There are 62,000 miles of nerves in your body.

That takes you around the earth 2.5 times.

Needless to say, your nervous system is a big player when it comes to your health.

Your nervous system influences the way you function day to day.

It's your brain, spinal cord & all the little nerves that branch off that supply your tissues.

It helps you move, think, breathe & so much more!

A big influence on your nervous system is stress.

Life is full of stress, it is unavoidable.

We all have stress from relationships, money, work, injuries, etc.

Your digestive system even experiences stress.

When you eat or drink something that doesn't agree with it this creates stress on the system.

Stress influences 2 different pathways of the nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system & the parasympathetic nervous system.

The sympathetic nervous system is what you experience from stress. It includes things like;

• increased heart rate,
• increased blood & oxygen to your muscles,
• pupil dilation,
• sweating, etc.

It's how we respond to dangerous or stressful situations in our life.

The parasympathetic nervous system is when you're resting. It's when you're not under stress or coming down from stress. 

It includes things like;

• decreased breathing rate,
• decreased heart rate,
• decreased blood pressure,
• increased digestion, etc.

We're in this parasympathetic state when we feel safe & relaxed.

What's interesting is your body doesn't know the difference between stressors. Your physiological response is the same.

Whether you're running from a bear, doing a really intense workout or are stressed with your taxes. Your body doesn't know the difference and it will always respond the same way.

We wonder why mundane things stress us out so much. Well, it's because they influence our sense of safety and survival.

We feel threatened by these things in our life.

We typically don't run from large animals anymore but we sure try to run from the government. We try to avoid extra interest or a collections call. This is us trying to survive & feel safe.

This is an example, but one we can all relate to.

With that being said, life is FULL of stress and we can't just snap our fingers and get rid of it.

The goal with stress is not to end it, but to learn how to manage it.

When we manage our stress we 

• have a clearer mind,
• heal better & faster,
• perform better in our jobs & in our sports,
• have better digestion.

As a whole, our body and mind function better.

“The number one root of all illness, as we know, is stress.” – Marianne Williamson

Stress isn't bad.

How we manage stress is bad.

Stress can be good in situations where we need to compete or even stay alive.

It can motivate us to get things done, so no, stress isn't always bad.

The problem with it is most people have poor coping mechanisms when it comes to stress.

This usually starts by not listening to how their body & mind are functioning. 

People aren't listening to the signs their mind & body are telling them about stress.

This over time creates problems and a state of chronic stress.

Chronic stress on the body & mind creates dis-ease.

It prevents us from healing & recovering from injuries & illness.

We constantly push ourselves - which again isn't bad - but with poor coping mechanisms we hit burn out.

We're constantly functioning in a high stress world, always on the go. 

This has us living in the sympathetic zone, always high on stress.

The problem is we don't even know we're in this zone. 

But we're always wondering why were miserable, sick & stuck in life.

“There is no such thing as a stress-free life. No evidence has ever been presented which suggests that a stress-free life can ever be achieved. Stress can be managed, relieved and lessened, but never eliminated.” – Gudjon Bergmann

So how do we manage stress?

Here are some simple things to do daily that can help you manage your stress.

1) Notice the things that bring you stress

This is often where people miss the mark.

I see people every week in my clinic who say "no, im not stressed". 

And then proceed to talk about something that isn't going well in their life.

Your body and mind are always telling you when something is bothering you. Are you paying attention?

Just because a lot of people struggle with things doesn't mean its normal and we should accept it.

Most of North America is stressed, it's part of our culture and lifestyle. If you want to decrease stress and be healthy, you have to do the opposite of everyone else.

Notice when you feel like shit. Maybe its mentally, physically, emotionally, digestively, etc.

Then ask yourself "Why do I feel this way?" - This will give you a good idea into what is or isn't working in your life.

This is where you notice the changes you need to make in your life.

2) Find the things that help you de-stress

You don't have to sit in a corner all by yourself like a monk if you don't want to.

Most times thats not what will help people in the beginning (unless you like being alone like me).

You need to find small things you can add to your day or week that allow you to put your focus inward onto yourself.

We're so busy with other people at work and our families that we forget to give ourselves time.

Finding different ways to help calm yourself are very important. Especially if you can't cut out certain stressors in your life.

Here are some examples of things you can do. Ideally this section is just about finding something that is calming or soothing to you. It should make you feel comfortable and not stressed out.

•  meditation,
•  quiet time, 
•  reading,
•  walking or light/gentle exercising,
•  socializing with people who bring happiness,
•  doing a hobby or fun project,
•  getting a massage, etc.

Find things that allow you to take a deep breath and relax.

3) Incorporate 1 of these things daily (ideal) or weekly

This is where we start to create a lifestyle of it all.

This is where you start to see life changes.

Do you have a morning or night routine?

If not, you should start one.

It doesn't need to be full of 27 things to do. Pick either the morning or night (I prefer night being I'm not much of a morning person). Then choose one thing that relaxes you.

I read, I love reading and I choose to read a novel before bed. It's crazy to me how much it changes how I sleep and how I feel during the next day.

Your's could be a skin routine, a walk or a meditation. What ever it is, stick to it.

Once you create a routine out of one thing you can start to add onto if you wish.

Creating these small spaces in your day for yourself is huge when working on your stress.

Small simple changes like this can bring more balance to your nervous system. This will allow you to handle stress better.

4) Learn how to breathe better

 Now some of you might read this and be like...really? I breathe all day...

Yes, yes you do.

But HOW are you breathing?

Most often when I assess & treat people they aren't breathing well.

Stress will change how you breathe. Having you take shorter and quicker breaths.

Start by taking time during your day to take nice deep slow breaths. In through your nose and out.

The more you can slow down your breath, the more you will decrease your stress.

A focus on a long, slow exhale will have you go further into the parasympathetic system (rest state).

You can also use specific breathing practices in your day.

A great book to read is "Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art" by James Nestor if you want to learn more about breathing!

5) Stop doing things that bring a lot of stress into your life (if you can)

This one is tough.

But over time you can start to make big changes in your life.

Some things might be easier to get rid of than others.

Some things might never leave and you have to learn how to manage them.

What are the things causing stress in your life?

Can you change them? Can you change how you're doing them?

If its your kids, you can't get rid of them but you can change the dynamic in your house.

If it's your job, you might not be able to quit but can you change how you work? Can you change the job you have? The industry you're in?

It might be small things you change at first that are stressful.

You might decrease the amount of time on social media.

Start with the small things you can change. Then you can change the big stuff.

While you're still dealing with stress, go back to number 4. Put in place small things daily to help you manage things better.

The best way to manage stress is to do the things that bring you joy & fulfillment.

Don't try to add a bunch of new things if its going to stress you out more.

Be patient with yourself when making these changes but also disciplined. That way you see real results.

Take small steps to manage your stress to see big changes.

And remember, stress isn't bad - you just need to know how to work with it!

I hope this was helpful in some way for you.

All the best on your journey.

- Jo

If you're needing support along your health journey, here's how you can work with me.

1:1 Manual Osteopathic Treatment (in person): We will go through an assessment and treatment based on your needs & goals.