Stress Management and CranioSacral Therapy
We all experience stress in various guises; stress from work, stress from relationships, stress from pain, stress from threatening or worrying situations and many other types as well. It is part of our make up, it's part of our structure, it's part of all of us. You cannot avoid the symptoms of stress, in fact it is a "good thing" because it gives us more resources to help deal with difficult situations, exactly when we need them.
Our bodies respond to stress in a number of ways, for instance the "reticular alarm system" (RAS) is a system that the body employs to deal with immediate threats - this is centered around the TMJ (jaw) area. This mechanism actually makes us stronger. Just try hitting something hard without clenching your jaw, it's almost impossible, somewhat like sneezing and trying to keep your eyes open. By clenching your jaw you can generate more power with your arms - amazing !
The adrenaline response is one we all know about. The release of adrenaline prompts changes in breathing, heart rate, digestion, hearing, sight and perception of time. In this way we are ready to run, hit, fight, be alert and focused in the face of perceived danger.
We also have defensive postures that we adopt when stressed, for instance we tend to tighten, and thus strengthen, our necks, lower backs and hips.
After the stress has passed, our bodies should revert to a more "normal" phase through a mechanism called the parasympathetic nervous system - the antidote to adrenaline, if you like. The main component of this system is the Vagus nerve. Actually a pair of nerves, they travel through the skull, down the back of the neck, through the abdomen and chest affecting the heart lungs, digestion, liver and other organs - in effect calming them down again.
However if the stress is chronic, in other words if it stays for a long time, then some areas of our bodies will remain in that stressed state. Necks will become stiff, backs will ache, jaws will become tight and interestingly, any areas that have previously been injured or otherwise compromised will ache even more than usual.
Another possibility occurs is if the neck is very stiff. Then the Vagus nerve's impulses may be weakened or otherwise affected and this can be a cause of I.B.S. in adults or colic in babies.
So at this point the stress may have become self perpetuating. If the stress has been active for a long time, the physical aspects of that stress may themselves prolong that stress, even if the original reason for the stress has gone.
Craniosacral therapy will help at all points in the cycle of stress. The soft approach of easing tight tissue will alleviate the tension held in the muscles, joints and ligaments. Treatment of the head and jaw will encourage relaxation on a profound level.
You may also like to read an article I wrote about about stress management for the Eco Echo Magazine
