At Organic Mechanics, we use specialized manual techniques to address the root cause of pain. However, sometimes that root cause goes even deeper than the body – it stems from the mind. Part of our approach to treating pain is to address factors in your life that may be contributing to your symptoms. Some of those are mental stressors, not just physical ones. Many types of stressors can contribute to physical pain in the body. Let’s take a look at some of the most common associations.
Chronic Stress And Anxiety Lead To Physical Health Problems
Stress is the body’s natural response to threats. What’s important to know is that the body responds to both actual threats and perceived threats the same way. If you are stressed out about a job you hate, your body might react as if it is hiding from a lion. That’s why chronic stress is such a driver of poor health. Your body can only sustain that level of stress for so long before it starts to take a toll.
Anxiety stimulates your body’s “fight or flight” response, dumping hormones into your bloodstream, quickening your heart rate, and directing blood flow to the brain. In the short term, this prepares you to react to a situation quickly. Chronic anxiety essentially keeps your body on a constant roller coaster of this stress response. Just some of the physical manifestations of stress are:
- Headaches
- Muscle aches and pain
- Low energy
- Jaw Clenching and teeth grinding
- Chest pain
- Insomnia
Emotional Trauma Can Also Affect Your Physical Wellbeing
According to research, trauma survivors are 3 times more likely to suffer physical ailments like IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and (CFS) chronic fatigue syndrome. What’s more, it’s estimated that about half of Americans will experience a traumatic event in their lives. Physical symptoms are similar to those induced by chronic stress and can include muscle pain, headaches, GI (gastrointestinal) issues, and fatigue.
Our goal is to help our patients regain health and get back to doing the things they enjoy. Neuromuscular therapy is extremely effective for pain relief and addressing adhesions in the soft tissue. We take a “big picture” approach to understand the root cause of symptoms, which may include mental health stressors. If necessary, we can refer you to another professional that can help with these issues. In combination, we find this is more effective than either approach alone. Learn more about our services and schedule your appointment today.