May 1st, 2017

It's the first of May, and that means some pretty cool things are just around the bend! It's the start of wedding season, graduations are on their way, and May marks summer being just around the corner!

BUT have you ever been to one of those fun & fancy events, only to start feeling crabby for no good reason, wake up with a headache the next day, & back pain a couple days later?

What the heck is up with that??

Part of it is what you're probably already thinking: For women, those fabulous shoes kill your feet quick, and throw everything else into off-kilter crankiness along with them; and For men, those tight collars, stiff suit jackets, & all the other trappings leave you feeling just as stiff & rigid & uncomfortable, making your body tense up.

BUT something else happens at the same time that's less obvious: Those fabulous shoes & that uncomfortable & rigid suit lock physical stress into your body - into your cell memory.

When you wear them to these events, your cell memory kicks in, triggered into recalling previous events that were stuffy & didn't feel good, causing your mind & body to react in the same way now as they did back then.

You're excited about going out & enjoying some good times, but your body & mind are recreating old stress reactions. 

You end up irritable & your husband is wondering why you keep snapping at him. (Though, really, he should have known you wanted to sit two rows closer!) You reach for comfort foods & down most of it before realizing you probably shouldn't have eaten that (stress eating!!). Your digestion goes wonky (that can be from the physical stress reaction, not necessarily from eating heavy foods or junk foods). You're whole body is tense all day. You've got a pounding headache by the time you get home. And that full-body tension sticks around the next day too. You were so happy to see your friends get married or your kiddo graduate, & the next day you feel like you've been through the wringer! 

How do you break the cycle?

You have to release that mental, emotional, & physical tension, so that your mind & body take on a new cell memory, with a positive reaction!

Take moments throughout that big day. Moments to take a few deeeeep sloooow breaths (step out for a breath of fresh air to do this, if you need to). Moments to stop & take mental inventory of things you're happy about that day. Moments to kick off those shoes or ditch the tie & suit jacket, and stretch your tense muscles (or ask someone to rub your shoulders, even! And return the favor!). These can all slow down or reverse the stress response. Continue sending the message to your mind & body to stay de-stressed after the big day, too, with an appointment for gentle chiropractic care or a relaxing Reiki session!

The past doesn't have to haunt you! Take those moments during & after the event to keep your stress at bay & your zen in hand. 

Enjoy the festivities!

~Dr. Vicky

PS: Want more tips & tools to help you flip the switch on your stress reaction? Go here to select what you would like to hear about!