MindBody Support

STRESS AND HEALING

Healing and restoration happen when the body is in a relaxed state – when the parasympathetic nervous system is activated.

‘PERMANENT CURE CAN ONLY HAPPEN WHEN STRESS RESPONSES IN THE NERVOUS SYSTEM ARE REPLACED WITH RELAXATION RESPONSES.’ - Lissa Rankin, M.D.

When the body is stressed or senses danger, muscles tense up as an unconscious reflexive reaction and the body guards against potential injury and pain (to ready itself to run, hide or fight the perceived danger, i.e. saber-toothed tiger).

However, in our contemporary lives, the tiger can be work stress, loss, finances or relationship challenges.  These stressors activate the body’s sympathetic nervous system and the hormones cortisol, adrenaline, and neuropinephrine are released  to prepare the body to protect itself. Chronic stress causes the muscles in the body to be in a state of guardedness-- or low grade fight or flight—all of the time. When the body is in this state of fear and anxiety, healing is more difficult, if not impossible.

Sometimes I will give a patient a short guided imagery to use before the acupuncture treatment. This brief meditation slows the breath down, harmonizes the heart and brain, brings you to feeling gratitude for the moment, and shifts the body from the fight or flight mode to a resting state where it can feel safe enough to heal and restore itself. This relaxation technique can boost your immune system for up to 6 hours. **

**FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS NEUROSCIENCE-BASED MEDITATION - contact BRAVE SOULS PROJECT.COM or email justyn@bravesoulsproject.com