Stress and anxiety are normal emotions in life. However, they can be paralysing if they persist and become a dominant emotion. These emotions, when persistent, have a detrimental effect on our nervous system and the longer they persist the harder it becomes for our nervous system to relax. If your nervous system cannot relax and down regulate it becomes stuck in the cycle of continuously being stressed and/or anxious. This is because your brain & nervous system are unable to rationalise when they need to legitimately feel these emotions. A switch has been flicked and your nervous system believes it must be on guard all or most of the time in order to protect you and keep you alive. This results in two critical functions, sleeping and digestion, being compromised. You become what we call “tired and wired”. You’re exhausted because you can’t sleep and your brain cannot switch off.
Craniosacral therapy is beneficial for people with stress and/or anxiety because it primarily focuses on treating the nervous system and its associated tissues, gradually allowing the nervous system to find its equilibrium. The therapy uses mostly gentle touch techniques to help release tension and restrictions in your body. Craniosacral therapy is done fully clothed comfortably laying on a massage treatment table.
Craniosacral therapy has a therapeutic impact on down regulating your nervous system, which can make it an effective way to help break the stress and/or anxiety cycle. The more opportunity you have to feel calm, the more aware your nervous system becomes that you will still survive if it relaxes and down regulates. The aim is to break the cycle so you have the chance to moderate your emotions again.
By promoting relaxation and reducing tension in your body, craniosacral therapy can help alleviate symptoms associated with stress and/or anxiety. Craniosacral therapy can enhance the function of the nervous system, which is responsible for reducing the physiological responses to stress. This may include reducing heart rate, slowing breathing, and relaxing the muscles.
According to a recent survey by the Australian Psychological Society, about 1 in 4 Australians reported very high levels of stress, and around 26% of Australians reported experiencing moderate to severe levels of anxiety in the past year. These numbers have increased over the past few years, indicating that stress and anxiety are becoming more pervasive issues in our country. However, it is important to note that many people do not seek treatment or support for these issues, so the actual number of individuals struggling with stress and/or anxiety may be higher.
Common stress and anxiety symptoms can include feeling irritable or easily agitated, a racing heartbeat, difficulty concentrating, disrupted sleep, changes in appetite or weight, persistent worry, constant fatigue or low energy, and physical symptoms such as headaches, muscle tension, or stomach issues. These symptoms may vary between individuals, and the degree that they affect a person can range from mild to severe.
Overall, craniosacral therapy is a gentle, non-invasive therapy that may help you manage the symptoms of stress and/or anxiety. If you would like to know more about craniosacral therapy, read my two part blog “An introduction to Craniosacral Therapy”.
Amanda Fincham - Craniosacral & Remedial Massage therapy 