CranioSacral Therapy and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

CranioSacral Therapy and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a condition that may be experienced by anyone who has undergone a traumatic event. PTSD occurs when the body/mind has not yet recognized that a traumatic event is over. As a result, the body's sympathetic nervous system (fight/flight) is activated and the body responds by continuously mobilizing muscles and other body systems for defense and/or numbing (a freeze response).

CranioSacral therapists have been treating people with PTSD for many years now.  The Upledger Institute has done studies with Vietnam veterans as well as Gulf War Veterans with very positive results. (http://www.upledger.org/programs/ptsd-relief.php).  But it is not only war that can cause PTSD any trauma such as abuse, rape or even the recent fires in Fort McMurray can leave a lasting effect on the body.  

CranioSacral Therapy is an alternative approach to the treatment of PTSD involving gentle, non-invasive touch that supports the self-correcting ability of the body. Craniosacral Therapy works to support the part of the body that surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord. Craniosacral Therapy acknowledges that emotions can become locked in the body's connective tissues as emotional memories and emotional pain. A CranioSacral therapy approach can help release the energy the body may have retained after a traumatic physical or emotional experience. A Craniosacral Therapy session is deeply relaxing to the body's central nervous system as the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest) is activated and balanced. In a parasympathetic state the body decreases production of the stress hormones linked to sleep and digestive problems and a suppressed immune system. It becomes easier for people receiving Craniosacral Therapy to remain more calm and focused.

Jeannette Raskin practices at Family First Chiropractic, 142 Erickson Drive, Red Deer, Alberta.  403-347-3261. www.family1stchiro.ca. 

Have you ever woke up with a kink in your neck or 'slept wrong'?

I woke up with a kink in my neck!

Many patients come into the office complaining they ‘slept’ wrong or have a ‘kink’ in their neck. This is often caused from sleeping in the wrong location- yes if you slept on the couch in a strange neck twisted position the bones can become mal-aligned or subluxated and you will need a chiropractic adjustment to alleviate the pain and realign the spine correctly thus reducing the neck pain. It won’t just ‘go away’ over time!

The next thing to evaluate is what kind of pillow are you sleeping on? Flat pillows do not have to correct support and do not support your neck and spine when laying in the best sleeping position -which is on the back.

Do you fingers are arms go numb? Then you are not getting the support correctly to your spine when you are sleeping. Molded pillows that support the proper curvature of the spine are the best for back sleeping. Side sleepers need a pillow that is the depth of your ear to shoulder to keep the neck in a neutral position and to prevent the nerves that go to the arm from getting impinged and your arms or hands going numb or asleep.

How should you then pick a pillow? We will show you what kind of pillow and how to use it for different sleeping issues in the office with you.

We have pillows for young children 2-5, 5-12 year olds, petite spines and regular spines.

Stomach sleepers are notorious for neck and arm pain when awakening; retraining yourself to sleep on you back and spine with enhance your sleep and reduce your pain and discomfort. No pillow in the world will make your spine better. Lying on your belly with your head rotated to one side all night is going to cause imbalances in your neck with one side of your neck muscles growing really contracted and the other side too stretched out.

As always, if you have neck pain when you wake up, you need to have yourself evaluated by a chiropractor. Good pillows are helpful but they don’t correct the bad movement patterns, imbalances and poor alignment causing the problem in the first place.

Dr. Joelle Johnson has been practicing for over 16 years and is located at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, located at 142 Erickson Drive, Red Deer. www.family1stchiro.ca 403-347-3261 to book an appointment today.