Stress: The Silent Driver of Poor Wellbeing
The Role of Massage Therapy in Stress and Nervous System Overload
Have you ever paused and pondered how beautifully intricate the functioning of the human body is? Well in today’s world you may not even take the time to sit down and enjoy the simple joy of a meal in peace and quiet. Although perhaps our Spanish neighbours know a thing or two about the rest and digest phase after a meal thanks to their Siesta afternoon power nap tradition! In fact, long before, some 2000 years ago, did you know that the Romans already took a midday rest period?
Fast-forward back to today, every BODY can be affected by nervous system dysfunction, at any age and regardless of your social background.
What is the long-term effect of constantly pushing the boundaries of our body’s resilience? Depending on your genetic predisposition, you will most certainly end up at some point in your life with a nervous system overload. As the saying goes "if you don't make time for your wellness, you will be forced to make time for your illness" which explains why it is important to prioritise self-care and well-being to prevent future health worries and maintain a good quality of life.
Were our body and mind ever meant to be exposed to so much information on a daily basis, relentlessly and over long periods of time? Potentially not. The constant interruptions, the notifications left right and centre can take a toll on our nervous system. Why? Our human nervous system probably hasn’t had enough time to adapt and match the fast pace of technology advances. It certainly feels like we are left in a constant state of having to catch up with life.
What is Nervous System Dysregulation?
Your nervous system plays an important role in your overall health. It is the communication system of the body with all the other body systems, e.g. your endocrine system.
Nervous system dysregulation means a state of imbalance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The two systems have opposite roles but are meant to work together in harmony to keep all body systems in a state of internal balance and optimal function, in other words a state of homeostasis.
Whilst the sympathetic nervous system manages your fight-or-flight response by putting your body systems on alert, the parasympathetic nervous system does the exact opposite carrying signals that relax those body systems, bringing you back into a state of rest and recover state. It is only during this phase of relaxation that the body cells can repair and the body can do its maintenance work to keep you healthy and resilient, ready for the next phase of fight-of-flight. All is well.
Nervous system dysregulation may start affecting your overall health and well-being when stuck in high alert for a prolonged period of time; the stress hormone, cortisol, will be released into your bloodstream more often and for longer than it should be which will affect the body’s ability to repair itself, ultimately meaning more risk of disease and illness.
What Are The Symptoms of Stress That Might Be Linked to a Dysregulated Nervous System?
With nervous system dysregulation potentially being an underlying cause of many symptoms, it may eventually manifest as a chronic health condition for example or be linked to certain mental health, cognitive issues and behavioural challenges. The below symptoms and health conditions (in no particular order) can be helped to some extent by regulating our nervous system:
· Chronic muscle and joint pain
· Neck and shoulder tension - your body seems to be holding tension all the time with no relief in sight
· Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) pain caused by jaw clenching or teeth grinding at night. You may also clench your jaw whilst driving or watching a scary movie for example
· Sleep disturbances like insomnia or sleep anxiety
· Digestive issues e.g. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
· Appetite regulation - difficulty gaining weight or losing weight
· Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)
· Autoimmune conditions
· Fibromyalgia
· Inflammation
· Extreme sensitivity
· Emotional outbursts
· Impaired cognitive functions and poor decision making - people make bad choices when they are angry or scared
· Brain fog
· Stress-related skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis
· Stress-related hair loss
· Endocrine disruption (hormonal imbalances) e.g. Amenorrhea for women
· Constant feeling of dread or overwhelm
· Panic attacks
· Chest tightness and heart palpitations
· High-functioning anxiety
· High-functioning depression
· Frequent cold and flu as stress and strain on the nervous system weaken your immune system
· Long-Covid
Overall, Pain is Positive and Protective because it is telling you something is not right. It is essentially a call for action. Your body has its own unique way of communicating – we have to interpret what it might be.
As symptoms are part of the communication system of the body, they are messages to be decrypted and understood, not suppressed or covered up. When ignoring that little niggle, the signals will become louder over time and you may experience more acute pain or discomfort. As the saying goes, “if you listen to your body when it whispers, you won’t have to hear it scream”.
If a symptom is closely intertwined or somewhat subtly linked to a dysregulated nervous system, it means that if you focus on lifestyle changes, chances are that some of your symptoms may improve as you tap into the rest, digest and repair mode of your body’s self-healing capabilities. However, providing the right environment for this to happen is paramount. The key word is relaxation.
