Did you know that it only takes a split second for your fight or flight mechanism to kick in with the surges of adrenaline and cortisol throughout the entire Autonomic Nervous System. Then once it kicks in it is supposed to revert back to that balanced state after the emergency is over, but with our busy and stressful lives that we now live this does not always happen.
Our Nervous System reacts to our daily stress that we live in in much the same way that it would if we perceived a dangerous situation that would indeed cause us to prepare to either fight off a perpetrator or to run to get away. Because of this many of us are living our lives in this heightened state, prepared to either fight or run to get away during every moment of the day (and even sometimes at night) whether it is an actual emergency or instead the constant stress that comes with our busy lives.
Often when this happens, we become so accustom to being on high alert that we do not realize that there is a better, more calm way to go through our day. Our adrenaline and cortisol are circulating in our bodies keeping us at the ready. Along with this we also have our muscles tensed, once again to be ready to react in a hurry. Often times our muscles have been tensed and in a spasm constantly for such a long time that we do not even realize that they are in spasm, that is until we start to have pain, stiffness and headaches from the constant state of muscle tension. Eventually this leads to exhaustion, emotional excitement, fear, anxiety and pain.Cerebral Spinal Fluid is created deep inside the brain and is then dispersed down the vertebral column, nourishing the brain and spinal cord. Then it is reabsorbed into the blood stream carrying away toxins and waste materials. As the Cerebral Spinal Fluid is created and dispersed it creates a slight pulse.
By slowing down the pulse and then causing what is called a still point, the entire body goes into a state of deep relaxation, renewal and rebalancing. This still point often happens during a CranioSacral Therapy Session when the body is ready to release restrictions and find a better way of working. During these pauses of deep relaxation, all of the connective tissues of the body are able to relax and therefore can be a benefit to both acute and chronic musculoskeletal lesions. The Still Point also enhances tissue and fluid motion and restores flexibility of the autonomic response, so in essence, it resets the Autonomic Nervous System so that we are no longer tense and ready to run!
Our body is now able to relax and take a break from the Sympathetic (or active) Nervous System, and reset back to the Parasympathetic (or resting) Nervous System. Of course, if there is an emergency, our body will quickly revert to being at the ready, or back to the Sympathetic Nervous System.
Often even just one session can help someone who is tense and stressed to find welcome relief. However, by scheduling a session periodically, perhaps once a month or sooner for someone who has experienced trauma, your body is able to find and stay in that more relaxed state in between emergencies. Wouldn’t that be nice?
Give me a call at 715-571-6000 to set up your appointment and I will show you what a difference CranioSacral Therapy can make.
