Stress is a major buzzword and a term unavoidable in today’s modern society and day-to-day life.
It affects not only our mental wellbeing but also our physical health, particularly the spine. When stress becomes chronic, it can affect posture, muscle tension, and even the way the nervous system communicates with the rest of the body.
We all know the term ‘stress’, but how well do we really understand it?
At its core, stress is a physiological response to a perceived threat. Its primary function is protection, a survival mechanism that prepares the body for action. While this response is vital in short bursts, prolonged activation can have significant effects on our musculoskeletal system, overall health, and daily performance.
The next step in understanding this connection is to explore the different types of stress and how each affects the body, starting with the distinction between positive and negative stress.
Types of stress: good vs bad
Stress can be categorised into two types: eustress, which is positive, and distress, which is negative.
Eustress (positive stress)
Eustress is our body’s response to positive external stressors that we proactively choose in life. This is when we grow and become more resilient and adaptable to forces and strains which we previously could not manage.
All your achievements and progress in life can be attributed to your body’s positive stress response. These would include proactive exercises, reading, problem-solving, exposure to new environments, acquisition of new skills, and diverse experiences.
Distress (negative stress)
Negative stress, however, is a reactive response to an external stimulus that is damaging to the system, resulting in an unhealthy adaptation due to the excessive or repetitive nature of the strain.
What makes it so interesting is that not all negative stress responses are caused by unhealthy or toxic stressors.
Before diving deeper, it’s helpful to understand how our body’s perception of control influences our stress response in practical terms.
An interesting study
A fascinating study was conducted on two rats to investigate the relationship between exercise and stress. The first rat was allowed to freely choose when it wanted to run on the running wheel.
The second rat was kept on the running wheel and was forced to run when rat one decided to exercise.
The outcome was that rat one reaped all the benefits of exercise, with healthy outcomes, whereas rat two experienced all the adverse effects of severe stress and became unhealthy. Both completed the same amount of time exercising; however, rat one was proactive and rat two was reactive.
The lesson from this example appears to be that if you’re going to do something stressful, the best approach is to be in a mindset that wants to do it.
Balancing the stress response: sympathetic vs parasympathetic
Chronic states of distress have become highly prevalent, and one of the primary reasons why people seek our help at Remedy.
The stress state is a global response that affects the entire body, from the way the nervous system communicates information to the release of specific chemicals, organ activity, spinal posture, and muscle tension and tone. There is nothing unhealthy with this response if the perceived threat goes away.
If we remain in this state for prolonged periods, then trouble starts to arise.
Let’s return to the animal kingdom to provide a clear example of the nervous system switching between the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic systems. The sympathetic system is associated with the fight-or-flight stress response, while the parasympathetic system is characterised by the rest, heal, and digest system.
The deer, for example, is a prey animal that spends 99% of its time in the parasympathetic state, grazing in a very relaxed manner. As soon as the deer becomes aware of a possible threat through its sensory organs, i.e., the nervous system, a huge cascade of stress chemicals is released, and the previously unassuming creature is now fully charged, highly alert, upright and perfectly poised.
If the threat is real, the deer will explode into true flight mode and literally run for its life until the danger has passed and there is no longer a perceived threat. What’s impressive is the prey animals’ ability to just as quickly switch off the stress response and return to their parasympathetic system.
It will return to grazing as if nothing happened.
Why humans struggle to manage stress
If only humans were this simple.
We, of course, have a vast database of stored memories allowing us to relive previous experiences that provoked a state of distress.
Even a thought alone can create a real physiological stress state, even with the knowledge that there is no possibility of physical harm. We also do not require life-or-death situations to activate the fight-or-flight setting; it’s a matter of perception.
Stressors include traffic, the worry of being late, work, home and online environments, relationships, finances, daily physical activity or lack thereof, and the foods and drinks we consume.
All these aspects of daily life can create chronic states of mild distress, and if not corrected or dealt with properly, will lead to the effects of a chronic stress state, which is now becoming so prevalent in modern society.
As stated above, stressors can be physical, chemical, or mental, and differ from one person to the next.
Just as one person’s fear is another person’s pleasure, the external impression is the same, but one’s perception and response may be completely different.
The tell-tale signs that you are in a state of stress include a sense of fatigue and even mental or physical exhaustion. It can become difficult to remain focused or sit/stand without aches and pains. Sleeping and digestive issues are closely linked to chronic stress as well as neck/shoulder, headaches and back pain.
How chiropractic care can help
Chiropractic care provides a practical and evidence-based approach to mitigating the physical effects of stress on the body. Improving spinal health and supporting nervous system communication helps restore the body’s natural ability to adapt, recover, and stay balanced.
In-clinic care
The nervous system is the communicating system, interpreting external impressions and creating the physical expression.
For our team of chiropractors, we focus on the spinal vertebrae and cranial bones that protect the central nervous system and act as the centre pole for the entire muscular system to attach to. Using Chiropractic techniques, we can improve joint movement, restore a happier and healthier alignment of posture, and release muscles and fascia that carry all that tension.
By removing pressure and strain on these structures, your nervous system will be more inclined to switch into rest, relaxation, and healing mode. Our clients often comment on how they feel lighter and more mobile, relaxed with less pressure in their bodies, and frequently report improvements in the quality of their sleep.
These are great indications that stress levels have significantly dropped and demonstrate how chiropractic adjustments can improve nervous system function and overall wellbeing.
What you can do at home
There are several ways we can create high stress levels daily that can be highly beneficial in how we respond to later stressors that day.
A short but intense period of exercise triggers a strong fight-or-flight response, which, once completed, automatically creates a calming effect on the body. Thermal stress is one we can all create regularly through morning cold showers. As you can imagine, the initial shock of temperature produces a primitive survival mode, and once completed, it will have a similar effect to the exercise.
What both these practices have in common is that they are a real challenge.
A freezing shower first thing on a winter’s morning is extremely daunting, but if you choose to complete it, there are huge rewards. This builds your resilience, making the day-to-day challenges that much easier to digest and respond to. An additional benefit of completing these challenges in the morning is the positive impact it will have on your evening.
Your body has internal clocks and timers that release hormones to facilitate healthy physiological states at various points throughout the day.
A natural and healthy transition towards the chemical balance that promotes rest, digestion, and sleepiness occurs in the evening, resulting in a better night’s sleep, which is essential for our overall health.
What can we take away from this?
By understanding that our feelings are a result of our thoughts and actions, both present and past, we can begin the process of unravelling our deep, subconscious relationship with our daily routines and discovering which are worth keeping and which require change.
If we perceive something as negative or forced upon us, it will likely feel that way. We can also build our resilience to stressors by choosing challenges that provoke our fight-or-flight response.
Finally, ensure your spinal health is as optimal as possible. Your spine protects your nerves; your nerves regulate everything. A healthy spine will enable your nervous system to operate more efficiently, allowing it to transition smoothly from one setting to the next.
If you’re struggling with regulating your stress or need assistance with chiropractic care, get in touch with our specialists, and we can help.