Over the past 15 years, MANY patients have come into the office complaining of headaches, migraines, sinus/allergy problems, neck pain, shoulder pain, and/or back pain that are causing severe soreness in the muscles and instability in their spine. They usually complain of broken sleep and inability to either get to sleep, or fall back asleep, after they wake up in the middle of the night. They also usually come in with weakened immune systems, making them more susceptible to getting colds, flus, and infections.
When I ask my patients about all the various stresses they have in their lives which may be weakening their bodies, I usually find that the most acute and chronic patients are the ones suffering with the most emotional and mental stresses on a daily basis.
Whether it is home and family stresses and conflicts with spouses, significant others, children, parents or siblings, or intense work pressures and deadlines at their work, emotional and mental stresses are highly destructive and unrelenting, unlike physical stress.
When a person performs a physical act that is stressful, usually the stress load to the spine dramatically reduces after the work is done. However, with unrelenting emotional stresses, the stress load usually stays in their system 24 hours a day, even throughout the night. Because their bodies are so tense and spastic, they are unable to get to sleep well or stay asleep, especially if anxious, negative thoughts return during the night.
The MOST important thing to do when someone is under tremendous stresses, whether physical or emotional/mental, is to first identify what it is that is creating this situation, and to create a plan that will efficiently reduce or eliminate this conflict. Whether it is to finally ACT on that painful decision one has been procrastinating on, face the person who needs to be confronted, or ASK for what you need, making actual proactive steps can start the healing process.
However, if the situation one is in can NOT be changed, then resources have to be sought to help minimize one's REACTION to these stresses. Whether it is seeking counseling, reading spiritual books, listening to meditation/visualization tapes, meditating, doing deep breathing exercises, exercising, having a positive mental attitude, yoga or stretching, or just talking with supportive family and friends, do whatever you can to minimize the mental anxiety.
Finally, seek the care of a great chiropractor who can assess your spinal/health problems and create a care plan to help correct the areas of the spine that are misaligned, causing dysfunction, muscle soreness, spasms, and fatigue. When nerves are irritated, the body is physically unable to relax, even when the emotional stresses have resolved. However, remember that a person under extreme stresses may need a much more aggressive treatment plan than the average because they are much more unstable and prone to relapses.
Take the time to heal yourself this year. Find out what areas in your life needs to be changed and make action steps to correct or minimize the impact of this situation. And, if things cannot be changed, then find ways to ACCEPT this fact. Living life fully in this present moment, not in the past or the future, will also change the level of your stress and increase your joy and peace.
Plan to have a great year ahead!
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
NEW YEAR, NEW BEGINNINGS!
HAPPY NEW YEAR! It's the new year once again and it's time to start thinking about what kind of life you want to create this year. Do you want to lose weight, get healthier, start good habits or eliminate harmful ones? As popular as New Year's Resolutions are, they are equally famous for being put aside before mid February when the excitement of achieving those goals become eclipsed by the reality of the HARD WORK that is involved in achieving them.
It is so easy to get distracted by the many responsibilities and stresses of the day, caught captive by the tyranny of the "urgent." There are so many pressing, urgent matters to attend to every day. It never seems to be completely resolved. Furthermore, the lists of things that have to be done RIGHT NOW grow steadily higher as the year progresses. Children need to be cared for, family need to be supported, friends need our attention, work duties need to be accomplished, and our own personal needs have to be met. In the many lists of important matters to attend to, often the very last on the list is our own personal needs.
Sleeping at least 6-7 hours every night is an essential component to health. But how many of us are able to do that while we are running around trying to check off every item on our many lists?
Exercising is critical to good health, and yet how many people are too tired and stressed, discouraged, or have too little time to squeeze it in with their current schedule?
Preventative health check-ups and treatments are essential to creating and maintaining a healthy, attractive body. But how many people procrastinate in going to see their health care providers until the pain or dysfunction becomes so acute, that it then becomes the most URGENT?
What often occurs is that we become slaves to the most urgent matters in our lives, often neglecting the MOST IMPORTANT, like health, spending quality time with family and friends, rest, and taking time for spiritual growth or self-development.
We need to reassess our lives and our commitments. We need to start writing a different kind of New Year's Resolution lists. We need to start prioritizing our lives and not getting stuck by the tyranny of the urgent. We need to set and accomplish daily, weekly, and monthly goals which detail the most important aspects of our lives. We need to FIRST RECOGNIZE what is most important in our lives.
