“Ongoing, Overwhelming & Oppressive”
Levels of Stress, Anxiety, Depression,
Emotional Suffering, Body Pain and Poor Sleep
The Chronic Stress Cycle should be viewed as the mechanism or even a map that sets the stage for PTSD because when sustained long enough, provides a fertile ground in which PTSD may proliferate and worsen to the point of suicide. No suicide seems to occur absent PTSD as far as we can tell. Although there is no way currently to measure it, we hypothesize that chronic, long-term maladaptive breathing precedes all suicide for sustained periods of time.
But how can breathing wrong do all this? It’s because breathing influences thinking, emotions, and behavior more than any other single factor.
The first of seven components in the Chronic Stress Cycle are the patients’ diaphragm muscle which is unable to function properly. This singular problem causes a disturbing chain-reaction of far-reaching bio-mechanical, bio-chemical, and significant neurological consequences. Known as Diaphragmatic Inhibition (DI), the lumbar and cervical spine are now mechanically stressed and compressed as the diaphragm no longer provides core stability. DI also decreases spinal respiration causing pain and rigidity of the low back and increases spinal vulnerability to injury and pain. Chemically speaking, the oxygen to carbon dioxide ratios are disrupted causing the brain to remain stubbornly in the fight/flight response mode. This is the point at which mental health is directly affected purely by the fact of a hidden breathing malfunction.
① In Response to Trauma the Diaphragm Shuts Down:
The first reflexive reaction to trauma is to the respiration center in the brain. This is the beginning of a long chain-reaction of elements leading to the onset of PTSD. The Pneumotaxic region of the respiratory center in the brain immediately switches to non-diaphragmatic breathing and dramatically increases chest-driven breathing up to seven times normal breathing volume instantly. The assumption has been that such respiratory mechanics return to pre-trauma levels in speed (breaths per minute) and type (chest vs. diaphragmatic). This is demonstrably false and has been called out here as “the (critical) false unconscious assumption.” The chest becomes the sole breathing mechanism resulting in low-grade but constant de-oxygenation of the entire system also known as “hypoxia.” This is not hypoxia that is severe enough to be noticed by medically trained professionals as they only react to breathing that is severe enough in its presentation as to be ‘immediately requiring attention.’ This breathing issue is more subtle and treacherous because it isn’t noticed, and it is with the inflicted 24/7. Hypoxia leads to pervasive anxiety and low brain dominance of the limbic region which will be discussed later. Making the issue more masked and insidious is the fact that oxygen saturation levels may appear ‘normal,’ but this reading reveals only the oxygen in the blood but doesn’t indicate actual delivery of oxygen.
THIS IS THE CRITICAL ISSUE!
② The Clenched Jaw
The next issue has to do with the jaw joint and associated structures. It is theorized that the "Fight/Flight/Freeze/Fein" (FFFF) reflex had to have a ‘buddy’ or secondary indicator to assist in the FFFF reactions to make certain the reflex was put to the top priority of thinking and action. Known as the TMJ, this joint possesses more mechano-receptors than any other joint in the human body. When the FFFF is triggered the jaw clinches tightly. That pressure affects the remaining muscles of the body causing them to ‘splint’ or tighten in anticipation of lethal activity5. The then global muscle contraction occurs with a rather distinguished and long line of chain reactions. Keep in mind that the backdrop to these reactions includes a substantial increase in needed oxygen while the body is now providing less oxygen delivery to the brain and body. This problem creates “oxygen disparity” – meaning more is demanded than delivered.
③ Muscle Dysfunction and loss of Neuromuscular Integrity
Muscles that are constantly placed on high or higher alert are not designed to, nor able to adapt to, ongoing muscle contraction(s). Rather, all muscles except the heart are designed with a rest cycle in mind for normal function. So as a result, many muscles begin to dysfunction from the lack of rest which leads to injury and/or pain constituting yet another mini trauma nested within the global trauma. Over time the collapse of global neuro-muscular integrity declines, furthering the suffering.
