SPECS: The 4 Corners of Stress
Achieving optimal health. In my experience, this goes beyond just addressing physical ailments and requires looking at the 4 corners of stress: physical, chemical, emotional, and spiritual stressors.
Which I refer to as SPEC’s for short.
Just like the corners of a rectangle, each aspect of SPEC’s plays a crucial role in maintaining overall well-being. Let’s explore each of these corners with a glimpse of finding balance among them all.
1. The Physical Corner:
Physical stressors can misalign the delicate structure of the spine and nervous system, leading to pain, discomfort, and restricted mobility.
Example: Poor posture, repetitive movements, accidents, sitting at a desk for long hours without proper ergonomics.
2. The Chemical Corner:
Chemical stressors encompass everything we put INTO and ONTO our bodies that can disrupt our body's natural balance.
Examples: The food we eat, the medications and supplements we take, the products we place on our skin, our air quality, environment, scented fragrances, phytoestrogens, BPA etc.
3. The Emotional Corner:
Our emotional well-being significantly impacts our physical health. Stress, anxiety, and unresolved emotional issues can manifest as physical symptoms, affecting our overall vitality.
Examples: Constant work-related stress, financial pressures, losing a loved one, break ups etc.
4. The Spiritual Corner:
While often overlooked, our spiritual well-being plays a vital role in maintaining overall health. Engaging in activities that bring joy, practicing mindfulness, and nurturing meaningful relationships can help restore spiritual balance.
Examples: Feeling disconnected from your passions and purpose in life can lead to a sense of emptiness, disconnection from your values, feeling of being unfulfilled.
How can I, as a chiropractor, help?
As a chiropractor I acknowledge the interconnectedness of these aspects. I advocate for a holistic approach, encouraging patients to make informed choices about their diet, reduce exposure to harmful substances, and seek natural alternatives whenever possible. I value and recognise the importance of the mind-body connection and aim to alleviate physical stressors by restoring proper function of the spine, and emotional stressors through various techniques, such as breathing, meditation and somatic release.
Finding your balance:
I believe wholeheartedly that in the pursuit of optimal health, it is essential to recognise and address SPEC’s - as hyperfocusing on one corner while neglecting others can lead to imbalances and hinder progress.
By finding balance among the physical, chemical, emotional, and spiritual corners, you can unlock your body's innate ability to heal and thrive.
Mads x