Causes of Chemical, Emotional and Physical Stress
Stress becomes a negative, destructive factor in life when it goes beyond the individual’s ability to adapt to it. Overload is reached, instead of the stress being released from the body, it becomes stored within the body as ‘body stress’. As we differ in our emotional and physical makeup, we have varying degrees of susceptibility to stress overload.
EMOTIONAL/MENTAL STRESS FACTORS
These include fear of the future, financial worries, competition in the work-place, disintegrating family relationships. At times we experience sudden violent emotions, such as anger or shock, or we undergo milder but ongoing forms of mental strain, e.g. anxiety, depression and resentment.
We may become aware of the physical effect of emotional pressures, as the diaphragm, jaw, neck and shoulders tighten in a defensive posture, to armour us against the onslaught of life’s stresses.
MECHANICAL STRESS FACTORS
The body is designed to withstand a certain amount of physical force – bumps, jerks and falls, but if the mechanical stress goes beyond the body’s limit of adaptability, the effects may become stored as body stress.
The causes may be sudden and violent, such as a car accident, a severe fall, or lifting a heavy object incorrectly. Or, there may be a gradual accumulation of milder mechanical stress e.g. Habitually sitting incorrectly or doing inappropriate exercises.
CHEMICAL STRESS FACTORS
The sources of chemical stress include pollutants in the air, insecticides and certain food additives and preservatives. Harmful chemicals may be consumed, inhaled or even absorbed when contacting the skin.
WHY DO PEOPLE SEEK BODY STRESS RELEASE CARE?
Most usually people are looking for relief from pain, stiffness or other discomfort. Often it is because of lower back pain or leg pain, caused by stored tension in the lumbar spine; headaches, resulting from body stress in the neck; numb fingers due to compression in the lower neck affecting the nerve supply to the arms and hands.
However, BSR has a broader objective – it is concerned with assisting the body in maintaining health.
OUR BODIES ARE SELF-HEALING AND SELF-MAINTAINING
The body’s natural ability to maintain health depends on the coordination of all functions – this is controlled by the brain and nervous system. If there is tension locked into the physical structures, the irritation to the nervous system undermines its efficiency. For example, pressure in the lower back may not only cause pain, but also disturbs the nerve supply to the internal organs, such as the digestive and reproductive systems. Compression in the neck means that there is an impact on the nerves which have connections to the eyes, mouth, heart, etc.
Therefore, to promote efficiency of body function we need to keep ourselves free of stored body stress.
HOW DO WE ACQUIRE BODY STRESS?
In our daily lives we are subjected to various forms of stress. Mechanical stress may arise from accidents, poor posture and incorrect lifting. Chemical stress may be caused by harmful substances which we consume such as food additives, or inhale, e.g. insecticides, or absorbed through the skin, such as certain cosmetics and cleaning products. Mental and emotional stresses cause us to tense our neck, shoulders and abdomen. Even if the stresses are mild, they tend to build up, causing the muscles to gradually lock up. Obviously, it is preferable to have the body stress released, before it accumulates to the level of causing pain and malfunction.
IN THE ABSENCE OF PAIN, WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF BODY STRESS?
As the stresses become stored in the body a person will become aware of not feeling completely well. It may manifest as a lack of energy or difficulty in thinking clearly. There may be some stiffness on rising in the morning which eases as one moves about. Babies will become irritable and children may appear uncooperative and lacking concentration.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD A PERSON BE ASSESSED FOR BODY STRESS?
When a person has completed the series of BSR sessions it is advisable to have a follow-up appointment within a month’s time, or in some cases sooner, as recommended by the practitioner. In this way, any re-stressing of areas – due to the body going through a process of learning to deal with the stresses of daily life – may be released before symptoms arise. After that, the appointments may be spaced further apart. As the body stabilizes in its ability to cope with the stresses it is subjected to, it is advisable to have a BSR session several times a year, eg. every 3 months. The frequency will vary according to the individual.
THE RETURN OF SYMPTOMS: DOES IT MEAN THAT BSR HAS NOT BEEN EFFECTIVE?
When a person has had a long-term condition of body stress, eg. originating from a past incident, there is an accumulation of layers of muscle tension. After several sessions of BSR there may be total relief from pain or other symptoms. As time passes, possibly days, weeks or even months, the body will continue its process of unlocking a deeper level of stored tension. As the muscles relax back to normal tone, there may be an uncovering of the original cause. The return of pain or stiffness means that the body is ready to deal with this, with some help from further BSR sessions. Therefore, one should not become despondent about a problem which appears to return – it is an indication that more stored tension needs to be attended to.