Craniosacral therapy for anxiety and depression

Craniosacral therapy is remarkably effective for alleviating anxiety and depression. Whilst the therapy works on many levels, the main mechanism for relief is in the regulation of the nervous system.  Often depression and anxiety stem from imbalances in the nervous system that have been caused by emotional and/or physical shock and trauma. This could be due to any number of issues sometimes stemming right back to trauma in utero or during birth, as well as childhood accidents, head injuries, surgeries, dental & orthodontic work, falling off a horse or bicycle, car accidents and sporting injuries, for example.  It can also be due to stressful or traumatic events, long term stressful relationships and environments, witnessing or experiencing violent attacks or abuse.  A period of life when you felt vulnerable, neglected, or unsafe could still be "running" in your nervous system, even if it has little to do with your current circumstances or environment.  The nervous system needs to be "reset" to adapt to your current reality.

When traumatic events unfold, we tend to have one of three responses: fight, flight, or freeze.  Sometimes when we go into one of these modes we aren't able to fully resolve, or complete the actions that we are instinctively programmed for, such as running or fighting, in a way that enables us to move on, recover and deal with the next source of stress.  By suppressing our natural responses to stress our nervous systems can become "stuck" in one or more of these modes, leading us to feel "frozen": tired, depressed unmotivated, etc, or alternatively leaving us in a state of perpetual nervous system "activation", releasing lots of adrenalin, cortisol and other stress hormones leading to frequent anxiety and panic attacks, even in situations where there is no real danger.  Sometimes we bounce between the two states, feeling  sometimes exhausted and apathetic and other times hyper-vigilant and anxious, but rarely at peace and fully present and embodied. 

This means that our reactions to new situations are overlaid on top of the initial traumas, adding more layers of trapped or stored stress in our brains and bodies.  When trauma goes unresolved it leaves patterns in our nervous systems, which are easily re-triggered, sometimes by the most seemingly harmless situations.  Not understanding why we react or feel this way can lead to further anxiety and depression, and the feeling that life is difficult, unpleasant, or somehow just not as it should be.

Craniosacral therapy is a gentle yet highly effective method of releasing tensions and restrictions in the muscles, joints and membranes of the body, allowing optimal movement of fluids and regulation of the nervous system and hormones (including health and happiness promoting hormones such a serotonin, melatonin, oxytocin and endorphins) to achieve physical and emotional balance. Craniosacral therapy also promotes sleep and deep relaxation so that your body can heal itself.   In this way we can "reboot" our nervous systems by assisting the body to release these memories of trauma that are stored in the muscles, bones, nerves, and other cells, creating greater harmony between our inner and outer environments.