Reflexology for Emotional Stress

Whilst reflexology does not claim to diagnose, treat or cure a disorder, it is thought that some disorders, such as these, have been shown (through mainly anecdotal evidence due to limited investment in scientific research) to respond well to reflexology.

 

Disorder of the nervous system is the most common reasons for seeking medical help. Emotional stress is a mood / nervous system disorder.

 

Nervous System

The nervous system is an internal communication system, relaying signals with short electrical impulses. The central nervous system is composed of the brain and the spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system extends to all other parts of the body and provides somatic nerves to skeletal muscles and autonomic nerves to internal organs and glands. The autonomic nervous system (ANS) has two branches, the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) which governs the stimulating and excitatory responses, and the parasympathetic nervous system (PSN) which is responsible for storage, calming and restorative functions. The overall function is to detect changes in the body’s internal and external environment and to operate a response. It works together with the endocrine / glandular system to control all body functions and maintain homeostasis.

 

Therapeutic effects of reflexology on the nervous system

• The feet have 1000’s of nerve endings and specialised touch and compression techniques used in reflexology stimulate them, sending nerve impulses through the open neural pathways.
• Nervous system responses can be very rapid with consequently swift responses in the vital organs and other body structures.
• Stimulation of the ANS activates the endocrine / glandular system and a cascade of hormonal responses may result.
• Treatment of the nervous system improves the ability of the organs and structures whose function has become diseased or depressed, to respond positively to therapeutic intervention – all organs are supplied by nerves, the nerves are stimulated, organs return to normal function.
• Relaxation induced by reflexology helps balance the ANS, restoring harmony to its sympathetic and parasympathetic branches.
• Break down of deposits in the feet and the stimulation of reflexology decongests energy pathways allowing the nervous system to work optimally (as it does for all systems).

 

What is Emotional Stress?

One very difficult form of stress to cope with and manage is emotional stress. After all, it is often self-created, it can come out of nowhere and the stress caused by it only heightens the emotions felt. Thus, as the emotional stress increases, the emotions get worse, heightening the emotional stress. Thus, the problem recreates the cause and the problem only gets worse.

 

Emotional stress is often triggered by a dramatic event that puts a person's nervous system under severe strain. This could be an event such as losing a loved one, seeing someone die, or being put into a life-threatening situation. An event such as this can put severe strain on a person's mind and nerves and the incredible strain can cause changes in the way that the brain works. In fact, a severe emotional strain could even cause someone to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.

 

However, emotional stress does not arise from a sudden shock. It can also arise from a total emotional strain that adds up to an overwhelming strain that prevents a person from thinking about anything other than the problems that seem to have no solution. Then, as the stress mounts, the mind is left in its own cocoon of stress that can only call attention to itself, cutting the person off from the world outside. Thus, emotional stress can lead to detachment, and inability to concentrate, fatigue, and even memory problems.

 

Unfortunately, emotional stress also increases moodiness, which can often make things worse. In fact, those attacks of emotional excess can turn emotional excess up to unbearable levels, leading to further attacks. Then, as these bouts of emotional stress keep adding up, it all becomes too much and the sufferer is left almost completely lost and alone in their own cycle of emotion that hammers incessantly at the brain.