Feeling Stressed?
You may frequently hear people saying things like, “I am so stressed out.” or “I am under a lot of stress at work or at home.” It seems that it may be difficult to find someone who does not suffer from the effects of “stress”. The truth is stress is real and it does affect the body in many negative ways. But, what is stress? Stress can be defined as a specific response by the body to a stimulus, as fear or pain, which disturbs or interferes with the normal physiological equilibrium of an organism. So what does this mean to you? If you are suffering from such things as low back pain, acid reflux, irritable bowel, or headaches you may want to pay attention to whether or not your symptoms are worse at a time where your mind is preoccupied with things that worry you. Do you notice that your symptoms are more intensified when you are anxious, nervous or overly concerned about something?
The body’s response is no coincidence. It is reacting to stress. The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) kicks into full gear as if it were in a fight-or-flight situation. There are many things you can do to prevent your body from going into this offensive state. One of the best things to do is to stop what you are doing, for even just a minute, and take a few deep breathes deep into the abdomen. The diaphragm should expand and after only a few breaths your heart rate should slow down, your blood pressure will lower, your digestion will improve and your mind will become clear and you will feel revived and more alert. It is almost an instantaneous response. Another technique is 20 minutes of exercise. It may be a walk around the block or a jog on the treadmill. Moderate exercise will produce a release of endorphins which helps our bodies to handle stressful situations.
If you tend to get “stressed” often and you notice it having ill-effects on your body you may find regular acupuncture treatments very beneficial. Acupuncture has shown to have a regulating effect on the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) and will prevent your body from reacting so negatively to certain stimuli. Acupuncture has been very successful in treating many symptoms that are exacerbated by stress.
For more information on Acupuncture please contact:
Christina Newman (516) 676-4267
Locust Valley, NY 11560