Stress — It’s Not All in Your Head
Dr. Frank King
Too many people feel stressed these days. They feel like fish out of water — not comfortable!
By contrast, imagine a healthy little fish, happily swimming in its natural habitat with everything it needs, plenty of food, water the right temperature, at peace with its surroundings and community. That fish is comfortable.
That's the definition of homeostasis. In homeostasis, everything is stable.
Until a bigger, hungry fish moves into the watery neighborhood and eats all the food.
Uh oh. The little fish has now shifted away from homeostasis. It feels threatened (and hungry). It needs to either regain its territory ... or leave (fight or flight).
Stress Causes Changes
Endocrinologist Hans Selye (who coined the phrase "fight or flight") published his findings on stress in 1936. His definition of stress was a circumstance that shifts an organism away from homeostasis.
Stress may start as a mental perception of uneasiness or "dis-stress," but biochemical messages almost in-
If the definition of stress is something that moves an organism out of homeostasis, consider the fact that some stress is desirable!”
stantly race beyond the head to affect every part of the body.
In humans, stress causes the adrenals to pump hormones that speed thoughts, blood pressure, and muscular contraction. Stress shifts energy away from digestion and many other functions in order to mobilize the body for action.
In modern life, many stressors affect us, both seen (job stress) and unseen (environmental toxins). Rarely is it appropriate to either physically fight or flee, however. So stress builds.
Health Consequences of Stress
Doctors estimate that more than 80 percent of office visits are directly related to stress.
The cascade of stress-related symp-
toms include headaches, muscle tension and spasms, digestive and sleep disturbances, dental bruxism, damaged relationships, fatigue, depression, impaired performance, dizziness, eating disorders, poor quality of life, and weight gain, to name a few.
I visualize the stress cycle like a rollercoaster ride. Stress builds as the ride slowly chugs up a steep incline to the top. Finally, when the body can't take any more, the roller coaster reaches the top, and then flies down the slope much faster than it went up the other side: CRASH !
Those two cycles are what I call the roller coaster of stress and burnout. Going up, stress builds and builds. Hitting the bottom of the other side is burnout. After the crash, the body is too exhausted to respond to the stresses any longer. Then it takes time to build up the body's reserves again.
The good news is that you can completely turn around that repetitive cycle and change your life for the better with a few healing techniques.
Stress vs. Eustress
If the definition of stress is something that moves an organism out of homeostasis, consider the fact that some stress is desirable!
For example, visiting a new location or country may involve some stress, but we think ofthat as enjoyable. The same goes for learning a new skill or a challenging new game. Some types of stress lead us to learn more, discover new solutions to problems, or master new skills.
Desirable stress is called "eustress," pronounced "you-stress." This phrase was not as widely publicized from Selye's
research, but it's the positive side of the same coin. How we perceive the circumstance holds the key to how we deal with it: our response.
This is not to minimize the fact that stress impacts our health, so I want to give you a helpful healing technique.
Emotional Stress Release Technique
In my book, The Healing Revolution: Eight Essentials to Awaken Abundant Life, Naturally!, I explain why balancing the eight essentials of life is so transformational. I also share techniques to empower everyone to take control of their own health.
This emotional stress release technique is one of the healing hands-on techniques (HOT) from my book. It is called the Forehead Emotional Reflex Points Technique.
This simple and effective technique quickly releases stress and restores positive emotions and attitudes:
1. Place one hand against your forehead so that your palm and fingers cover the two emotional reflex points on the diagram.
2. Very lightly tug the skin on your forehead in one direction. Hold your hand against the skin; do not massage. Many people find a gentle downward tug works best.
3. Hold about four minutes while first thinking of the things that cause you stress. You may want to re-imagine peaceful and life-giving outcomes that will bring joy.
4. You may feel a faint pulse over these points. If you do, and if the pulse on one side is different from the other side, it often becomes synchronized as emotional tensions are released and resolved.
5. Don't be surprised if you feel a strong emotional release with this technique. I've often seen that happen with my patients, and it is always good.
6. Feel free to repeat this HOT as often as you like.
Your Chiropractor is Your Healing Partner
Your doctor sees you for only a short period of time during visits. You are your own doctor 24/7, because no doctor can do what you can do for yourself. Your chiropractor is your partner in your healing journey, and you can help the process along!
In addition to supporting your health with nutrition from a whole foods based, organic diet, and the ad-
justments your chiropractor makes to correct subluxations causing unseen stress, ask your chiropractor about homeopathic medicines for stress relief.
Homeopathy is natural medicine that has no negative side effects and no medical or health contraindications ... it can be safely combined with any supplement regime or medication - without any negative drug interactions.
I have found that 1) balancing the eight essentials (including the HOTs), along with 2) chiropractic, as well as 3) homeopathic formulas to help the body realign its electrical messaging system, is an unbeatable trio. Stress doesn't stand a chance!
This is what I call the Healing Revolution. Enjoy the journey!
Dr. Frank King is a doctor of chiropractic and naturopathy, and the founder of King Bio, an FDA-registered natural pharmaceutical manufacturer. He is also a nationally recognized researcher, homeopath, and lecturer and the author of The Healing Revolution: Eight Essentials to Awaken Abundant Health, Naturally! For more than 20 years, Dr. King has provided continuing education training to chiropractors nationwide. To learn more, visit www.kingbio. com.
