CranioSacral Therapy and the Stress Response
Dr. Hans Selye, Physician and Endocrinologist, first identified the stress response as a “fight or flight reaction” in the 1930’s. This refers to the fact that when under stress, the sympathetic part of our autonomic nervous system responds to the perceived danger by preparing to escape or do battle.
In Peter Levine’s book, Waking the Tiger, he writes about the “freeze” response. This occurs when we confront a perceived danger and we cannot fight or flee, then become overwhelmed and freeze. He writes that animals which respond in this manner shake out the experience through their body and limbs once the threat has gone. Through the course of human evolution, we have lost this ability to shake out our stress, meaning that stressful experiences can be stored in our bodies, eventually triggering a stress response.
If the shock to the system is severe enough it can remain stored or “frozen” in the tissues of the body for years. Even everyday events such as work, relationship conflicts, and financial pressures can accumulate as held stress in the body. This accumulation of internalized stress can lead to a myriad of symptoms including headaches, anxiety, digestive disorders, TMJ syndrome, insomnia, chronic pain, and depression. The body will show signs of stress such as shallow breathing, rapid heart rate, digestive problems, and increased reactivity. Feeling “amped-up” or “off” is another common sign of the stress response.
Stress and anxiety can be addressed in a number of natural ways. Regular physical exercise, abdominal breathing, meditation, time off, laughter, positive mental reframing, and professional counseling are just a few. It is beneficial to address what is underlying the stress symptoms, while also attending to the body where the stress is being held. CranioSacral therapy can be an effective approach to ease the contraction of the tissues and release “frozen” stressful experiences. This in turn leads to a calmer, more normalized nervous system, increased energy, and an overall improvement in health and well-being.