Placebo Theory and Stress Paper Example

Terms Associated with the Concept depression, stress, emotions, anxious, treatment, placebo, family stress,

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Concept Definition

Today, the healthcare system is burdened by the mental health and symptomatic related conditions that continue to affect many patients. Stress is considered one of the psychological disorders that affect millions of people across the world. From work environments, family related issues, and substance abuse, stress continues to affect many individuals. Therefore, the placebo effect may prove to be a useful clinical tool while treating stress-related conditions. However, there is always the need to increase the research attention and investigate the impacts of placebo outside the laboratories and beyond the experimental pain (Hammen 12). The placebo treatment can lead to the short term alleviation of anxiety, stress, as well as the symptoms of depression. The mind can be a powerful healing tool when used appropriately. From the psychological perspective, the brain can convince the body that the fake treatment is the real thing that is all needed. The above scenario is called the placebo effect that can stimulate healing process. The placebo theory in stress management is more than positive thinking, a situation where a person believes that a treatment procedure will work. The above situation involves creating a stronger connection between the brain and the body so that they can work together in the process of stress management. The placebo often works on the symptoms modulated by the brain such as the perception of pain. Placebo usually works to ensure that an individual feels better; however, in some cases, they may not provide effective cure.

Nonetheless, when it comes to stress management, placebo can prove to be an effective psychological approach to treatment. The effect of placebo can be translated to the real-life setting when it comes to the short term reduction of anxiety, symptoms and other psychological problems in different populations (Greenberg 17). While undertaking the treatment of psychological distress, placebo may prove to be useful in addition to the repertoire. Also, the information given with the treatment may be one of the important considerations by the practitioners.

Stress is a state of human nature that makes an individual feel emotionally or physically depressed due to the unbearable condition of life that comes from different life dimensions. Family stress is one problem that makes family members feel frustrated, angry, and nervous. Some of the causes of family stress are the severe illness of family members, financial difficulty and drug abuse (Boss, Pauline, Chalandra, and Jay 21). Stress within families can also be reduced through working together as a family through creating activities that keep every individual within the family busy. The effects of family stress include depression, anger, and frustrations within the families. The paper explains some of the causes, interventions, and results of family stress to eliminate the experiences of stress.

Family stress may be reduced by working together as a family to establish unity and self-confidence among family members. For example, the parents need to share their feelings with the family members to create lines through which every family member may feel comfortable to talk about what they are going through in life. On the other hand, the parents need to educate their children on the activities that they should be doing within the families. For instance, the family needs to provide a break that the children should use as their part of leisure to play with their friends to minimize the incidences of stress.

Application #1

When it comes to stress management, the placebo theory is an important approach that enables family members to overcome the depressing situations. For a long time, family members have enjoyed strong support from the family members through hard work assistance. My father was the sole breadwinner and pillar on which every person in the family would draw emotional and physical support. However, a traumatic event changed this otherwise well-ordered setting of the family. Father died due to a fatal accident and was the only person who lost his life among everyone who was on board the vehicle. The family went into a moment of chill and depression as no one could not imagine that dad was no more. Initially, my mother put on a brave face as if she would comfort us, her children, but the memories soon overwhelmed him, and she became uncontrollable. She became emotionally unstable and subsequently irritable and anxious. These symptoms were clear manifestations that my father's death had been a tragic life event that affected members of the family differently. My mother presented long term chronic symptoms such as restlessness, high irritability, and anxiety. The other siblings had expressed acute effects of the feeling of loss. These including sobbing and recounting the very many moments we had with father before he died. The entire family went through an initial period of denial, but then after his burial, people slowly developed their ways of coming to terms with the loss.

Nonetheless, my mother who had now to assume the role of a sole breadwinner without her companion and comforter underwent a long period of trying to adjust. Probably, she was worried about the impending financial burden and enormous parental responsibility that she had to take. The thought that had relied on my father as the source of financial support for the family yet he was now no more disturbed her. She was worried that due to her lack of income, she might not be able to educate us as desired. On the other hand, financial problems would also mean that she could not offer us adequate groceries for better nutrition hence her frustration. Death was a naturally induced family separation. The children became apprehensive and sad due to the loss of a father figure. Virtually all my siblings, I included, became depressed due to missing the critical fatherly love, direction, and support as we grew. Sometimes we felt emotionally neglected.

Application #2

Throughout my studies, I have always strived to attain the best academic results that please my parents. I believe that the best I could do to show my appreciation for their unceasing investment in my schooling was to excel. My life in school was dominated by the fear of failure and anxiety to shine in satisfying my parents. Every examination period in school presented a moment of mixed reactions and a tragic encounter in which I had to balance my ultimate potential to pass and the likelihood of failure which would imply disappointing my parents. Therefore, my preparation for examination was tense, dominated by adrenaline rush and emotional instability. My need to pursue excellence imposed frustrations on me and made me undergo momentary depression. Any feeling of unachieved academic goals resulted in me showing both acute and chronic reactions, which varied from falling asleep, the sense of a frequent headache. I also became angry with myself if I failed while other friends passed. I always had a propensity to engage in fights with others. Academic stress created tension within the family especially when my parents admonished me for failing to meet the target that they had set for me. The above situation inevitably resulted in internal stress and intrapersonal war.

Application #3

The family needs to eliminate certain aspects that cause stress within their family by adopting the ways that bring unity to the family. The above scenario may include, coming together, sharing of labor and sharing ideas as a family. The family should also think about the problems that are affecting them to create practical solutions to their problems.

Author of the Concept:

Hammen, Constance. "Stress and depression." Annu. Rev. Clin. Psychol. 1 (2005): 293-319.

Greenberg, Jerrold S. Comprehensive Stress Management Ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill Companies.(2017) ISBN: 9780078028663

Boss, Pauline, Chalandra M. Bryant, and Jay A. Mancini. Family stress management: A contextual approach. Sage Publications, 2016.