STRESS LESS: UNLOCKING A CALMER MINDSET
The holiday season is in full swing which means stress levels begin to rise. In this week’s blog, we will talk about stress, discuss what it does to the body, and explain what we can do to help.
What is Stress?
Stress is a physiological response caused by a physical, mental or emotional response. A physical stressor occurs when a repetitive motion or physical trauma induces pain. A mental/emotional response occurs when stressful events such as work, family, friends, death, etc. result in the release of stress hormones.
There are three different hormones that respond to a stress response. These hormones are cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine and they are stored in the adrenal glands, a gland on top of each kidney. Below is a brief description of each hormone.
Cortisol- Its main function is that it regulates your body’s stress response, but it also helps control the body’s use of fats, proteins, carbohydrates, and metabolism.
Epinephrine (Adrenaline)- It plays an important role in the body’s “fight-or-flight” response. This response allows different bodily functions such as pupil dilation, smooth muscle contraction, increased heart rate, etc.
Norepinephrine (Noradrenaline)- It also plays an important role in the body’s “fight-or-flight” response. Norepinephrine does the opposite bodily functions that epinephrine does such as pupil constriction, smooth muscle relaxation, and decreases heart rate; however, it could also increase heart rate and blood pressure.
Common symptoms of stress include tightness, muscle tension, digestive distress, chest pain, headaches, and/or anxiety. To learn more about how stress interferes with the nervous system, refer to, “Calming Mind: Adjusting Through Stress, a blog posted earlier in the year.
What Can We Do to Help?
Although we posted a blog on stress earlier this year, it’s important to briefly reexamine the topic because of the holiday season. This is a friendly reminder to take a few moments to breathe, relax and realize that everything will be just fine.
Remember that it is our job to remove nerve interference. Additionally, getting adjustments regularly will calm the nervous system and remove sympathetic overload from the body. During this time of the year, patients forget about what means most: their health. They put treatment on hold in order to prepare for several holidays between now and the new year. We know that the holidays are busy and stressful but getting an adjustment once a week makes a huge difference.
Aside from getting adjusted, carve time for yourself, even if it is just 30 minutes. Do something that you enjoy to clear your mind and relieve stress. Whether playing sports, reading, doing puzzles or crosswords, watching TV, working out, going out with friends, or even sleeping, studies show that doing something you enjoy helps keep the mind clear and significantly reduces stress.
To simplify, don’t let the holiday season get the worst of you. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and know that everything will be just fine. If you have any questions about stress, please call us at (724) 547-3377 and check out our website at www.laurelmountainchiro.com for more content.
Yours In Health,
Brian M. Steinert, DC
Larry E. Wilkins, DC