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After Effects Massage Therapy & Bodywork
SOCIAL CONSTRUCTS
affecting the skeletal, muscular, nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, lymphatic, respiratory, digestive, urinary and reproductive systems
GENDER
Each culture assigns gender norms like hair & clothing requirements, education & income access, marital obligations, safety, and exclusion which lead to stereotyping, discrimination, prejudice and sexism. Unconsciously, all of these affect our endocrine, immune, cardiovascular and nervous system regularly.
RELIGIOUS UPBRINGING
Our faith is personal, yet few of us educate ourselves about others' faith. This can create suspicion, stereotyping, discrimination, prejudice and acrimonious interactions rather than acceptance, connection and understanding, all affecting our nervous, muscular & endocrine systems.
RACE
Racial tensions and ignorance foster separation, alienation and trauma, increasing anxiety, depression and adrenal fatigue, therein affecting endocrine, lymphatic, nervous, immune, muscular, respiratory, & digestive systems.
SOCIAL CLASS
In high school we knew immediately whether we were included in a group. As adults we have the ability to cross social barriers via income, education, networking and relationships. These chameleon like efforts take a toll on our energy levels, nervous, muscle and endocrine systems.
RURAL vs. INDUSTRIAL vs. URBAN
Geographic location affects our nervous, endocrine, muscular systems, whether through limited stimuli precipitating depression or excessive stimuli leading to anxiety disorders. In addition, environmental factors affect our immune, cardiovascular & integumentary systems.
AGE
Different stages of life face contrasting obstacles. Connection vs isolation, healthy vs genetic & environmental circumstances, contented vs depressed, calm vs anxious, motivated vs fatigued, single vs partnered, poverty vs wealth, challenged vs bored, affecting all the body systems.
EDUCATION
Access to formal or autodidactic education allows neuron synapses to fire, creating new neural pathways. Excessive goal oriented mental challenges affect endocrine, digestive, muscular, cardiovascular & nervous systems. Limited access to education affects all these, as well as, the respiratory system.
SOCIAL INTERACTION
Humans require the subtleties and nuances of socialization but technology has usurped the interpersonal associations that develop healthy connections. Depression, anxiety and suicide are on the rise. Lack of in-person social connections inhibits self awareness & empathy and affects all the body systems
HEALTHCARE ACCESS
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Limited access to adequate healthcare can affect all body systems in a downward spiral.
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Abuse of narcotics through a pharmaceutical approach can escalate quickly, becoming fatal.
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Diagnostic error can delay proper treatment indefinitely, affecting all body systems
INCOME
Income provides options. Whether we struggle with acquiring more or with investing and protecting what we have acquired, the associated stress affects the cardiovascular, endocrine, lymphatic, nervous, digestive, and muscular systems.
OPPORTUNITIES
Gender, social status, race, age, income, education, health, upbringing, interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence and awareness all play a role in whether we are exposed to opportunities, are able to embrace them or become despondent realizing they are out of reach. Positively or negatively, all body systems are affected.
SAFETY
Without rudimentary safety, our nervous system stays in fight-flight-freeze or fawn, causing cortisol levels to spike. Our hippocampus shrinks, amygdala swells, prefrontal cortex won't regulate emotions, nervous system becomes exhausted. This affects all the body systems, foreshadowing mental and emotional distress.
FAMILY
Healthy familial bonds strengthen our immune systems and set us up for success. Acrimonious interactions affect immune, endocrine, nervous, muscular, cardiovascular & respiratory systems. Domestic violence and abuse affects all body systems as well as delaying developmental milestones in children.
FOOD ACCESS
Unless you grow your own food, access to nutritious food is limited by distribution, affordability and education about nutrition. With 70% of your immune system located in the gut, your weight, energy levels and immune system are affected by what you you eat. Toxins and carcinogens in the food supply affect all the body systems.
POLITICAL
Collaborative solutions to human problems rather than polarization would calm our nervous systems and decrease postural and muscular tension. However, the desire to control others prevails and our bodies pay the price. Bitter power struggles and powerlessness to impact change affects all the body systems.
MATING
Trusted intimate connections strengthen all body systems. Betrayal affects endocrine, nervous, immune and muscular systems. Domestic violence and abuse affects all body systems as well as delaying developmental milestones in children.
Isolation affects all body systems, increasing the potential for anxiety and depression.
ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS
Poor air quality, contaminated water supply, toxins in soil, food supply and materials used to build our homes as well as ubiquitous allergens and depleted natural resources affect us all. Exposure to these and the overwhelming powerlessness we feel to effectively combat these issues affects all the body systems.
CORPORATE INFLUENCE
Many corporations rely on our choices lining their pockets with little regard for our well being. Marketing psychology exploits our weaknesses and relies on our ignorance of human behavior. This manipulation qualifies as abuse, affecting all our body systems and makes us complicit in our own demise.
