Raise your hand if you feel a tiny bit of stress right now. Remember, stress is not always bad. When it is properly utilized, it can be good! We all undergo stress and have felt both positive and negative effects from dealing with stress. When our stress levels are out of control, our hormones can be severely affected.
Hormones and hormonal balance makes all the difference when it comes to overall health and wellness. The brain and the gut have an extremely close connection. Similarly, our hormones, gut and brain have an extremely close connection. The gut feeds the brain, and the brain stimulates hormone production. When hormone production is disrupted some common symptoms are: depression, anxiety, fatigue, acne, pain, muscle cramps, etc. Because of this close connection, there are a few key things to do to make sure our hormones are staying at an optimal level.
Track Your Menstrual Cycle
Tracking your cycle helps you know what to expect, gives insight into what is going on in your body, and helps you be in tune with what your body is needing and feeling rather than you feeling blindsided by symptoms. Using an app like “MyFlo” helps me keep a close eye on what my body needs during every single day of the month. It provides recommendations for all areas of life and has a place to track symptoms to have a clear picture of how to support your body during each phase.
Chiropractic and Craniosacral Care
Chiropractic adjustments affect the nervous system and help bring our bodies back to a place of ease and optimal adaptability. When our bodies are functioning well, they are able to do what they are supposed to. In this case, that means normal hormone production. Craniosacral treatments similarly help support the nervous system and help decrease stress in our systems.
Connections
Spending time outside in the sunshine, or barefoot in the grass can be a great way to reduce stress and anxiety. Spending time with friends and family can tremendously help reduce stress and produce mental clarity. Sharing honestly and openly, or just laughing together can be a great way to process your stress.
There are many other ways we can reduce stress and anxiety in our bodies and minds. Learning to listen to your body is a first great step. It will help you know what your body needs, when it needs it!
-Dr. Sophie Mills, D.C.