We all deal with stress — but how we carry it and cope with it can vary greatly depending on many factors. At Camarata Chiropractic & Wellness, we see firsthand how stress shows up differently in men and women, and how chiropractic care can offer powerful relief and support.

The Science Behind Stress

When the body perceives stress, it activates the sympathetic nervous system (the "fight or flight" response). This triggers a cascade of changes: heart rate rises, muscles tense, and cortisol and adrenaline flood the bloodstream. Over time, chronic stress without relief can lead to physical symptoms, inflammation, and disease.

But how stress manifests and how people cope with it often differs between men and women.

How Men Tend to Hold Stress

• More Physical Tension: Men often hold stress in their shoulders, upper traps, and low back.

• Less Verbal Expression: Men may internalize stress and not speak about it as much, which can build tension in the body.

• Fight-or-Flight Dominance: The male stress response leans heavily toward aggression, avoidance, or shutting down.

• Higher Risk of Suppressing Symptoms: Men may "push through" pain longer before seeking help, allowing musculoskeletal dysfunction to worsen.

How Women Tend to Hold Stress

• Neck, Upper Back, Jaw, and Digestive System: Many women experience TMJ issues, migraines, neck tension, and gut-related symptoms from chronic stress.

• Tend-and-Befriend Response: The female stress response may include nurturing others and seeking support, which can be emotionally healthy but physically depleting if boundaries are lacking.

• Hormonal Sensitivity: Female hormones can affect how the nervous system processes stress, especially during menstruation, pregnancy, or perimenopause.

• More Likely to Experience Autoimmune Symptoms: Chronic stress in women can contribute to a higher incidence of autoimmune conditions and persistent inflammation.

The Role of Chiropractic Care

Your spine and nervous system are the central communication highway of your entire body. When your spine is misaligned, this disrupts your body’s ability to process and release stress effectively.

Here’s how chiropractic can help:

• Adjustments restore balance to the nervous system, shifting the body out of fight-or-flight and into the parasympathetic "rest and digest" state.

• Releases tension in the muscles and fascia that build up due to chronic stress.

• Improves posture, mobility, and breathing, all of which are crucial for calming the mind and body.

• Reduces inflammation and supports optimal function of every system — from digestion to immunity to mental clarity.

Whole-Body Support for Stress Relief

At Camarata Chiropractic & Wellness, we don’t just adjust your spine and send you on your way. We offer a full spectrum of support including:

• SoftWave Tissue Regeneration Therapy for chronic pain and inflammation

• IASTM and fascial release therapy to free up muscle tension

• Infrared sauna and red light therapy for detox and cellular healing

• Nutrition and lifestyle counseling for long-term wellness and stress reduction

The Bottom Line

Stress affects everyone, but not always in the same way. Whether you’re a man carrying the weight of responsibility on your shoulders, or a woman experiencing the tension of daily demands in your neck and jaw — your body is trying to communicate with you.

Let us help you listen.

Schedule Your Visit Today

• Camarata Chiropractic & Wellness

• 3237 Union Street, North Chili, NY 14514

• Phone: 585-617-4145

• Email: info@camaratachiropractic.com

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Health is wealth. Consistency and discipline are the key to reaching your health goals. Let’s work on them together.

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