Kan Stress verminderen door het toepassen van hartcoherentie

SUMMARY
In this study the human being is presented as a dynamic system, that functions in continuously
changing circumstances, aiming at balance. Selfregulating capacities can keep the human being in
balance within the boundaries of the state of equilibrium, however when new or ‘threatening’
circumstances have disturbed this situation, new adaptation stategies have to be developed and executed
to find a new balance. This state of imbalance is called ‘stress’ and occurs on low (cellular) as well as high
functional levels (behavior). Stress on a higher functional level can be observed by the brain and results
almost directly in the activation of the physiological system to support the development and
implementation of adaptation processes. This physiological support is called ‘arousal’ and has specific
characteristics on the levels of hormones, autonomic nervous system, brainwaves and in mutual
synchronization of the physiological rhythms.
Stress can lead to adaptation processes, in which the tuning between the involved parts will end
up in a new state of balance (approach), but it can also result in a chaotic process, moving further from
balance (avoidance). The popular name ‘stress’ (lack of balance during longer time) is related to the
avoidance state and reduction of this ‘stress’ can be reached by a change of state in the direction of
‘approach’.
The approach- or avoidance state influences physiological, physical, emotional, cognitive and
behavioral domains. Because of interconnection between these domains, the change of state can start
within all these separate domains.
In the physiological domain this can be done by increasing the mutual synchronization between
important physiological systems. These systems, including the cardiovascular system of the heart and
bloodcirculation, show in balance a 10 second rhythm. Because of the direct influence of the respiration
on the heartrate, a respiration cycle of about 10 seconds can increase the synchronization in a more
balanced direction (approach state) in heart rate. The increased regularity in the variability of the heartrate
is called ‘heartcoherence’ and is related to the state of approach.
In this study a training is given to use heartcoherence, that is increased by respiration in a 10
second rhythm, to reduce stress. The study aims at investigating the effect of this form of stressreduction
in the field of physiological rhythms, the autonomic nervous system, the brainwaves and the physical,
emotional and cognitive aspects of stress.
Fourteen continuously stressed mothers of ADHD-, PDD-NOS-, autistic and other restless
children took part in the research. All mothers participated in a practical session with the biofeedback
method ‘Freeze Framer’ of the Institute of HeartMath to increase their heartcoherence with the respiration
method in a 10 second rhythm. Adjacent to this practical session the experimental group got 4
trainingsessions with explanation about stressprocesses and awareness of the possibilities and motivation
to implement heartcoherence in stressfull situations at home. The mothers have been asked to practice
the respiration method during five times a day for half a minute to automatize the process.
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