What are the possible causes, triggers or aggravating factors resulting in nervous system dysregulation?
· Various home and work stressors
· Environmental and weather stressors
· Vitamin deficiency can impair the functioning of your immune system and affect your nervous system
· Noise pollution - whether your neighbour is having some building work done for weeks or even months or workers are now digging up your road and adding temporary traffic lights on your doorstep
· Road rage - you will definitely have witnessed it if you are driving in and out of London!
· Traumatic memories as far as childhood
· Going through the process of grief
· Caring for a sick loved one
· Uncertainty at work or going through a process of redundancy
· Anxiety disorders and chronic stress
· Relying on too much caffeine or fizzy drinks for energy boosts and brain clarity
Also, for example, in a state of stress and tiredness, you are already putting strain on your nervous system and doing high impact exercise might exacerbate it, increase the risk of physical injury, drain your energy levels and vitality when the cue might actually be to recharge first, exercise second. Who has ever poured tea from an empty tea pot?
The list goes on as the only constant in life is CHANGE so we have to adapt to thrive. Thus, it is vital to ensure our nervous system allows us to have the flexibility to respond adequately whether you realise you are late for work for example and in your body’s language, this means responding to a potential “threat”, or on the other hand, when you eventually return to the rest and recovery state of relaxation. Switching easily between the 2 systems is the healthy and optimal body response.
The consequences and long-term effect of nervous system dysregulation are unique to you.
In any case, addressing the root cause of any symptom - whether be it mild or acute - can bring long-term relief and even in some cases a permanent cure.
Avoid using drugs and alcohol to numb the symptoms of a dysregulated nervous system. It might bring a sense of temporary relief but prescription and recreational drug abuse, frequent heavy drinking can have toxic effects and damage your sympathetic nervous system.
Always work with your Doctor to get a clinical diagnosis if you are worried about any symptoms you may experience. This article does not in any way form a medical diagnosis of your condition and/or symptoms.
Care: how can massage help me regulate my nervous system?
We shut down our computer, we recharge the battery of our phone but do we systematically do the same for our own body’s optimal functioning? We might not have much control over today’s life stressors but what we do have control over is our stress management techniques. One of the best ways to achieve nervous system regulation is through the medium of massage.
What happens physiologically during a massage is similar to the health benefits of a power nap. Plus, it is a time allocated for you, quality downtime when you can turn the switch OFF and recharge, rest your body and mind to reduce stress which also helps to recharge your energy levels and be more productive and alert.
Massage can take off the musculoskeletal load and the emotional load, which might come in the form of stress, anxiety, depression, worry, thought patterns and beliefs, fears and traumatic memories.
So, if you are “stuck” in a state of constant hyper vigilance i.e. fight-or-flight mode, one of the best ways to slowly get back into that lovely and peaceful feeling of rest and recover phase is to have a massage; life may seem beautiful and joyful again all of a sudden!
In Conclusion
A symptom is a call for action or in some instances a call for rest… and yes, a healthy mind gives a healthy body but what might actually help in the very first instance? A flexible, regulated and balanced nervous system with both sympathetic and parasympathetic systems working in harmony so we have the resources to respond to life’s stressors in a graceful manner.
Massage Therapy is a natural painkiller and can indeed assist you to get into the vital rest and recover mode we talked about. It also enhances the healing process by improving blood supply to the cells of your body. The better the blood supply, the better the healing process and overall health! During a state of rest and recovery, know that your damaged cells get replaced, toxins and metabolic wastes from the body are processed, ready to be flushed out via the lymphatic system. Finally, you are more likely to make good choices after a massage as your mind is clearer, your body systems are relaxed and overall, your nervous system is regulated.
To enhance the benefits of a massage treatment, prioritise spending time close to nature and/or near natural waters, like the ocean.
In parallel, the good news is that we do have to some extent the mind power to rewire our nervous system so it becomes regulated. As we know, the human brain has extraordinary capabilities.
Life is a never-ending healing journey. Rest first and the rest will fall into place.
Yours in awareness,
Marialine
Get in touch!
To book your massage treatment with Marialine and help reset your nervous system, email Kate at kate@bridgetohealth.co.uk or call 01895 200050.
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