Stress & Anxiety
Our emotions can greatly impact our health and well-being a UK stress survey commissioned by the Mental Health Foundation has found that almost three-quarters of adults (74%) have at some point felt . overwhelmed or unable to cope.
Reflexology can help to relieve stress and anxiety and is especially beneficial when used alongside Reiki and natural remedies such as eating a healthier diet, cutting back on alcohol and caffeine consumption, getting better sleep, and taking regular exercise.
Stress is typically caused by an external trigger which can be short-term and useful in short bursts. Motivation of everyday activities requires a small amount of stress however too much stress whether it is from work, home, physical, psychological, or social, results in our bodies staying in a heightened stress alert also known as the fight or flight mode. This prolonged stress then disrupts our health and wellbeing consequently leading to ill-health. People under stress experience mental and physical symptoms, such as irritability, anger, fatigue, muscle pain, digestive troubles, and difficulty sleeping.
Anxiety is defined by persistent excessive worry that does not go away even in the absence of a stresser. Anxiety can lead to an identical set of symptoms such as insomnia, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, muscle tension, and irritability.
Physical Changes During Periods of Stress and Anxiety
When we are stressed the hypothalamus triggers the sympathetic nervous system to a state of high alert, and the body produces stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol.
This process prepares the body for ‘fight or flight’- to fight the danger or run from it and many changes take place in the body.
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Muscles tense up ready for action
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Increased heart rate
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Increased blood pressure
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Increased blood-glucose levels
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The digestive and immune systems shut down so there is more energy for other systems
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Inability to focus on small tasks due to acute awareness on the big problem
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Pupils dilate for acute sight to spot the danger
How Reflexology can help Relieve Stress & Anxiety
Solar Plexus
One of the most valuable reflex points to control anxiety symptoms.
Working the solar plexus point will enhance any feelings of well-being and reduce the sensation of butterflies in your stomach, encourage you to breath slower and deeper and generally calm down all the physical indications of stress.
Head & Brain
Working these points help to control any sense of overwhelm and will encourage clear thinking and a more balanced approach to your problems and help you to concentrate more effectively and to be less distracted when you are trying to learn or absorb something new.
Stomach
Working the stomach reflex areas will help with nausea, ‘butterflies’ or changes in your appetite.
Small Intestines & Colon
Helps with irritable bowel symptoms
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Adrenals
Working the adrenal reflex points will encourage your adrenal glands to adjust their production of the stress hormones adrenalin and cortisol.
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Pineal
The pineal gland is responsible for the sleep-wake cycle of the body, working this reflex point will help with insomnia or other sleep-related symptoms.
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Pituitary
The pituitary gland is one of the most important endocrine glands and is closely linked to the body’s stress response. Working this area will help reduce any anxiety symptoms as well as helping to adjust your body’s response to stress.
Following video is a short self help hand reflexology sequence for stress
Reflexology Research and Article for Stress, Anxiety and Depression
Effect of foot reflexology intervention on depression, anxiety and sleep quality in adults.
