What is Stress
Stress may be described as a human reaction to external pressures. Stress can be highly beneficial, some people thrive on stress and indeed find it hard to function without some form of stress to provide encouragement, whilst others are greatly affected by even small amounts of stressful stimulus, which may lead to psychological or physical illness.
As a person is aroused by stressful stimulus performance may be increased, however, after a period of time fatigue will set in, if performance and demands continue after this point, exhaustion or ill health may result potentially ending in breakdown.
Stress may be caused by any number of factors, a new or stressful job, overdoing it, working too hard, not working hard enough, underachieving, a poor relationship or the reasons may be less obvious.
Symptoms of Stress
The effects of stress are known to be physical, mental and emotional. How stress manifests itself in an individual will depend largely upon how their bodily systems react to certain stimulus.
Stress is not limited to people in a heightened emotional state, although anxiety, depression and fatigue are typical symptoms experienced by a sufferer.
Stress may affect concentration, rendering a sufferer unable to complete even the most straightforward tasks. Some people may become irritable or suffer from emotional trauma such as mood swings, hostility or depression.
For some, the stress may manifest itself in a more physical way, such as headaches, fatigue, digestive problems or a mixture of all three. Sufferers of stress may also suffer from postural problems and may have trouble breathing. This is often in part caused by knots and adhesions in the tissues which lead to acute pain. This will be further explored in the next section.
Stress and the Autonomic Nervous System
The nervous system is greatly affected by stress, the sympathetic nervous system controls physiological arousal in response to stimulus. Such stimulus may cause the ‘fight or flight’ response when a potentially dangerous or threatening situation occurs.
The sympathetic nervous system speeds up the body to take flight in such situations whereas the parasympathetic nervous system calms the body down once the stimulus has gone. The former reacts in the following way to stress: The ganglia (nerve cells) in the body are stimulated and send impulses down the body, which in turn stimulate the organs.
A reaction will then occur in the body as follows:
The Parasympathetic Nervous System will act in opposition to this, releasing acetylchlorine, slowing down breathing and returning the body to a more relaxed state.
Stress and the Body
Stress may also have a direct impact on the other systems of the body, particularly if the stressful stimulus is not removed or the symptoms treated.
During stressful periods, skeletal muscles will contract or remain in sustained contraction for a period of time, which may lead to poor posture, joint pain (particularly in the spine and neck area), and in more severe cases wearing of the joints and irreversible skeletal damage.
Raised blood pressure may occur as the heart beast much faster, circulating blood around the body at a faster rate than would be normal. If left untreated, coronary thrombosis, angina or heart attack may result.
In addition to these physiological changes, the rate of breathing will increase, which may lead to an asthma or hyperventilation. Some women experience amenorrhoea during bouts of stress, whilst men may suffer from impotence. For both men and women sex drive may be affected.
As the sympathetic nervous system slows down digestion, digestive disorders may result. These range from diarrhoea, gastritis, colitis or IBS.
Chronic illness may put a strain on the body as a whole, thus weakening the immune system, therefore raising their susceptibility to infection and viral illness. It is because of these weakened defences that many research papers uphold the theory that there is a link between allergies and long-term stress. There is also an increasing amount of information pointing towards stress and the progression of cancerous tumours.
One of the first stages of stress is an increase in the output of stress hormones, thus increasing the size of the adrenals, over time all functions of the endocrine system may be impaired and lead to many of the conditions previously discussed.
Stress and Remedial Massage
For sufferers of stress, remedial massage may offer great benefit. Many of these benefits are not limited solely to massage but are shared by many other forms of massage and body therapies.
The consultation alone may provide an important insight into an individuals lifestyle and may help to pinpoint any areas of concern. Sometimes it may help the individual put into words and realise that they are not simply suffering from headaches or joint pain, but they may also realise that their lifestyle is a large contributor to the cycle of stress and may be exacerbating the problem.
