Stress and the Body
We experience all of life through the physical
reality of our bodies. Our pleasures and pains, the up's and
down's of daily life affect the body profoundly, often in
ways we're not aware of. Stress is more than a household word
these days - it's something everyone feels to one degree or
another. Let's take a look at the mechanics of stress and
the role therapeutic massage
can play in stress management.
Understanding The
Stress Response
Stress is an unconscious and automatic reaction
to anything we believe may be threatening to us. In the stress
response, the body is primed for fight or flight by messages
carried by the sympathetic branch of the nervous system. Whether
we are confronted by a mugger in the street or find ourselves
in a long line at the bank or a short lunch hour, the effects
are the same, impacting all levels - physical, mental and
emotional.
We are at full readiness as our body tenses
and our breathing gets shallower and more rapid. There is
an increase in heart rate, blood pressure and adrenaline production,
with a corresponding decrease in blood flow to the extremities,
digestive function, and immune system activity.
Ideally, this defensive reaction will subside
once the situation has resolved, allowing our body to return
to its normal state of affairs. We often help this process
with some rest, the right exercise or massage
therapy.
However, a person who is frequently under
stressful influences will tend to remain locked into a pattern
of stress response, unable to relax or let go. This type of
pattern is damaging to the body;
as it escalates, it ultimately leads to discomfort or pain,
and is a contributing factor in most disease
processes.
The longer one is in pain, the more likely
one will try to block it out. It is at this point that alcohol
and drugs often enter the picture. Unfortunately, as one uses
substances which deaden the nervous system to reduce the perception
of the pain, awareness of oneself and others are reduced in
the process.
In Our Everyday Experience
Like driving a car with one foot on the
gas and the other on the brake, or like the gentleman pictured
at the top of the page, we experience stress whenever we initiate
an action and hold it back at the same time. Our ever-obedient
muscles try to obey both messages and work against each other.
In the same way, we have our own unique
muscular responses to the expression of emotions such as anger,
sadness, fear and exhilaration. We use our muscles to block,
control and restrain these strong feeling and our reaction
to them. Even though we may be unaware of the amount of tension
we store within, it puts extra wear and tear on both mind
and body over time.
Maintaining these patterns of chronic tension
is like leaving the lights on all night - it takes energy;
but once it's a habit, we no longer recognize it as such.
What we do notice are the aches, pains, fatigue, headaches,
digestive problems, PMS, or a host of other stress-related
symptoms. These symptoms are important signals to be heeded,
rather than ignored or bypassed. Accumulated stress and tension
always diminish the amount of energy and vitality we have
to enjoy life, be creative and productive and strive for better
things.
The Total Relaxation
Response
The antidote to stress is known as the total
relaxation response, which is triggered by the parasympathetic
branch of the central nervous system. This action sends messages
to the body to relax, slow down and take a deep breath: saying
in effect, it's time for rest and healing.
There are a number of ways to promote this
response, such as exercise, meditation, listening to calming
music, guided visualization, biofeedback, and of course, therapeutic
massage.
Massage takes place in a comfortable and
safe environment, which is generally away from the source
of most stress creators . As massage stimulates the relaxation
response, muscular tension is released, circulation is increased
and sensory receptors are activated. Areas that have been
"cut off" by accumulated stress can begin to feel
health once again. Massage teaches
us to tune in to our body signals, breathing pattern, and
soothes us at the same time.
All of this results in greater mind, body
awareness which can help you to more carefully monitor your
own body's responses and needs. Then you can release tension
before it becomes chronic and damaging. Living in a more relaxed
and balanced body will enable you to better handle the stresses
in you life, and nothing can take you back to that state of
well-being more quickly than massage.
 
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reserved.
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