Reflexlogy is always popular with our patients - there's something wonderfully calming about letting someone absorb themselves in your feet for an hour - an hour in which to give your busy brain a holiday!
Stress and anxiety can have a huge impact on how we function. When we are stressed or feel panicked our physiological response is to increase the ‘stress hormones’ in the adrenal glands to cope with the stressful situation. If these remain elevated, which is now so common in our fast paced lives, then our balance of hormones and other bodily systems can become disrupted and we can be left with symptoms such as headaches, dizziness or depression.
Something worth understanding about anxiety is that it develops due to us overestimating a situation and underestimating our ability to cope with it. Anxious behaviour and thoughts can be very difficult to overcome when we are in the thick of it but there is a lot of things that can help.
A point known as the calming or relaxation point, otherwise known as the solar plexus reflex, is a great one to work on. The diagrams below show where this point is in both the hands and feet. Our Reflexologist, Sarah, recommends trying this on yourself.
To find the point on your hand, cup your hand like you are holding a drop of water and with the thumb of your other hand go to the deepest point, you will feel a dip between two tendons. Press gently here for a few moments, whilst closing your eyes and taking a few deep breaths. Repeat this on the other hand. You can do this as and when you feel in need of a moment of calm throughout the day.
There is a lot to be said about taking a deep breath when we are feeling overwhelmed. By taking in a good breath of oxygen we stimulate the vagus nerve, which is located at the base of the brain stem. This nerve travels through the body and is connected to all the organs. Therefore, by taking a few deep inhales through the nose and slowly exhaling out through the mouth, we are essentially giving ourselves an internal hug, reminding the body that we no longer need the ‘stress response’. The body can then be reassured that all is well and so we can be at ease.
If you would like to know more about how Reflexology can help you manage your anxiety please contact Sarah Groves on 07789077955 or via email
[email protected]
If you would like help with your anxiety but are not sure about trying Reflexology please email the team on
[email protected] and see what other options are available.