Why Stress Never Becomes the Word of the Year
For more than a decade, Merriam‑Webster has published its Word of the Year, reflecting what people are most curious about at a given moment in time. In 2004, it was blog. In 2008, it was bailout. In 2013, it was science.
One word has never made the list: stress.
That omission is telling. No one needs to look up the definition of stress. We live it.
We recognize stress in how we speak to the people we love, the foods we reach for late at night, the sleep we lose, and the way our bodies feel when we wake up already exhausted. Stress shows up with the second, third, or fourth cup of coffee. It shows up as mental fatigue, body breakdown, and the sense that life feels heavier than it should.
Stress does not need a dictionary definition. It has become a daily experience.
Stress Is Not the Enemy — Chronic Stress Is
One of the most misunderstood truths about stress is this: stress itself is normal, necessary, and even healthy.
Stress is the body’s built‑in survival response. When the brain perceives a threat, it activates what is commonly known as the fight‑or‑flight response. Heart rate increases. Blood pressure rises. Muscles tighten. Digestion slows. Attention narrows.
This response is life‑saving when the threat is real and immediate—an oncoming car, a dangerous fall, or an unexpected animal on a trail run. In those moments, stress protects us.
Problems arise when the stress response never turns off.
Modern stressors are rarely short‑lived. Relationship conflict, financial pressure, workplace tension, digital overload, and chronic pain keep the nervous system in a prolonged state of high alert. Research shows that long‑term activation of stress pathways is associated with hormonal imbalance, immune dysfunction, cardiovascular strain, and neurological changes [1].
One Nervous System, One Stress Response
The brain does not differentiate between types of stress. Emotional stress, physical stress, and psychological stress all activate the same neurological pathways.
From the perspective of the nervous system, stress is stress.
This means that an argument with a spouse, long hours at a desk, poor posture, and lack of movement can all feed into the same biological response. Over time, the nervous system adapts to this heightened state as its new normal.
Chronic stress is not just a feeling. It is a form of neurological conditioning.
The Hormonal Cost of Chronic Stress
When stress becomes persistent, cortisol and other stress hormones remain elevated. While helpful in short bursts, prolonged cortisol exposure has been linked to:
- Disrupted sleep
- Blood sugar instability
- Weight gain
- Reduced immune function
- Changes in brain structure and function [2]
Emerging research has also associated chronic stress with changes in regions of the brain involved in memory, emotional regulation, and autonomic control [3].
This is one reason stress management cannot rely on willpower alone. It must address the nervous system itself.
Movement: The Brain’s Primary Calming Signal
Most people know that exercise helps reduce stress. What is less well known is why.
Approximately 70–90% of the sensory input that calms the brain comes from movement of the joints—particularly the joints of the spine [4]. The spine contains more than 70 joints, each rich in neurological receptors that continuously inform the brain about position, balance, and motion.
When spinal movement is reduced, the brain receives fewer calming signals. When movement is restored, the nervous system is better able to shift out of fight‑or‑flight and into a state of regulation.
This makes spinal mobility one of the most powerful, yet overlooked, tools for managing stress from the inside out.
Spinal Stiffness and the Stress Cycle
Spinal stiffness—often referred to in chiropractic as subluxation—reduces normal joint motion and alters neurological input to the brain.
Studies in chiropractic and neurophysiology literature show that restricted spinal motion can influence muscle tone, autonomic nervous system balance, and pain processing [5]. When spinal movement is limited, the nervous system has a harder time down‑regulating stress responses.
In this way, stress and spinal dysfunction can reinforce one another, creating a self‑perpetuating cycle.
Chiropractic Care and Neurological Regulation
Modern chiropractic care is not simply about pain relief. Its deeper purpose is neurological regulation.
By restoring healthy spinal motion and alignment, chiropractic care stimulates the nervous system in a way that supports balance between stress and recovery. Research has shown that spinal adjustments can influence brain function, sensorimotor integration, and autonomic regulation [6].
This is why many people seek chiropractic care in Kelowna not only for back or neck pain, but for overall wellness and resilience.
Stress, Posture, and the Modern Environment
Modern life places unprecedented demands on the spine. Prolonged sitting, screen use, and reduced physical variability encourage postural patterns that increase spinal stiffness and neurological strain.
Forward head posture, rounded shoulders, and loss of spinal curves have been associated with increased muscle tension, altered breathing patterns, and heightened stress responses [7].
Corrective chiropractic approaches focus on restoring healthier posture and movement patterns so the nervous system can function more efficiently.
Chiropractic BioPhysics® and Stress Resilience
Chiropractic BioPhysics® (CBP®) is a posture‑based, evidence‑informed approach that emphasizes spinal alignment and structural correction.
CBP research has demonstrated that improving spinal curves can lead to better long‑term outcomes than symptom‑based care alone [8]. By addressing posture and alignment, CBP aims to reduce ongoing mechanical stress on the nervous system.
This approach is particularly relevant for individuals seeking long‑term stress resilience rather than temporary relief.
Creating Margin in a High‑Stress World
One of the most important benefits of neurological balance is margin—the ability to handle stressors without being overwhelmed by them.
When the nervous system is regulated:
- Recovery improves
- Sleep deepens
- Emotional responses become more stable
- Physical activity becomes more effective
This margin allows people to face life’s challenges without paying for them with their health.
Chiropractic as Part of a Long‑Term Health Strategy
Stress is not going away. The solution is not avoidance, but capacity.
Chiropractic care, when integrated into a broader health strategy, helps build that capacity by supporting spinal mobility, neurological balance, and resilience. This is why many individuals committed to long‑term wellness choose a Kelowna chiropractor who understands the stress response.
Final Thoughts
Stress is not a personal failure. It is a biological response shaped by modern life. When left unaddressed, it can quietly undermine health over time.
By restoring spinal motion and supporting neurological balance, chiropractic care offers a powerful, non‑pharmaceutical way to interrupt the stress cycle from the inside out.
If you are looking for a chiropractor in Kelowna who focuses on nervous system health, posture, and long‑term resilience, this approach may be worth exploring.
Take the Next Step
Don’t settle for temporary relief. Get care that helps correct the cause of your condition.
Step 1:
Start with a free 10-minute phone consult to discuss your symptoms and see if our approach is right for you.
Step 2:
Book your first comprehensive exam and consultation and get started.
References
- McEwen BS. Protective and damaging effects of stress mediators. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10367517/
- Sapolsky RM. Stress hormones and brain damage. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9769967/
- Lupien SJ et al. Stress hormones and human memory. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10672197/
- Haavik H, Murphy B. The role of spinal afferent input in brain function. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25795158/
- Pickar JG. Neurophysiological effects of spinal manipulation. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17261118/
- Haavik H et al. Chiropractic care and sensorimotor integration. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30001407/
- Straker L et al. Posture and stress in modern environments. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21450449/
- Harrison DE et al. Structural rehabilitation of the spine. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20046632/
