Managing stress

Stress is a word that is on the verge of overuse in our society. With all the bursting pressures of modern life, it seems stress has become the norm in our society rather than something that happens once in a while. Now it is not unusual to hear very young children say “I’m so stressed out”. The irony of being stressed is most of what happens to us under stress is on the inside. Stress can contribute to many diseases and conditions, from heart disease and cancer to allergies, digestive problems, headaches, ulcers, fatigue, anxiety and depression (to name a few).

The body was not designed to function under chronic stress. We are working longer, under more financial pressure and more ambitious and driven towards success and achievement. We are also putting more chemicals and toxins in our body than ever before via the food we eat and air we breathe. So what changes happen in the body under stress? Your brain detects a stimulus that initiates the flight or fight response and focuses energy on the life preserving systems. Your heart rate and blood pressure rise, muscles are activated, respiratory rate rises etc. At the same time, energy is diverted away from all those things that aren’t considered essential such as digestion, immunity and emotional wellbeing. Our adrenals become active and the brain releases stress chemicals such as adrenaline to make us more active.

All this sounds good, but what happens when the body remains for long periods in the heightened state? The heart begins to tire, toxins are trapped in the body, and other organ systems become sluggish (eg Digestion) and immunity drops. Under stress you become more forgetful, lose mental clarity, often unable to sleep well and fluctuations in weight or digestive issues.

It is important to take measures to manage our levels of stress. Here are some helpful tips: Assist your body to function at its best.

Chiropractic care has been shown to significantly reduce the effects of stress on the body and can improve your ability to cope with stress.

Eat healthy foods. Often when we’re stressed the last thing we want to do is cook a healthy meal, but fresh and nourishing foods is essential to fuel the body.

Exercise. This releases toxins, increases mental clarity and manages weight. Breathe. Pay attention to breathing into the base of your lungs which helps the body function better and makes you feel calmer. Plan. Having a routine that allows you to plan ahead will reduce stress and prioritising the things in your day does not allow the pressure to build up.