We all experience stress and anxiety at times, and for the most part stress is a normal (if not advantageous) physiological response, but what you may not know is what it is doing to your body when you are stressed for an extended period of time.
The stress response causes an influx of the hormone cortisol and initiates the fight or flight response. Meaning, our bodies go into a state of alertness, causing our heart rate to increase, pumping greater volumes of blood around the body. When we are in this heightened state, the nervous system prioritises our ‘survival’ and redirects blood away from areas that are deemed unnecessary. For example, blood is redirected form the gastrointestinal tract (gut), to areas such as your leg muscles, to help you run away for the ‘threat’ endangering your survival. When our body is in a heightened state for an extended period of time, other areas of our body can become affected as well, such as:
Gut issues, i.e. IBS
Difficulty sleeping
Reduced immune system
Increased muscle tension, leading to headaches and migraines
Jaw pain and dental issues
Increased blood pressure
Predisposed to developing mental health issues (ie. anxiety or depression)
What can you do to help with stress?
Recognising when you are stressed is the first step. Learning to manage the effects of stress and, if possible, figuring out what induced the state of stress can also help to provide short term relief and long term management skills.
Some ways of helping manage stress include:
Exercising regularly
Eating a healthy, balanced diet
Getting involved in activities and hobbies you enjoy
Having a regular sleep routine
Participating in a relaxing activity such as yoga, meditation or mindfulness
Seeking professional help, as needed
Stress and anxiety are a part of the human experience. At Retrain Health, our osteopathic and remedial massage practitioners take stress, and it's potential influence over our patient's physical, psychological and physiological well-being, and tailor their treatments to suit.
Retrain Health is based in the Northern Rivers, NSW. From our Byron Bay and Ballina clinics, our team provides a range of quality healthcare services and products.
Retrain Health offers osteopathy, remedial massage and strength and conditioning sessions with qualified practitioners.
If you are interested in finding out more information or would like to book an appointment, please contact the clinic by phone (02) 6680 7447, send us an email or click here to book an appointment online.