We need to talk about ‘Stress’!
In today’s fast-paced world, stress is a constant presence in our lives. While a little stress can help us stay alert and focused, chronic stress can lead to profound impacts on our physical and emotional well-being. Stress is a natural response from the body in response to challenges or threats. These threats/challenges can be due to events, activities or simply thoughts and behaviours. So, why do we need to talk about ‘Stress’? Well, if a state of ‘stress’ becomes your body’s resting state it can have major implications on the body,
From a Chinese medicine perspective, stress affects the flow of Qi (energy) throughout the body, creating imbalance and disrupting harmony. This imbalance can manifest as physical and emotional symptoms that, over time, take a toll on the body.
What do I mean when I say “stress?”
When I talk about stress, I’m not just referring to emotional stress, but physical stress as well. As mentioned above, stress is a response mechanism, both to physical events or activities, as well as emotional.
So, essentially, I am referring to anything that triggers a stress response when I refer to stress. This can be work, family or financial pressures. Anxiety, worry and overwhelm can all contribute. Additionally, over exercising or really high intensity exercise also fall into this category. And, that is just to name a few…
So, why do we need to talk about ‘Stress’?
Stress triggers the “fight-or-flight” response in the body, which is regulated by the nervous system and the release of cortisol, a key stress hormone. While short-term cortisol release can be helpful, providing energy to respond to immediate challenges, chronic stress causes continuous cortisol production. Elevated cortisol levels can lead to fatigue, anxiety, digestive issues, sleep problems, and weakened immunity.
It’s the classic scenario we often hear when we talk about “fight or flight”. When you come face to face with a tiger (very relatable, I know), your body switches into its fight or flight mode. We either fight the tiger head on or run faster than we knew we could. Our body releases cortisol and neurotransmitters Epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine. In combination these hormones and neurotransmitters allow the heart to beat faster, increase blood pressure and give us a spike in energy.
These changes are vital in times of emergency. They allow more blood to be pumped through the heart to become oxygenated, and then increase the flow of oxygenated blood to the muscles to keep us running.
However, this mechanism of the body cannot actually differentiate between the stress of a tiger standing in front of us, or if we’ve just done a really intense HIIT session or are about to go into a high-pressure work meeting. All the body can sense is stress and so, it switches on fight or flight.
But, sometimes I need some adrenaline, what’s the issue? Do we really need to talk about stress?
This is all well and good for those moments when we need a little adrenaline to help get us through those work meetings or gym sessions alert and energised. However, we need the body to be able to switch out of fight or flight and move back into “rest and reset” mode.
When our body is in fight or flight, it prioritises certain mechanisms that are crucial (as we mentioned above). But, this means that less vital systems and mechanisms are slowed. When we’re running from a tiger, we don’t need optimal digestion in those moments. Our filtration of blood, menstrual cycles, bowel movements, etc. are not going to help us in an emergency. These body systems slow down to allow focus on survival.
This means that if the body is under constant physical or emotional stress, and it keeps switching back into that “fight or flight” mode, there is little time left for rest and reset where digestion, waste filtration, menstruation and so on.
Ok, let’s talk about Chinese medicine…
So, now we know the “what”, “why” and “when” of stress, let’s look at it from a Chinese medicine perspective.
From a Chinese medicine view, stress commonly impacts the Liver, Heart, and Spleen channels. The Liver is responsible for the smooth flow of Qi and circulation of blood, but under stress, Qi can stagnate, leading to symptoms like tension, irritability, and headaches. When the Heart is affected, people may experience anxiety, palpitations, and disturbed sleep. The Spleen, essential for digestion, can be weakened, leading to digestive issues and fatigue.
How can we help?
Essentially, we want to regulate and ‘calm down’ the nervous system to switch it back into a rest state. We want to switch on the parasympathetic nervous system (in charge of rest) and dial down the sympathetic nervous system (in charge of stress), so that the parasympathetic nervous system is dominant and the sympathetic nervous system chimes in as needed.
Acupuncture helps to regulate the nervous system, easing the “fight-or-flight” response and promoting relaxation. Herbal formulas can support adrenal health, balance hormones, and ease symptoms of stress.
It is also vital to find tools that suit each individual to help manage stress. We need easy and sustainable habits that help reduce and manage stress. This can include mediation and breathing exercises, journaling, exercise etc.
Next time, I’ll go more into the relationship between stress and the fight or flight mode and your hormones and the influence and outcomes that it can have.
– Zoe
