Principles of Life: Safety Pin Cycle
- Dr. Joshua Beaudry
- Mar 17
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 25
Have you ever felt stuck in stress?
Tight muscles, gut issues, poor digestion, anxiety, or that constant feeling of being “on edge.”
It can feel like something is wrong with you.
But it does not mean you are broken.
It means your nervous system has not completed the cycle.
The Brain Controls Everything
Your brain is constantly scanning your environment.
If it perceives stress, whether physical, chemical, or emotional, it activates a protective response. This is the fight-or-flight state.
This response is designed to help you survive.
The problem is not the stress response itself. The problem is staying in that state for too long.
What Happens When the Cycle Is Not Completed
When the body stays in a stress state, it begins to adapt to that state.
Over time:
Muscles remain tight
Breathing becomes shallow
Heart rate stays elevated
Digestion slows down
Hormones shift
Eventually, the body begins to rebuild itself around stress.
The tissues, muscles, and systems start functioning as if stress is the normal baseline.
Then something even more important happens.
The body sends signals back to the brain confirming that you are still in danger.
This creates a loop.
The brain tells the body to be stressed. The body tells the brain it is still stressed.
This is what we call the Safety Pin Cycle.
Your Body Is Always Giving You Feedback
The body is constantly communicating its state.
Signs that you are in stress include:
Tight or sore muscles
Rapid breathing
Increased heart rate
Sweaty or clammy hands
Poor digestion
Low stomach acid
Even your breathing patterns send signals.
If you breathe quickly and shallowly, your brain interprets that as danger. It responds by keeping you in a protective state.
Everything is feedback.
A Simple Example: Digestion
Digestion clearly shows how this cycle works.
The stomach only produces acid when the body is in a relaxed state.
If you are in stress:
Stomach acid decreases
Protein is not properly broken down
Food moves into the intestines undigested
Gas, bloating, and discomfort increase
Over time, this disrupts communication between the gut and the brain.
The signals that normally regulate digestion begin to fail.
This is not just a digestive issue. It is a nervous system issue.
How Stress Affects the Whole Body
When the stress cycle is not completed, it affects every system.
The digestive system breaks down
Neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine become imbalanced
Emotional regulation becomes more difficult
Energy production decreases
A stressed brain creates a stressed body.
And a stressed body reinforces a stressed brain.
This cycle continues until it is intentionally interrupted.
Stress vs. Adaptability
Your body operates in two primary states:
Stress (Protection) or Adaptability (Healing)
When you are in stress, your body prioritizes survival.
When you are in adaptability, your body prioritizes repair, digestion, recovery, and growth.
You cannot fully heal while your body believes it is under threat.
Breaking the Safety Pin Cycle
The goal is not to eliminate stress.
The goal is to complete the cycle and return the body to a regulated state.
This requires helping the nervous system recognize safety again.
Some ways to begin include:
Slowing and deepening your breathing
Supporting proper digestion
Regulating blood sugar
Creating moments of rest and recovery
Addressing underlying physical, chemical, and emotional stressors
When the body exits the stress response, it begins to shift back into adaptability.
The Takeaway
You are not broken.
Your body is responding exactly the way it was designed to.
The issue is not that the stress response turns on. It is that it never fully turns off.
When you help the nervous system complete the cycle, the body begins to restore balance.
Healing is not about forcing the body to change. It is about creating the conditions where the body can return to what it was designed to do.
Life Springs Family Chiropractic – Denver, CO
Call/Text: (303) 770-0605
Website: lifespringsfamilychiropractic.com
