Stuck in Survival..

Humans have evolved with an innate, automatic survival response which involves the rapid reaction to a perceived threat (before any conscious thought) - designed to dramatically increase our chance of survival in dangerous situations by prioritizing speed, strength and focus. Once survival is initiated, there are a number of possible responses which may occur including fight, flight, freeze, escape and submission. But what’s happening on a deeper level?

When a threat is detected, signals are sent within the brain, from the amygdala to the hypothalamus to activate our Sympathetic Nervous System & HPA-axis, leading to the release of stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol from the adrenal glands. These hormones increase heart rate, breathing and muscle tension while temporarily reducing functions like digestion and immune activity.

While this response is crucial to our survival, it has become a double edged sword for most people in today’s society. When we are in a survival state, the activity of our cerebral cortex decreases which means our capacity to think and reason diminish; things like our long-term goals and interests take a back seat as our need to survive takes precedence. Today, many of us are constantly triggered into a survival state not because of immediate physical danger, but because of chronic perceived threats which the brain interprets as risks to safety, belonging or stability. Some common examples include ongoing work pressure (fear of failure, job loss, or constant performance evaluation), financial stress (debt, rising living costs), social threats (fear of rejection, conflict, judgement) & information overload (constant exposure to alarming news, notifications, and global crises).

Being in survival mode for a prolonged period can be detrimental to our health as it affects the outputs to our hormonal system, as well as our autonomic nervous system (responsible for the subconscious regulation of the body’s functions).

..and how Kinesiology can help.

Kinesiology is the perfect modality for identifying and clearing stress from the brain and nervous system, and bringing people out of prolonged survival states. Using advanced Neurological techniques and balance protocols, we can assess how cortical function is being affected by the impact of the amygdala, and dig deeper to find the underlying emotional trigger(s) responsible for the survival response. By neutralizing chronic perceived threats and clearing stress & confusion, we can support the re-organisation and harmonization of the Central Nervous System.

If prolonged, survival responses and imbalances in our Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) or HPA-axis can cause Auto-Toxicity. This is a term used to describe the harmful effects that occur when the body is repeatedly exposed to its own stress chemicals such as cortisol, adrenaline and inflammatory compounds. In these instances, the very substances meant to protect us in short bursts begin to disrupt our physiological functions - immunity, digestion, brain function and tissue repair, effectively ‘poisoning’ the body from within. This can contribute to chronic inflammation, fatigue, mood disturbances, disease and illness.

Kinesiology can easily and effectively address the causes of Auto-Toxicity in the body by balancing long-term stress/elevated cortisol, and addressing imbalances in the ANS or HPA-axis. This can have life-changing benefits and help to eliminate debilitating symptoms such as anxiety, fatigue, emotional numbness, digestive problems, immune imbalances and heightened reactivity to stress. Clients are supported in feeling more calm, grounded, resilient, energetic and emotionally regulated.