The purpose of the Chiropractic approach to health care (the wellness model) is to uncover the cause of your stress or health condition, no merely cover up your symptoms. The absence of symptoms (pain) does not equal good health! The clearest way to illustrate this is by reviewing the statistics on heart attacks. Research reveals that in approximately 33%  of all heart attacks the first symptoms of the attack is death! Wellness Care encompasses several aspects of overall health, which can be, physical emotional, mental, and spiritual.

Stress is your body's response to pressure, strain, and threats. It can be pleasant and productive (falling in love or winning a contest) or unpleasant and harmful. Some common sources of stress are major life changes such as loss of a loved one or starting a new job, illness, injury, fear, anger, pressure from yourself or others, noise, and pollution.

Symptoms of Too Much Stress

headaches

stress helps speed aging

do you drive in Atlanta?
tense muscles

low back pain

neck, shoulder or arm pain
irritability
quick or shallow breathing
loss of appetite
overeating
sleep and digestive disorders
always rushing
lack of motivation
inability to relax and enjoy yourself

Ways to Handle Stress in the Long Run
Exercise regularly and get as much sleep as you need.
Learn a relaxation technique like meditation, biofeedback, or deep breathing.
Develop a hobby or activity you enjoy. Find a favorite place to escape
(a cabin in the woods, a sandy beach, maybe just a room in your house
where you can lock the door and not be disturbed). Schedule regular times
for relaxation and fun. Find people to talk with about things that bother you.
Reduce or eliminate the use of tobacco, caffeine, alcohol, sugar, and salt.
When possible, try to eliminate the source of your stress or change your attitude toward it.
Go easy on yourself. Try not to be too self-critical.

Diseases
Skin disorders
Alcoholism
Allergies
Asthma
Colitis
Constipation
Diarrhea
Enteritis
Gout
Headaches--tension, migraine
Heart disease - stress and cholesterol levels
Stroke
Hypertension
Ulcers
Cancer
Nervous breakdown
Psychosis
Neurosis

Osteoporosis

Ways to Handle Stress Head On:

Practice deep breathing in tight situations. Close your eyes, relax, and visualize yourself in a pleasant situation in our great massage chair.  Take a break, get a bit of exercise or some fresh air. Ask yourself how important is the situation which is causing you stress. If someone has been rude to you, for example, does it really matter? Can you decide not to let it bother you? If the problem is important, confront it directly whenever possible, especially if it is likely to recur. If you can't confront the problem directly. talk it out with a sympathetic listener. Or write it out in a journal or in an angry letter that you will throw away later. Work off steam--take a fast walk, smash a pillow, lift weights, find a place to yell or cry.

Do Something. Don't Let it Fester Inside
DON'T use alcohol or other things (they don't help), and don't worry about how your stress level compares with others.

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First Alternative Chiropractic©

September 19, 2006