Chew. On. This.

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Do you find yourself "chewing" on your words? Do you spend time "digesting" your thoughts? How about having that "gnawing" sensation in your gut? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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There is a direct relationship between psycho-emotional "stress" and where it lands in our bodies. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Jaw clenching, teeth grinding, shoulder elevating are all physical manifestations of internal stress. Our emotional brain, located in the limbic system, registers stress and triggers our nervous system to do something about it 👉🏼 fight/run/stand still. Theoretically, when the stress is finally "gone", our system can then relax until the next stress arises. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Unfortunately, in our modern times, the stress rarely waxes and wanes. It stays constant...leaving us in a loop of fight or flight. Our bodies, being the obedient servants, will do what it needs to do to keep dealing with the chronicity. Muscles will stay contracted as we continue to tighten our armor.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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The jaw, neck and scalp are places where much stress lands and if we do not address relaxation of these areas, we can create dental problems, headaches, vision issues, digestive disturbances and even chest tightness that can feel like breathlessness. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Try to find ways to become aware during your day if you are clenching your jaw. Pay attention to where your shoulders are while at your desk. Rub your scalp, gently tug on your hair or give your jaw a short massage. Take some deep breaths, relax your face and then smile. The act of smiling can have a direct effect on your mood.