Symptoms of Stress and Pain
Relieving stress and pain forms the basis of everything I do, but stress is such a general term that you may not realize you are experiencing it. Still, even when you don't recognize you are reacting to stress, you may recognize the symptoms. Are you feeling fear, anxiety, depression, loss of pleasure, grief, anger, or overwhelm? These may be emotional signs of stress.
When we are out of touch with our feelings, we may experience these emotions in the body, in things like indigestion, trouble sleeping, aching muscles, and other physical signs that something is wrong. Our behavior may change. We may begin to over-indulge in food, alcohol, drugs, shopping, sex, video games, gambling, or any type of activity that can become a means of escape and avoidance. Pain can be physical, or it can be emotional or mental. It's always a message that something is asking for our attention.
When we are out of touch with our feelings, we may experience these emotions in the body, in things like indigestion, trouble sleeping, aching muscles, and other physical signs that something is wrong. Our behavior may change. We may begin to over-indulge in food, alcohol, drugs, shopping, sex, video games, gambling, or any type of activity that can become a means of escape and avoidance. Pain can be physical, or it can be emotional or mental. It's always a message that something is asking for our attention.
The Role of Stress
Stress creates real, measurable effects in our bodies and minds. Dr. Hans Selye, father of the modern stress concept, defined just how general stress is. He wanted to explore the feeling of "just being sick" that underlies so many different illnesses. Through his research, he delineated a "stress syndrome." He identified three major ways in which stress affects the body, and ultimately therefore the mind. First, it affects the hormones, starting with the adrenal glands, which regulate vital aspects of our life and emotions, including the fight-or-flight response. Second, it interferes with digestion--and more recent research has indicated there is a kind of "third brain" in the gut, which has a profound connection to the brain in our heads. (The "second brain" refers to the heart.) The digestive system affects every other aspect of our physiology. Finally, stress inhibits the immune system, making us more susceptible to many diseases over time. The changes produced in the body at the start of the stress syndrome actually protect us during short-term stress. The problem arises when the stress response becomes chronic during prolonged stress.
Now that scientists are studying the microscopic structure of DNA, the core element of every cell that carries a blueprint of the whole body, they recognize another important effect of stress, namely the way it affects DNA. Telomeres are structures at the end of each strand of DNA, similar to the plastic coatings that keep the ends of shoelaces from fraying. Long telomeres are a sign of health and youth. As a cell ages, the telomeres shorten each time DNA replicates and divides. So they are a good indicator of biological age. Scientists have found that chronic stress can shorten telomeres, leading to premature aging.
For example, one study found that women caring for husbands with Alzheimer's Disease had shorter telomeres than their less-stressed counterparts. In effect, their chronic stress shaved years off their expected lifespans. Other studies have looked at the role of depression, unemployment, and several other major life stressors, finding that they, too, affect us at the cellular level. So learning to reduce the effects of stress can have very profound long-term benefits on health and well-being.
Stress Relief
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The good news is that I can help you relieve stress with my services. I can also help you make simple, easy lifestyle changes and create healthy habits that may lead to significant improvements in your health and longevity. Visit the Services page to find out more about how individual services can help, or take a look at the Packages page to get an idea of how to combine services to assist with your healing goals. |
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Client Concerns
Clients have brought the following concerns to our sessions and have been pleased with their results. Don't worry if you don't see your concern below; call or text me at 781-724-2982 for a free consult, and we can discuss whether my services are right for you. You can also read what clients say about their experiences with my services.
The need to relax, learn to meditate, practice self-care, implement preventive care
Pain, anxiety, grief, fertility, cancer, chronic illness, pre- and post-surgical concerns
Desire to improve self-esteem, self-confidence, performance (including test-taking and athletic)
Concerns about aging
The need to establish new behaviors
Interest in spiritual development, inner exploration, working with dreams
Pain, anxiety, grief, fertility, cancer, chronic illness, pre- and post-surgical concerns
Desire to improve self-esteem, self-confidence, performance (including test-taking and athletic)
Concerns about aging
The need to establish new behaviors
Interest in spiritual development, inner exploration, working with dreams
