When individuals consider stress, their attention is often drawn to the mental and emotional pressures they encounter in their daily lives – the demands of work, family responsibilities, or personal struggles. However, this only scratches the surface of the true extent of stress.
In reality, stress can take on various forms. There is physical stress that affects our bodies, biochemical stress from our diet and surroundings, and the mental and emotional stress that we are familiar with. Recognizing this broader perspective is crucial because all forms of stress are equally important and interconnected.
The mind and body are not separate entities but essential components of a unified whole. This profound concept is explored in the award-winning documentary “Stressed” produced by ONE Research Foundation. The foundation aims to enhance the understanding of mind-body therapies in healthcare through research and education, particularly focusing on a method called the Neuro Emotional Technique (NET).
How Our Understanding of Stress Evolved
The documentary delves into a historical perspective on stress, tracing it back to our hunter-gatherer ancestors from 70,000 BC, who lived in a constant state of alertness to survive the dangers in their environment. The term “stress” was initially used in the 17th century in engineering rather than in the medical field. René Descartes, the father of modern philosophy, proposed the idea of mind-body dualism in the same century, which influenced the early understanding of stress as a purely mental phenomenon.
It wasn’t until the 20th century that Hans Selye, a Hungarian-Canadian endocrinologist known as the “father of stress research,” introduced the term “stress” in biological and psychological contexts. He developed the concept of General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) to describe the body’s three stages of stress response – alarm, resistance, and exhaustion, leading to a more integrated understanding of stress response.
Experts in the film, such as Christine Cohn, D.C., and Dr. Candace Pert, a neuroscientist, provide further evidence supporting the connection between the mind and body in stress response.
Repressed Stress and Its Impact on Health
The documentary also discusses conditioned responses, learned reactions that occur automatically after repeated exposure to specific triggers. These responses can become deeply ingrained and affect physical and emotional well-being if not properly processed or expressed.
Repressed emotions tied to these responses can manifest as disease in the body, as explained by Howard Cohn, D.C., and Deb Walker, D.C., in the film. Research conducted by the Marcus Institute of Integrative Health at Jefferson University highlights how mind-body therapeutic techniques like NET can address unresolved emotional stress contributing to the development and treatment of diseases.
Understanding Neuro Emotional Technique (NET)
NET, developed by Scott Walker, D.C., focuses on identifying and releasing unresolved emotional trauma stored in the body. This allows for normalization of abnormal physical and behavioral patterns by addressing negatively charged emotions known as neuro emotional complexes.
Compared to other stress management techniques, NET specifically targets subluxations caused by emotional stress, aiming to restore balance and homeostasis in the body. The technique is rooted in the mind-body connection, as explained by Walker’s observations and experiences in developing NET.
(1) In cognitive-behavioral psychology, NET shares similarities with standard CBT for traumatic stress, focusing on exposure therapy to reverse or extinguish distressing emotional responses to trauma-related stimuli.
(2) Traditional Chinese medicine involves engaging the energy system by touching pulse points related to the body’s stress reactions. The concept of emotions and the meridian system has been a part of acupuncture theory for centuries, with the belief that tightness in the fascial system may represent acupoints and meridians in the body.
(3) Muscle testing is a feedback technique believed to indicate altered physiological function, where a muscle may be less resistant to an outside force due to changes in the nervous system. This technique responds to cognitive and emotional stimuli, according to Walker.
NET has been shown to help cancer survivors cope with distressing memories related to their cancer experience. Studies have indicated a reduction in brain activity in regions associated with memory and emotions after receiving NET therapy, leading to improvements in emotional well-being among participants.
Additionally, NET has shown promise in alleviating chronic low back pain by reducing pain, disability, and inflammatory biomarkers in patients. The approach may have systemic effects on inflammatory responses in the body, suggesting potential applications for treating various chronic diseases.
Addressing suppressed emotions through techniques like NET can help individuals return to a state of joy by creating space to foster joy and reconnect with their true selves. This process not only focuses on physical healing but also on embracing the power of choice and trusting one’s innate ability to heal.
In addition to NET, exploring other stress-busting strategies such as reducing cortisol levels through diet can help mitigate the effects of stress in daily life. Para aprender cómo reducir los niveles elevados de cortisol, echa un vistazo a mi artículo “Estrategias Clave para Reducir tus Niveles de Cortisol”.
Ejercítate regularmente — El ejercicio puede mejorar el estado de ánimo general y contrarrestar los efectos perjudiciales del estrés al bajar los niveles de cortisol, la principal hormona del estrés en tu cuerpo. Disminuir los niveles de cortisol con actividad física regular te ayudará a reducir tu riesgo de complicaciones de salud relacionadas con el estrés.14
Recomiendo hacer ejercicios moderados como caminar, ya que no se pueden exagerar.15 Caminar al aire libre también brinda la oportunidad de reconectarse con la naturaleza y pasar tiempo bajo el sol, lo cual puede ayudar a disminuir aún más los niveles de estrés.16
Practica la meditación de la atención plena — Practicar la “atención plena” significa que estás prestando atención activamente al momento en el que te encuentras actualmente. Un estudio de 2022 publicado en la Revista China de Traumatología mostró que la meditación de la atención plena ayudó a reducir los síntomas del trastorno de estrés postraumático (TEPT) entre el personal militar.17
Piensa positivamente — Mantener una perspectiva optimista en la vida ayuda a promover la producción de sustancias químicas en el cerebro que rompen el ciclo del estrés.