while there are some other associated glands, as well. The endocrine system is known to be as the chemical information system. Some of the main functions of this system have to do with growth and development, metabolism, tissue function, sexual function, mood swings,
The 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary "College Depression: causes, duration, and coping. " Psychological Reports 77 (3): 858. The "Statistics About College Depression | World of Psychology. " Psych Central - Trusted mental health, depression, bipolar, ADHD and psychology information.
Stress is the combination of psychological, physiological, and behavioral reactions that people have in response to events that threaten or challenge them. Stress can be good or bad. Sometimes, stress is helpful, providing people with the extra energy or alertness they need. Stress could give a runner the edge he or she needs to persevere in a marathon, for example. This good kind of stress is called eustress. Unfortunately, stress is often not helpful and can even be harmful when not managed effectively. Stress could make a salesperson buckle under the pressure while trying to make a sales pitch at an important business meeting, for example. Moreover, stress can increase the risk of developing health problems, such as cardiovascular disease and anxiety disorders. This bad kind of stress is called distress, the kind of stress that people usually are referring to when they use the word stress.
Stress is an ongoing dilemma that occurs in each and everyone’s life. It is a factor that is undoubtedly a part of daily living. Due to the trivial problems that occur in people’s daily lives massive amounts of stress can arise. People perceive and manage stress in many different ways. The causes and effects of stress are numerous and one’s ability to manage stress is vital in maintaining healthy living.
Hans Selye defined stress as “the non-specific response of the body to any demand for change.” He later defined it as “the rate of wear and tear on the body.” Stress can be good because the pressure placed on someone can motivate them to complete the tasks ahead of them. From this, small amounts of stress can be positive. However, long periods of stress wear the body down and begin to have negative effects on the body which could be long term.
"Stress is a natural physical and mental reaction to both good and bad experiences which can be beneficial to your health and safety." (8 Ways Stress Is More Dangerous Than You Think) Everyone 's body responds to stress by releasing hormones, also, you brain receives more oxygen. Stress starts to occur when we become worried about a task or responsibilities we face. Major stress is called chronic stress. It can cause symptoms that can affect your health in a larger way. Some people may say that they succeed more under stress, but sadly, that’s rarely the case. Research has shown that "stress makes a person more likely to make mistakes" (Stress Symptoms, Signs, & Causes). For most people, stress is extremely normal for them that they don 't see it as anything but ordinary. However, stress can motivate someone while under pressure and even get you through a tough or dangerous