Without emotional, physical, spiritual and mental health, it does not matter how rich you are or how many people love and respect you, because you will not be able to fully appreciate all the gifts you have received. Also, without complete health, you will not be able to give fully of yourself to others and share your love, talents, energy, and physical presence.
When we do not make HEALTH our priority, then all else suffers. We, especially women who often care for others' needs before our own, have the most important job of caring for ourselves FIRST! Without our health and energy, we will not be able to fully give all the love and attention our loved ones deserve.
Make 2011 the year to end the guilt over making ourselves the TOP PRIORITY in our lives!
The greatest gift you can give to others is the gift of YOUR own great health. Only when you make the commitment to do whatever it takes to GET and STAY healthy, will you be able to find the time. It needs to become the most important item on your "urgent" list every day.
Do you have any health issues that a chiropractor could address? Have you ever had your spine checked to see if there are vertebral subluxations (vertebral misalignments which impinge on nerves and decreases function) which could be causing some, or all, of the pain, immobility, discomfort, or conditions that you are currently suffering?
You can have a new beginning this year. Make 2011 be the year you achieve optimal health and wellness, without the use of drugs or surgery, if possible. Commit to eating wholesome food in healthy portions, drinking 8 glasses of water daily, exercising at least 3 times per week, sleeping at least 6-7 hours every night, spending quality time with your loved ones, taking time for spiritual and personal development, and seeing health care providers who will help you in this journey of wellness and function.
I hope you have an amazing year ahead, filled with peace, joy, health, happiness, and abundance of all kinds!
It is so easy to get distracted by the many responsibilities and stresses of the day, caught captive by the tyranny of the "urgent." There are so many pressing, urgent matters to attend to every day. It never seems to be completely resolved. Furthermore, the lists of things that have to be done RIGHT NOW grow steadily higher as the year progresses. Children need to be cared for, family need to be supported, friends need our attention, work duties need to be accomplished, and our own personal needs have to be met. In the many lists of important matters to attend to, often the very last on the list is our own personal needs.
Sleeping at least 6-7 hours every night is an essential component to health. But how many of us are able to do that while we are running around trying to check off every item on our many lists?
Exercising is critical to good health, and yet how many people are too tired and stressed, discouraged, or have too little time to squeeze it in with their current schedule?
Preventative health check-ups and treatments are essential to creating and maintaining a healthy, attractive body. But how many people procrastinate in going to see their health care providers until the pain or dysfunction becomes so acute, that it then becomes the most URGENT?
What often occurs is that we become slaves to the most urgent matters in our lives, often neglecting the MOST IMPORTANT, like health, spending quality time with family and friends, rest, and taking time for spiritual growth or self-development.
We need to reassess our lives and our commitments. We need to start writing a different kind of New Year's Resolution lists. We need to start prioritizing our lives and not getting stuck by the tyranny of the urgent. We need to set and accomplish daily, weekly, and monthly goals which detail the most important aspects of our lives. We need to FIRST RECOGNIZE what is most important in our lives.
Without emotional, physical, spiritual and mental health, it does not matter how rich you are or how many people love and respect you, because you will not be able to fully appreciate all the gifts you have received. Also, without complete health, you will not be able to give fully of yourself to others and share your love, talents, energy, and physical presence.
When we do not make HEALTH our priority, then all else suffers. We, especially women who often care for others' needs before our own, have the most important job of caring for ourselves FIRST! Without our health and energy, we will not be able to fully give all the love and attention our loved ones deserve.
Make 2011 the year to end the guilt over making ourselves the TOP PRIORITY in our lives!
The greatest gift you can give to others is the gift of YOUR own great health. Only when you make the commitment to do whatever it takes to GET and STAY healthy, will you be able to find the time. It needs to become the most important item on your "urgent" list every day.
Do you have any health issues that a chiropractor could address? Have you ever had your spine checked to see if there are vertebral subluxations (vertebral misalignments which impinge on nerves and decreases function) which could be causing some, or all, of the pain, immobility, discomfort, or conditions that you are currently suffering?
You can have a new beginning this year. Make 2011 be the year you achieve optimal health and wellness, without the use of drugs or surgery, if possible. Commit to eating wholesome food in healthy portions, drinking 8 glasses of water daily, exercising at least 3 times per week, sleeping at least 6-7 hours every night, spending quality time with your loved ones, taking time for spiritual and personal development, and seeing health care providers who will help you in this journey of wellness and function.
I hope you have an amazing year ahead, filled with peace, joy, health, happiness, and abundance of all kinds!
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