Staying Calm during the Eye of the Storm

With Hurricane Florence hovering dangerously off our coast it can be very easy to get washed away with Category 5 Stressors.  When you’re in a stressful situation your body experiences physical symptoms as well as emotional.  Your blood pressure rises and your heart speeds up you may begin sweating. You can feel your muscles tense and your stomach churning. Your adrenal gland is pumping out cortisol and adrenaline to speed up your heart and respiration, enhance energy utilization, and trigger your immune system.  You may feel your mind start to race as well.  By relaxing the body, the mind will relax too. Using physical relaxation techniques of various body functions can translate in to mental tranquility.

Below are several techniques to help reduce stress:

Deep Breathing

Deep breathing also goes by the names of diaphragmatic breathing, abdominal breathing, belly breathing, and paced respiration. When you breathe deeply, the air coming in through your nose fully fills your lungs, and the lower belly rises.  Deep abdominal breathing encourages full oxygen exchange which is the beneficial trade of incoming oxygen for outgoing carbon dioxide. Not surprisingly, it can slow the heartbeat and lower or stabilize blood pressure.

Hands and Feet

Washing your hands can have a calming effect during a stressful time.  When you become tense or stressed circulation to the hands and feet reduces.  This is why they sometimes feel cold when you are nervous i.e. “cold feet.” Letting warm water run over your hands and/or feet increases circulation and ultimately reduces your heart rate.

*If you find yourself unable to use warm water, try rubbing your hands and feet together to stimulate circulation.

Jaws and Shoulders

When stress and anxiety become a problem most people tend to carry a lot of that in their jaw. It begins with tension and results in jaw pain, stiffness in the neck and shoulders and headaches.  This can lead to TMJ symptoms, which can be relieved from regular chiropractic adjustments and some simple stretches of the jaw and shoulders.  When you feel yourself become stressed or anxious take a few minutes to stretch.  By dropping your shoulders and, as breath escapes slightly, you should experience conscious relaxation, sending a release through the muscles in your upper body.

Chiropractic Care

The root of your stress doesn’t need a name like Florence, Matthew or Katrina to have a destructive effect on your wellness. When it comes to addressing stressors in your life, you don’t want to take a rain check!

If stress has already taken a toll on your body and you’re experiencing chronic pain, call our office for an appointment at (910) 246-0606.  Because of the proven connection between the mind and body, the impact of improving your physical state can go a long way toward reducing mental stress and anxiety levels!!