In modern day lifestyle, most of us experience elevated levels of stress on a daily basis. Stress activates our body’s sympathetic nervous system’s response of “fight, flight or freeze.” This response is our body’s primitive, autonomic, innate response that prepares the body to “fight, flight or flee” from perceived attack, harm or threat. When faced with threats to our physical survival, this response is invaluable.

However although such threats can be real, more often the ‘threats’ we encounter on a regular basis that leave our systems flooded with chronically high levels of stress hormones are not threats to our physical survival. Today’s threats or stressors are more likely the result of long-term imbalances of daily living. The effects of driving in rush hour traffic, worrying about the consequences of missing an important deadline or one of the biggest, most common stressors – always being on the go with no time to relax and enjoy life – are just a few examples. The result is that, on a daily basis, toxic stress hormones flow through our bodies and reek havoc on our systems – digestive, immune, nervous, reproductive, musculo-skeletal and cardiac just to name a few.

Increased stress levels can cause a whole host of conditions, some of which are listed below:

• Anxiety and depression
• Low energy
• Poor sleep quality
• Impaired concentration
• Decreased circulation and increased pain and stiffness
• Poor digestion
• Auto-immune disorders
• Decreased immunity
• Decreased fertility
• High blood pressure
• Headaches

By calming and supporting nervous system function, decreasing the production of stress hormones and relaxing the body, acupuncture, massage and chiropractic treatments offset the negative impacts of stress on the body, mind and heart. Incorporating these modalities on a regular basis into your lifestyle practices is an effective way to support the body’s return to a relaxed, balance state.