By Erik Johnson
Love and Health Chiropractic
For 28 years, April has been designated Stress Awareness Month. You might not feel like celebrating! In April 2020, we were all pretty stressed by COVID-19. Today in 2021, those stresses have not resolved for many of us. However, coping with and relieving stress in healthy ways will help you to experience better mental, emotional and physical health.
When you experience stress, your adrenal glands kick in with a “fight or flight” response that increases your heart rate, blood pressure and glucose levels. Long-term stress can cause everything from headaches and stomach issues to depression, stroke and heart disease. Because modern life—on top of a global pandemic—has us experiencing fight-or-flight mode so often, many of us experience adrenal fatigue that can makes us feel tired all the time, even when we get enough sleep. In addition, when our bodies are in a constant state of elevated stress, the nerve roots connecting the adrenals through the spine can eventually lead to a subluxation in your spine. And, because the adrenals sit on top of the kidneys, many of the nerve roots that talk to and keep the kidneys working happily will be affected.
I would also recommend taking a few deep, full breaths anytime you feel stress or anxious. If you feel stressed at night, try sleeping under a weighted blanket. Massage therapy is a great stress reliever. So are chiropractic adjustments—they not only help you feel and function better, but they also increase your body’s ability to handle and adapt to stress.
When I talk to my patients about stress, I compare it to being attacked by a bear in the woods. You see, your brain and body interpret any number of stressors the same way as they would a wild animal attack. Did a family member receive a COVID-19 diagnosis? Did some jerk tailgate you during your commute? Are student loans piling up? Did you have an argument with your spouse? Any of these situations, and countless others, will give your adrenals an excuse to pump out an electrifying jolt throughout your system. Every time you are stressed, take a moment to relieve it. You will experience better health if you do!
