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In this episode of the Reform Spine & Wellness podcast, Dr. Lisa Ly explores the often-misunderstood connection between stress and the nervous system. Most people think of stress as purely emotional, but Dr. Ly explains how it triggers real, measurable physical responses in the body. She breaks down what happens when your nervous system is constantly in a state of overload — and why that matters for your long-term health. If you’ve been feeling run down, tense, or just not like yourself, this episode will help you understand why — and what you can do about it.
Hey there, and welcome back. I’m Doctor Lisa Ly, and you’re listening to the Reform Spine and Wellness podcast — where we talk about real health, real answers, and what it actually looks like to feel like yourself again. I’m so glad you’re here today, because we’re diving into something that affects pretty much every single person listening right now. We’re talking about stress — and what it’s actually doing to your nervous system.
Now, most of us think of stress as an emotional thing. You had a hard week. Your inbox is overflowing. The kids are loud and dinner isn’t made. And yes, stress absolutely lives in the mind. But here’s what I want you to understand — stress has a very real, very physical impact on your body. And your nervous system is right at the center of it.
Let me break this down for you. Your nervous system has two main modes. Think of them like settings on a dial. One side is your fight-or-flight response — that’s your body gearing up for danger. Heart rate goes up, muscles tighten, your breath gets shallow. The other side is your rest-and-digest mode — that’s where your body repairs itself, recovers, and functions the way it was designed to. Now, here’s the thing. When stress becomes chronic — when it’s not just one hard day but weeks or months of pressure — your nervous system gets stuck on that fight-or-flight setting. And that’s where things start to unravel physically.
You might notice your shoulders creeping up toward your ears. Your jaw is tight when you wake up. Your neck aches even though you didn’t do anything to hurt it. Lower back tension that just won’t let go. These aren’t random. These are your body’s physical response to a nervous system that hasn’t had a chance to reset. Chronic stress creates real muscular tension, it disrupts how your spine moves, and over time, it can absolutely contribute to the kind of pain that sends people searching for answers.
Here’s what’s interesting — your spine and your nervous system are intimately connected. Your spinal column literally houses the central pathway of your nervous system. So when stress causes tension and misalignment in the spine, it doesn’t stay local. It can affect how well your nervous system communicates with the rest of your body. That’s why so many people dealing with high stress also deal with headaches, disrupted sleep, digestive issues, and that full-body heaviness that’s hard to explain.
So what can you do about it today? A few things. First — breathe intentionally. Slow, deep diaphragmatic breathing is one of the fastest ways to shift your nervous system out of fight-or-flight. Even five deep breaths, a few times a day, makes a difference. Second — move your body. Gentle movement, walking, stretching — it signals safety to your nervous system and helps release built-up tension. Third — be honest with yourself about your stress load. Your body keeps score, even when your mind tries to push through.
And this is where chiropractic care fits into the picture. When we adjust the spine, we’re not just addressing the pain in your neck or your lower back. We’re working to restore proper communication through your nervous system — helping your body shift back toward that rest-and-digest state where real healing happens. At Reform, we look at the whole picture. Your posture, your movement patterns, your stress, your lifestyle. Because your pain has a story, and we want to hear it.
If you’ve been carrying tension you can’t shake, if you’re waking up stiff, if your body feels like it’s running on empty — that’s your nervous system asking for support. You don’t have to just push through it.
We would love to be part of your journey back to feeling well. Come see us at Reform Spine and Wellness, right here in San Diego. You can book your appointment online — the link is easy to find. We’ll take the time to actually listen, to understand what’s going on, and to build a plan that’s made for you.
Thank you so much for spending this time with me today. Take good care of yourselves — and I’ll see you in the next episode.
