Many of us know, intellectually, that our body has the ability to carry stress. We might see evidence of this with an upset stomach before we have to give a speech or even acknowledge that the headache that “came out of nowhere” is related to a work deadline. But we still tend to minimize the relationship between the stress in our lives and what shows up in our body.
I’ve often said that I think we are designed to last in “fight or flight” for about 10 minutes. In that time, we will either get away from the lion chasing us, or we will get eaten by it. We are not designed to live in this state- yet so many of us do!
I recently saw a patient that I hadn’t seen in some time. She was doing great! She thanked me because I had gently suggested that her lower back pain (which was causing her much distress and bringing her in for weekly appointments) was more related to emotional challenges and what was going on in her life than a biomechanical issue with her spine. She jokingly asked if I was trying to put myself out of work!
I was pleased to hear that she was doing so much better. What amazes me is that her “situation” didn’t particularly change. She still has the same challenges in her personal life and her job is just as taxing- both physically and mentally. But these things are not affecting her the same way. She is no longer carrying everyone else’s baggage and has created boundaries in her life that allow her body to be at peace.
Pain is not a bad thing. It is a sign from our body that we need to make a change. It is not a sign that we have an Advil deficiency and need to mask that pain! When we don’t deal with the root of the pain, it will continue to plague us. We may not be able to “solve” the situation any more than this patient did, but awareness can lead us to increasing our self-care or managing the challenge differently.
Somato Respiratory Integration (SRI) and other forms of breathwork are a way to take stock of how your body is being affected by tension. This is a great tool to use between your visits to our office. (Click here to see our “how to” YouTube video). Network Chiropractic helps us to recognize where and how our body is carrying stress. I frequently have patients tell me they “felt fine” until they lie on the table and then recognized how tight or sore their body was. Ignorance may be “bliss”, but it will lead to greater problems. Getting regular care gives you tools to release stored tension patterns and function optimally.
We are all affected by stress, but we can take steps to minimize its effect on our body and on our life!