1 December 2020
If you guessed stress, then you are right. Stress is something that can never be avoided but something that can be managed. Did you know that there are three different types of stress? Today, I Invite you to spend a couple of minutes with me as I talk to you about the three types of stress being placed on your body, how chiropractic can help reduce the body’s response to stress, and other ways to help manage your stress.
Firstly, what are the three types of stress?
- Emotional – this is probably the one you think of when someone mentions the word stress. It is the feeling of emotional strain, pressure or overwhelm.
- Physical – the most apparent form coming from an acute or chronic illness or injury.
- Chemical stress – this is in result to the constant exposure of chemicals, either man made or overproduction from our own body i.e. think stress hormones.
All three are linked. We are often taught to separate them, but all three stresses are linked, and they can all create an imbalance in the body and affect the quality of life.
Learning to manage stress stems from supporting your nervous system. Your nervous system is the main communication system of the body. Everything comes and goes through this system. Your brain sends signals to your nerves through your spinal cord, which reach the various places within the body. When we are in a state of chronic stress, the nervous system is working in overdrive to try find its way to less stress and more balance.
Your nervous system is what is receiving the most benefit when you get your adjustments. When it is not working properly then the communication from brain-spinal cord- body parts can become altered, the response affected and thus the cycle will continue. When the channels are opened then the stress on the nervous system decreases causing the system to settle which allows it to do its job with ease. This is a reason why you may feel more relaxed or energized after an adjustment. This realignment supports your organs to do the jobs they were designed to do as well. You have a built-in chemical filtration system in the body, so a healthy nervous system also helps to reduce the chemical stress on your body received from our modern world but also reduces the need for the extra hormones the body may be producing to maintaining the stressed out state.
To sum up when you get adjustments, and your spine is being cared for then you whole body receives the benefit.
So, what can you do in between your adjustments that help reduce stress on the body?
Here are my top 6 tips that are easy to implement into your schedule every day.
- Breathing- Stop and consciously breathe. Six slow seconds in and six seconds out. Repeat this breath for at least 30-secs and you will instantly feel calmer.
2. Make a list of the top 5 things that when you do them it brings a since of fun, ease, and comfort. When feeling stressed then turn to that list and pick one.
3. Reduce your chemical exposure. Almost everything you consume or place on your body contains chemicals. Pick just one item and explore a chemical free alternative.
4. Express what you are experiencing. Maybe you like to journal, or you have someone to talk to. The key is to express vs keeping the stresses bottled up inside.
5. Get moving- it’s not a secret that exercise or body movement helps to alleviate stress in the body. When you exercise it releases endorphins which are your built-in painkillers. Plus, scientists have found that regular physical movement can decrease overall tension, support your mood, improve sleep and self-esteem. Even 5 mins makes a difference.
6.Use some calming essential oils- essential oils are powerful and have an immediate impact on your nervous system. Breathing in calming oils like lavender, wild orange, or frankincense they reach the limbic system in the brain (emotional center).
The power to take care of your body, reduce its response and exposure to stresses and make your nervous system and spinal health a priority is in the hands of the individual. Like Sir Jay Holder M.D., D. C, Ph.D, says “The nervous system holds the key to the body’s incredible potential to heal itself.”
Written by:
Missy Garcia BSN, CFMP
Resources:
Stress and Health https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2568977/
Impact of stress on body function https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5579396/
Physical Activity Reduces Stress https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/related-illnesses/other-related-conditions/stress/physical-activity-reduces-st
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