When it comes to health, there are a lot of things that define it. From our activity levels to our blood sugar and everything in between, health means waaaay more than just a number on a scale. Add in reaching optimal health, and you’ve opened a whole new can of worms — but it doesn’t have to feel hard. Really, it’s more simple than you think. In fact, we like to think of reaching optimal health as finding ways to reduce stress on the nervous system in 3 main ways: through toxins, through trauma, and through thoughts.
To get a little more high-level on you, this essentially means through reducing chemical stress (i.e., toxins), reducing trauma (i.e., physical stress), and reducing emotional stress (AKA, your thoughts).
Focusing on toxins, trauma, and thoughts — what we call the 3 T’s — is a big part of what we do at Thrive Family Chiropractic, and it’s also key in helping each of our patients reach the health that they so deserve. Today, we wanted to dive into the 3 T’s on a deeper level so that you can connect with your health optimally (stay tuned for more in-depth blog posts on each area later!).
You ready? Let’s dive on in.
First up — what do we mean by reducing stress on the nervous system?
When you think of the term ‘nervous system,’ you might be taken straight back to high school bio class to picture things like the brain and the spine and the nerves. And, that’s right — because that’s what the nervous system is, at its core. However, your nervous system is so much more than just a bundle of bones and nerves and cells. Really, your nervous system is your body’s master control center. If your nervous system is off, so is everything else… and, in chiropractic, we work to make sure that your nervous system is functioning as it should.
See, your nervous system determines every aspect of your day-to-day life, from your mental health to your comfort levels to your physical health and everything in between. When your spine isn’t aligned and your nervous system pathways are cluttered, everything else suffers — and the quickest ways that your nervous system pathways get cluttered are through chemical, physical, and emotional stress. Enter: the 3 T’s.
The 3 T’s: Toxins, Trauma, & Thoughts
Like we’ve talked about, there are a lot of the pieces to the nervous system puzzle… and we can categorize almost all of those pieces into 3 main categories — chemical, physical, and emotional stress. From the things we consume to the things we do to our bodies to the emotions we hold on a day-to-day basis, understanding their power is key to reaching a consistent balance in the nervous system.
Here’s what you need to know about the three main categories of nervous system stress, the 3 T’s:
Toxins (chemical stress)
First up, let’s talk about toxins — which come in a huuuuge variety of categories. When you think about it, we’re constantly exposed to toxins of different kinds each and every day. While some are kind of unavoidable, there are a lot of toxins that we keep in our homes and put on our bodies that can contribute quickly to chemical stress on the nervous system.
This starts with the food and drinks we consume (there will always be more chemical stress in processed foods), goes onto the beauty and skincare products we use (the skin is our largest organ!), and ends up with the things in our day-to-day environments (like cleaning products). These things contribute big-time to our stress load, and finding ways to pare down daily toxins and turn to more natural alternatives can make a big difference.
Trauma (physical stress)
Next up, we have physical trauma — which doesn’t have to be a violent, instantly noticeable kind of thing, either. We put physical stress on our bodies daily, and some of that is good (think: healthy workouts), but we’re also known to put negative physical stress on our bodies. This definitely comes in a variety of areas, too, from workouts that push you *way* too hard all the way to sitting too often and ignoring aches and pains.
While chiropractic can be a big part of helping to reduce daily physical stress, most of it comes down to small, intentional choices that you make in your everyday life. And, when you can actually optimize those physical activities you do each day, you can strengthen your nervous system and align it in a way that feels comfortable and supports your life.
Thoughts (emotional stress)
Then, the big one — our emotional stress, which we carry into every single aspect of our lives (and our nervous systems). Whether it’s work stress or relationship stress or financial stress or depression and anxiety, emotional stress as a whole plays a massive role in an unbalanced nervous system. While physical and chemical stress is obviously a huge deal, none of that matters without regulating the emotional stress, too.
When it comes to emotional stress, there are a ton of methods that can help reduce and manage the load. Whether it’s journaling or therapy or exercise or simply calling a friend, finding ways to balance out the emotional stress is a really, really essential piece of health as a whole.
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More than anything, the 3 T’s are a reminder to each and every one of us that taking care of our bodies is so much more than simply walking more steps or even going to the chiropractor. Instead, taking care of our bodies also means that we take intentional, solid steps toward natural, holistic, and sustainable choices in a variety of ways — whether it’s chemically, physically, or emotionally.
If you’re ready to embrace intentional health, we’d love to see you in our office as you start your journey. We’re all about empowering you to take control of your 3 T’s, and we’d love to help you do it. Request an appointment with us here.