What causes body stress?

Pressure on the spinal nerves when body stress
occurs in the spine has a far-reaching disruptive
effect on the body's communication system

Stress only becomes a negative factor when it goes beyond our ability to adapt to it.

When stress gets too much to handle, it reaches the level of overload and becomes stored in the body as 'body stress'. Thus the body is less able to deal with any further stress that it is subjected to and enters a cycle of negative adaptation.

Body stress occurs instantly, the moment the point of stress overload is reached. Of course every individual has a different threshold of stress overload but the effects are the same. Overload triggers the body's survival mode of action. This is automatically activated by a reflex reaction, which is controlled by mechanisms located in the spinal cord. This action does not involve the brain and may occur anywhere in the body. The tissues surrounding the site of involvement tighten in order to protect the area. It is very noticeable how the overlying muscles contract in order to restrict movement.

As muscles are designed to move and support the body structures, they cross over the joints. When body stress occurs, muscles tighten to restrict movement and the involved joints become squeezed together. This compressive force has an impact on nerves. When it occurs in the spine, the pressure on the spinal nerves has a far-reaching disruptive effect on the body's communication system. The brain may not be aware of the site of body stress, thus the body's self-healing mechanisms are not activated to release the stored tension. The body then requires some outside assistance and this is the function of the BSR practitioner.