Stress is a part of all of our lives. We try to balance work with having a social life, exercising, raising kids, and on top of everything, staying healthy and happy in the process. It’s a lot! So it completely makes sense that many of us begin searching for ways to unwind and minimize stress.
If you are considering visiting the chiropractor as a way to de-stress and improve your overall wellness, but are not sure if it is the right method of treatment for you, check out the following information on just how beneficial regular visits to the chiropractor can be for your mental health.
How Stress Works
Stress is the body’s way of responding to demands or threats. When your senses feel danger approaching – whether this is real or in your mind – the body defends itself by reacting with the automatic process known as the “fight or flight” response.
This fight or flight response, also known as the stress response, is the body’s method to protect itself from any perceived danger. It can work with you and keep you focused, alert, and energetic. For example, the fight or flight response is what kicks in when you see an accident occur in front of your car and slam on your breaks to avoid becoming part of it.
However, beyond a certain point, stress stops being helpful and begins to cause immense damage to your well-being, mood, productivity, friendships, relationships, health, and quality of life.
How the Body Reacts to Stress
There are three main categories of stress that we can experience: bodily, environmental, and emotional. They can be described by the following:
- Bodily stress: This type of stress can include lack of sleep, illness, injury, and malnutrition.
- Environmental stress: This type of stress can include sudden environmental changes such as loud noises, as well as world events, such as politics and war.
- Emotional stress: This type of stress can increase due to a variety of life events, such as relocating, beginning a new job, ending an emotional relationship, and other regular personal interactions.
All of the above variations of stress can have a negative impact on the mind and body. Stress works by igniting the central nervous system, causing your heart rate and breathing to increase. When this feeling occurs often, pain, anxiety, irritability, and depression can occur.
How the Chiropractor Helps Manage Stress
Regular visits to the chiropractor cannot promise to rid the body of stress forever. However, your chiropractor can work with you to help relieve stress symptoms. The more your body experiences stress, the more sensitive it becomes to physical imbalances and pain. Chiropractic adjustments can help to align the spine and bring the body back into balance, relieving pain and other symptoms associated with stress.
Regular chiropractic treatments can also help to improve circulation, which is essential to relieving muscle tension and achieving a balanced state within the body. It also relieves the fight or flight response, allowing the body to rest and heal.
Stress can have a major impact on our overall health and wellness, and should never be ignored. If you are experiencing stress, take care of yourself and seek out treatment to help alleviate the symptoms. There is no reason you should be living with chronic stress when you can begin improving your quality of life today.