④ Joint Compression
Another inevitable result is “joint compression.” This is a problem which is not only painful but adds to the disabilities already suffered by the combat soldier. Many times, this problem leads to surgical procedures risking yet another trauma which often may lead to the necessity of pain medications in which an estimated 30% then become addicted to these medications compounding the PTSD.
⑤ Global Inflammation and Body Pain
The body’s common reactions now are the release of ongoing inflammation as a natural response to the above issues. A key element here is the fact that inflammation is associated with heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and other major diseases6. By this point in the Stress Cycle pain has become a significant clinical issue requiring intervention. Anti-inflammatory medications are commonly used here and may help to exacerbate the problems through their well-documented side-effects especially if taken over time frames exceeding 6 months. The pain and the anticipation of pain nearly always lead to higher scores in state anxiety and depression. And since body pain produces another stress reflex, the demand for O2 in increased again.
⑥ Poor Sleep means NON-Recovery and Hopelessness
With poor sleep all key indicators of PTSD will rise as per scores of examples in the literature. Treatment focusing on sleep does alleviate both sleep disturbances and PTSD symptom severity. A growing body of evidence shows that disturbed sleep is more than a secondary symptom of PTSD - it seems to be a core feature. As a core feature, we can see that in the absence of this most basic nutrient for the overall recovery of the brain and body when missing denies the veteran even the most basic need – the need for sleep. Sleep issues like insomnia or short sleep leads to higher secretion of adrenaline and cortisol causing exacerbation of symptoms such as agitation and hyper-vigilance not to mention increased body pain.
The overall result of sleep problems is higher stress states. Anxiety is increased for example, via decreased focus and concentration abilities leading to the inability to complete tasks such that the completion helps move the life situation in a forward direction. The military is the body that originally developed sleep deprivation models. They found that in only 3 days of sleep insomnia that psychosis develops – a critical error on any battlefield. In civilian life it is just as deleterious. And life doesn’t just ‘let up’ as a battle would but rather continues without interruption providing a particularly difficult challenge that so many simply surrender to by taking their own lives furthering the unnecessary suffering for their families.
⑦ The Stress Cycle Repeats: Retriggered Paradoxical and Pendulum Breathing Becomes More Embedded
Completing the cycle here is the retriggering of the initial symptoms of rapid shallow breathing and its many sub-variants. This is the original reflexive reaction triggered by all trauma. The Fight/Flight/Freeze/Fein reflex is reignited again and again increasing the suffering and hopelessness of the combat vet to partake in a normal life, as they would define it.
This is patently unacceptable, particularly as it is NOT necessary suffering due to the development of ways and means to trigger the exact opposite reflex – the Relaxation Reflex. This Reflex has every bit the voracity and speed of animation or activation that the Stress Reflexes have. The Stress Cycle graphic illustrates the basic events in the sequence as they happen within the physiology as we know it to unfold. This author finds very little evidence that the Stress Cycle stages, or sequence is in dispute.
What may be in question is the manner in which we have sequenced the events. But the graphic herein might further the clarity of its unfolding and it would be prudent to understand that if anything, there are more events as per the details involved. Just in the brain for example there are many significant alterations in brain regions and chemical, electrical, and functional specifics that are noted but would not serve our purposes well to elucidate all of them.
Repairing the Damage of Chronic Stress
A weakness has been found in an otherwise imposing matrix of interlocking PTSD symptoms. The fact of their interlinked functions can be turned against themselves causing a cascade effect of simultaneous symptom reversal and automatic mental and physical healing. The effects cause the rapid progressive restoration of the healing mechanisms of the patient’s body and brain. The critical point to repair is the breathing system and then to recalibrate the body to become naturally stress-resistant and relaxed. Breathing protocols and neuromuscular calibrations are unique to this powerful method and performed at my office treating those suffering from the effects of Chronic Stress Cycle-Syndrome (a.k.a. PTSD) for both veterans and civilians.
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