Mother Nature's Equalizer Recently, the local Cargill office had me in to do a couple of presentations to their employees about stress and how to cope with it. So, while the topic is fresh in my mind, I thought I would write a blog on the topic.

Here's the definition of stress: 1. pressure or tension exerted on a material object. "the distribution of stress is uniform across the bar" the degree of pressure exerted on a material object measured in units of force per unit area. 2. a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances.

So maybe I was under some STRESS since I may have had some tension resulting from some demanding circumstances. But if that's the case, have you or are you under any stress right now? At work? At home? With the kids? The CAR? Finances? Here's what I do know. Anyone exposed to too much stress knows that eventually it shows up in their body, and whether they know it or not, it affects a lot of things.

Some of the more 'common' symptoms are:

• Upset stomach pain,
• anxiety, headaches,
• shortness of breath -
• … the list goes on and on.

Stress is the body's "reaction" to a real or imagined danger. If you didn't read that last sentence real close, read it again. It's important. Stress can be REAL or IMAGINED. Have you ever worried about a bill, a person, your boss, etc.?

It doesn't matter if a bear or a debt collector is chasing you, the chemical change in your body is the same. The exact same. That reaction can be helpful in the right circumstances, at the right time, but remember, it can be damaging when it is not. Physical, chemical and emotional stress can overload your nervous system. Like a chain that breaks at its weakest link, stress tends to show up where we are most vulnerable, and it will do it again and again. It can show up in your neck, lower back and even between your shoulders.

Stress can increase the frequency of your headaches, your lower back pain, and even compromise other aspects of your health. While regular chiropractic care can't eliminate stress, (because you're human and you'll always be dealing with LIFE), your adjustments will likely help you resist, dissipate and accommodate stress better.

By Ryan Bowman