Don’t blow by the word “Stress” because you don’t think that stress is having much of an impact on you. Don’t get caught thinking stress only results in headaches. It’s so much more. 

Medical Research estimates that as much as 90% of illness and disease is stress-related. Unlike you are a Zen Monk there’s a really good chance this includes you. Stress increases muscle tension and pain, interferes with recovery and sleep, and is a prime driver of anxiety. 

Chronic Pain, Anxiety and Stress

The longer you experience pain or anxiety the more it gets firmly established in your body and nervous system. Chronic pain causes an ever worsening imbalance in the autonomic nervous system.

This causes a chronic activation of the sympathetic “fight or flight” system which is synonymous with stress. When the sympathetic system is chronically activated it results in some combination of:

• Increased muscle tension and pain
• Increased systemic inflammation
• Disturbed sleep
• Impaired immune response
• Elevated heart rate and blood pressure
• Impaired digestion

Stress creates an environment that both causes and increases the experience of pain and anxiety. 

The common approach to stress is to attempt to manage it. This is a recipe for failure because our modern life is filled with an ever-growing variety of stimuli that activate the sympathetic system. 

If managing stress is not the answer, then what is?

Self-Regulation…The Key to Regulating Stress

Since our world is filled with what I call “stress triggers” trying to manage stress is not only going to be marginally successful. The answer is learning how to rewire how your nervous system responds to stress. 

By doing this you gain greater control and influence over your biology and physiology. This is what is called self-regulation. 

In my office, Life Chiropractic of Grass Valley, we utilize a few approaches to first remove irritation to the autonomic nervous system, balance the system, and then to raise the activity of the Vagus Nerve. 

These are the steps that I have found effective in my own life and in caring for the people who come to Life Chiropractic:

Corrective Chiropractic Care: by restoring balance, alignment, and spinal motion we are able to remove sources of irritation that often result in a combination of elevated sympathetic activity and lowered vagus nerve function.

This alone restores greater balance to the autonomic nervous system and makes the next step in self-regulation much easier.

Vagus Nerve Practices: in my office I teach a number of practices consistent with the cutting edge science of Polyvagal Theory. These are practices designed to simply raise the activity of the Vagus Nerve. With simple practice you are able.

Every single departure from health, both physical and emotional, is accompanied by an imbalance in the Autonomic Nervous System. For some conditions it is clear that this imbalance is the cause of the problems. In other conditions it is not so clear. 

What is clear is that if you want to experience the lowest stress levels, the least pain, the most restorative sleep, a responsive immune system, better human connection, no anxiety, then….

…You want a balanced and healthy autonomic nervous system. For the vast majority of people this means improving the tone or function of the vagus nerve, which will help lower the activity of the sympathetic “fight or flight” system. 

Here are some simple practices that can support a healthier Vagus Nerve:

• Time in Nature: the repeating patterns in nature, called fractals, have a deeply soothing effect on the nervous system.
• Movement: the key is finding a movement that you find is soothing. Walking, hiking, dance, yoga, are all great. 
• Physical Touch: either by yourself or others. Explore your hands, face, inner thighs, chest for areas that help you relax.  Massage. 
• Relationships: you have people in your life that seem to always help you feel safe and relaxed.
• Conscious Breathwork: certain breathing patterns have been demonstrated in research to activate the vagus nerve. 

Combining Vagus Nerve practices with corrective chiropractic care is the fastest and most powerful way to bring greater balance to the autonomic nervous system. 

About Dr. Berkowitz  

Bringing more than 3 decades of practice experience, Dr. Bill Berkowitz focuses on balancing and corrective care, applying his expertise to provide patients with predictable, repeatable and measurable results.

Dr. Bill consistently strives to enhance the well-being of his patients by addressing the root imbalances of their problems and promoting optimal balance, alignment, and function of the spine and nervous system.  

Bill’s wealth of knowledge and experience has allowed him to develop a nuanced understanding of the human body and its intricate connections. With each adjustment, he supports the body in returning to a state of balance that goes beyond mere symptom  

Schedule your first visit to Life Chiropractic here: Schedule Here