Mindfulness Stress Reduction Programme

When we experience a high level of stress, the body goes into a state of Fight or Flight, which triggers a physical response to the emotional experiences. The stress response occurs when the part of your brain called the amygdala perceives a threat. In response, a flood of hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol, are released, causing a range of physiological changes, as shown in the diagram below.  The body becomes prepared to go into action, heightening your senses, among other potential life-preserving measures.

But the stress response isn’t just a reaction to an obvious threat. It can be triggered by anything your brain perceives as a threat—like the psychological stress of loss, overwhelm, loneliness, or physical discomfort, such as chronic pain. Regardless of the cause, the brain and the body react in the same way, to prepare you to fight, freeze, or flee. 

Mindfulness practice can help to reduce the amygdala stress response activity. As a result we are able to cope with stressful situations more easily and are able to respond to any given situation rather react to it, reducing the long-tern damaging effects on our health and well-being. 

The MBSR Programme is specifically designed to help people quieten the mind. This then becomes easier for people to do when faced with stressful situations. MBSR helps you to to live in a way that incorporates key aspects of mindfulness, presence, awareness and a sense of being in touch with yourself and the life around.