What is Stress?
To live in stress means to live in constant survival mode. It has been shown that chronic stress may harm physical health putting you at risk of heart disease, hypertension, stroke, digestive problems, immune system malfunctions, fertility, and sexual dysfunction. Blood is deviated from the digestive system to the extremities to prepare for the “fight or flight” reaction. The stomach increases acid production causing indigestion, spasms in the oesophagus, nausea, diarrhoea, or constipation. The blood thickens to aid coagulation in case of predator attack. Fat is stored in the abdomen and sleeping problems often start to emerge. The hormones of stress increase the acidic load, and ignite the inflammatory response throughout the body. The increased acidic load and inflammation has been shown to potentially cause cancer cell proliferation.
Stress may also put your mental health in jeopardy, which could put you at risk of depression, anxiety, panic attacks, or personality and mood disorders. Uncontrolled stress affects the brain and causes cognitive problems that may begin with muddled thinking and memory loss, and could end in dementia and Alzheimer’s. Chronic exposure to stress hormones (adrenaline, nor-adrenaline, and cortisol) can shrink the hippocampus, a brain structure involved with forming memories. Under chronic stress, the body and brain are knocked out of homeostasis, leaving the individual feeling out of control and unbalanced, which may also result in premature ageing.
Treating Stress at Ultra Health Therapies
At Ultra Health Therapies, we take a body, mind, and spirit approach. We believe in the philosophy of Traditional Chinese Medicine that to heal, the whole person needs to be treated using techniques that encourage the body to heal itself.
Our practitioners listen first and treat second to ensure you are receiving the right treatment for your body. Our practitioners work together to discover the best course of treatment for your condition and are here to support you with your health goals, assisting you to live a life of amazing health and vitality.
At Ultra Health Therapies, we prefer to use a combination of natural therapies to treat Stress. Therapies available include Acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Visceral Manipulation.
Acupuncture for Stress
Acupuncture affects the body on multiple levels. It aims to stimulate the central nervous system (CNS) and balance Yin (Parasympathetic Nervous System) and Yang (Sympathetic Nervous System). It may restore balance to the energy systems of the body by stimulating specific acupressure points on the body. Blood circulation may also be improved which translates to better oxygenation throughout the tissues of the body and the removal of accumulated toxins. Acupuncture can assist the muscles to relax, which may result in feelings of well-being and reduce stress.
Our Gold Coast acupuncture practitioners are knowledgeable and experienced with treating people suffering from chronic pain and are ready to support you on your journey to achieving results to allow you to live your optimum life.
Traditional Chinese Medicine for Stress
Traditional Chinese Medicine sees stress as stagnant Qi that cannot flow freely through the body, and causes excess internal heat together with poor blood circulation.
Cupping is a type of Chinese Medicine where specially designed cups are applied to the skin which act through suction. The action of the suction aims to promote a healing reaction in the body and may assist in relieving sore and tight muscles including, stiff neck, shoulders, joint pain, and lower back pain.
Gua Sha is a relaxing technique with proposed anti-inflammatory and immunological benefits. A smooth tool is used to scrape areas of the body to eliminate tightness, stiffness, and congestion in the tissues underneath the skin. Gua Sha treatment does not pierce the skin. Gua Sha may help with the management of stress by relaxing tired muscles and relieving neck, back, and shoulder pain.
Our practitioners see it as their role to support their clients to manage chronic pain through an array of techniques.
Visceral Manipulation for Stress
Visceral Manipulation is a technique used to assess and treat tension in the body. The focus of the therapy is on the fascial mobilisation of the inner organs (viscera) and their relation to the rest of the body. This gentle manual therapy aids the body’s ability to release stress and tension.
The viscera are connected and suspended by peritoneal ligaments within the abdominal cavity. The viscera and their connecting ligaments may store tension from stress, trauma (physical and emotional), inadequate or excessive movement, or chemical imbalances. Chronic stress may result in diminished blood flow to the internal organs, restricting their proper function. This stress may be eased and released by visceral manipulation.
Our Gold Coast Visceral Manipulation practitioner, Andrew Ross is incredibly passionate about Visceral Manipulation. Andrew’s goal for all his clients is to help them achieve and hold onto a better standard of health. Education and empowerment are important factors of his treatments which treats the body, mind, and spirit holistically.
Manual Therapy for Stress
Manual Therapy is highly effective in reducing stress by calming the nervous system and releasing physical tension held in the body. If not treated, stress can lead to tight muscles, headaches, poor posture, poor sleep, anxiety, and depression, greatly impacting both physical and mental health.
The gentle, hands-on techniques such as Shiatsu that our practitioners use may help to relax muscles and improve circulation to manage the symptoms of stress, and to maintain balance in the mind and body.
Shiatsu massage can support better sleep, may improve your mood, and even assist to build emotional resilience. By giving the body a chance to unwind and reset, many clients have found Manual Therapy such as Shiatsu to be restorative practice for long-term stress management and overall well-being.
Emotional Health Therapies for Stress
Stress is more than just feeling tense, it’s a whole-body response that can impact our emotional balance, mental clarity, and physical wellbeing. When stress becomes ongoing, it can lead to anxiety, overwhelm, irritability, poor sleep, and disconnection from ourselves and others.
Emotional Health Therapies aim to help by gently addressing the root causes of stress, rather than just the symptoms. By working holistically with the mind, body, and nervous system, these therapies aim to offer supportive techniques to release stored tension, help regulate emotions, and create space for clarity and calm.
Through practices such as energy healing, mindfulness and emotional release, individuals can learn to manage stress more effectively, respond to life’s challenges with greater ease, and restore a sense of inner peace and resilience.
Book Your Stress Treatment Appointment Now
If you are unsure as to which style of therapy is right for you to start with, please get in touch with our clinic by phone or email and one of our Gold Coast practitioners will be able to determine the right first step for you.
