We all know stress is bad. Stress can make you ill. Work-related stress is now the number one cause of employee sickness in the UK. But did you know that stress can also accelerate the aging process?
Stress can deteriorate brain function, inhibit cellular repair, restrict collagen production (leading to fine lines, wrinkles and sagging skin), and damage hormone secretion.
DHEA-S is an important steroid hormone. It’s vital for maintaining our weight and energy levels and protects us from the ravages of the stress hormone, cortisol.
Any increase in cortisol affects our immune system and memory function and can accelerate the aging process.
Studies suggest that regular hypnosis sessions not only significantly increases levels of DHEA-S, but they also significantly decreases cortisol levels – thereby helping you on not one, but two levels.
“By managing and conditioning changes in perception and emotional responses, a substantial affective balance in cortisal/DHEA-S ration can be achieved with considerable effects on stress reduction, emotional stability, performance and health outcomes.” (Johansson and Unesthal, Stress Reducing Regulative Effects of Mental Training with Self-Hypnosis on the Secretion of Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate (DHEA-S) and Cortisol in Plasma: A Pilot Study, Contemporary Hypnosis 23 (3), 2006)