A thought isn’t just a thought; it has the power to transform your life and your health.

Our central nervous system, consisting of our brains and spinal cord, are in charge of all functions within the body. If this system is compromised due to subluxation, its ability to communicate, heal, adapt and restore is diminished. Where there is a subluxation, there is stress! Some effects of subluxation may be immediate and others may take time to appear. There are 3 types of stress that we can endure: 1.) Physical stress: injuries, impacts, repetitive trauma and overuse 2.) Mental and emotional stress 3.) Toxic stress: chemicals, medications, poor diet etc.

Let’s take some time to focus on mental and emotional stress. Emotional and mental stressors cause 80% of subluxations within the body. Thoughts are truly that powerful! Your thoughts within your mind are a portion of your brain’s activities, your body cannot tell the difference between a thought and something that is actually occurring within your life. If our thoughts are often stress driven like those of fear, worry or anger this places the body into a stress response. Repeated mental and emotional stress has the potential to cause big harm to the body. So what is a stress response? Well, it’s your body’s survival mode! When it encounters a threat it believes is dangerous, it initiates a FIGHT OR FLIGHT reaction within the body. This is called your sympathetic nervous system. When this system is activated, your body is solely focused on survival. To do that, a few things happen within your body: your heart rate goes up, so your blood pumps faster, your muscles become more tense. Other organ systems get deprioritized, so your digestion slows, your immune function goes down and tissue repair is forgotten. Your whole body changes! This doesn’t seem like a state we should live in, right? RIGHT! So, how do we change that?!

Well, we can eliminate stressors of course. A stressor is attached to the mental and emotional stress. But stressors are everywhere, and simply removing the stressor doesn’t mean that the body views that stress has been removed entirely, therefore the stress response continues, not a true release! Chronic stress can be detrimental to one’s health. If we are living in FIGHT OR FLIGHT, our body cannot heal the way it is supposed to.

So how do you go about initiating healing from stressors in your life? When the stress response is initiated within the body due to any of the three ways mentioned above, the stress response cycle has begun. In order to help the body feel safe and release it from this fight or flight mode, this cycle needs to be completed. By completing this cycle, you are telling your body that it is NOT in danger and it is safe to relax and resume life. There are 7 easy ways to help the body complete stress cycles and feel safe to return to a calm state..

• Physical Activity-this is the most efficient and most well known.
• Breathing long breaths with deep exhalation (fun fact, this is the only autonomic system response we have control over)
• Positive social interaction or reassurance by loved ones in your life.
• Laughter- this reaction to joy as a simple pleasure.
• Affection-physical touch or hug.
• Crying-physically releasing the emotion from the body with this action.
• Creative expression- engaging in creative activities today leads to more energy, excitement and enthusiasm.

Along with these things, chiropractic care should be the top choice in helping the body to not only heal, but to adapt to the stressors that you experience.

Chiropractic adjustments correct subluxation within the body. If your nervous system is compromised, it cannot communicate or heal properly. Stress is able to overwhelm your body and cause issues. By removing interference, the body has the opportunity to regenerate and reconnect! This allows the body to ADAPT. The stress response is not a bad thing, it’s necessary for survival, but we shouldn’t be living in that state. By staying adjusted and allowing your body to function optimally, the body is able to adapt better to the stressors that you experience. Let’s face it STRESS is not going away! So, when you DO experience it, whatever type it may be, your body is clear and ready to handle it appropriately. It understands how to process it well, encouraging it to continue to heal and restore! Chiropractic is a key tool to have on your journey to mental and physical health and wellness.

Managing stress doesn’t have to cause you stress. Of the seven ways to complete the body’s cycle of stress, choosing one that works for you will simply be enough! Along with chiropractic care, use these tools to help you reach optimum health. Choose what brings you joy and choose to love yourself. Stewarding ourselves through life’s joyful moments and prioritizing your health is such a lifesaver! Take the next step in your health or give someone that push they may need to take charge of their health from within and throughout!