Where joint pain and skeletal problems are manifest, massage may provide relief, thus reducing the duration and frequency of any pain experienced. This can also be said of headache and migraine sufferers, which may in turn help the individual to make a full recovery. For athletes who sustain an injury remedial massage may provide relief from pain, provide information and self-help tips to aid recovery, which in turn will reduce the stress and trauma associated with being injured and unable to compete. Massage will also improve the smooth flow of synovial fluid around the joints.
How can massage provide these benefits is simple, blood flow is greatly restricted where knots in the muscles are present, by stimulating these areas by using frictions of other deep massage techniques, the knot can be reduced by around 10%, several days later the improvement may be as much as 30%, which means that a lot of tension will have been released. Purely loosening the knot will stimulate the blood flow and therefore permit the body to heal itself naturally.
In the short term, manipulation of the soft tissue in the muscles and skin will reduce sustained contraction, relieve tension, and improve the blood supply to a local area and is particularly useful for sufferers of stress who also have poor circulation. In turn, this will aid the removal of toxins and help to nourish the individual cells. Massage is known to reduce blood pressure and also encourages deep breathing, which can reduce the effects of asthma and other stress related respiratory problems. For those who suffer from poor posture, the corrective tendencies of massage, through the loosening of tense muscles can help the body rebalance and skeletal form can be improved which can reduce strain on the internal organs and can help restore full lung function as the diaphragm is no longer restricted. For people suffering from acute anxiety, this alone can be crucial in recovery.
Massage is also known to boost the immune system, which reduces the strain on the body in order to maintain good health. The general effects of massage upon the body in general will enable the body more energy for pure maintenance.
The Parasympathetic Nervous System is stimulated during massage which has a calming effect upon the body, bringing about a sense of well-being and promote positive thinking, once again partly due to the stimulation of the blood supply and increased oxygen levels reaching the brain and also the use of touch. This can also reduce feelings of fatigue and help to relieve exhaustion, leaving the client better able to cope with the stresses and strains of daily life.
One of the most beneficial things that can be done to reduce stress is to exercise. Exercise will stimulate the release of endorphins, which will lift the mood. More oxygen will reach the brain and will help in the removal of waste from the tissues. Incorporating exercise into the clients regime may be key in reducing stress and depression and vital for lasting success. This will help them to remain healthy long after the treatment period is over. The massage itself will help to improve their performance, increase their flexibility and suppleness. For sufferers of stress who lack motivation, or have been unable to work for a period of time, a weekly appointment for remedial massage and a regular exercise regime bring routine to their schedule.
Non-Massage Techniques for the alleviation of Stress
Apart from massage, there are many techniques which may help to reduce stress levels. Many people find great benefit in meditation, Yoga and Tai Chi, all of which are techniques which can help the sufferer listen to their body and in the case of yoga and Tai Chi, improve their general fitness at the same time. Breathing techniques are also a favourite of the medical profession.
The role of counselling in stress management cannot be disputed. In talking through a situation (whether this is with a therapist or friend), the sufferer may find possible solutions to a problem and also find relief in confiding in a third party who will not judge them. There are a number of therapies which also help the individual to understand their behaviour and feelings, so that they can learn how to control a negative personal response. Such therapies include hypnotherapy, EFT and NLP.
For some, the route to recovery may lie in a lifestyle change, be that changing a job or a relationship. Having some time away from work or finding time to relax and enjoy hobbies may be just as beneficial as any therapy.
Many people who are stressed do not look after themselves properly, they may overeat or eat a diet rich in processed foods, or they may drink excessive amounts of alcohol or smoke. By changing the food we eat, we can make subtle changes at cellular level, which means our bodies are better nourished and this in turn will help to lift depression.
Exercise is also key to sustaining good health and mental attitude, a new routine may help to avoid rituals which increase stressful emotions and will greatly add to the benefits which are made by massage, nutrition and changes to their personal situation.
Conclusion
Stress is a widespread and ongoing problem, which affects everyone at some point in life. The effect of stress is not limited to feelings of anxiety and depression and symptoms may be manifest in each bodily system.
Remedial massage may provide a launch-pad for recovery, as it works on an emotional, mental and physical level. Whilst initial benefits may be subtle, they may be far reaching and bring about a full and long lasting recovery.
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