Can Chiropractic Care Help Ease My Anxiety?

By Donna Stark

Anxiety disorders are some of the most common mental health issues in the United States, affecting millions of people each year. They typically involve irrational nervousness, excessive worry, extreme panic, or heightened fear over an imminent event or future outcome. Simply put, these feelings of unease go far beyond what other people would generally experience in a day and can result in a person “getting stuck” on them. This “getting stuck” is key -- and important to note -- because many people who are diagnosed with an anxiety disorder have a hard time completing their daily activities, are extremely reluctant to try something new, and respond to certain things and situations with fear and dread.

What Are the Symptoms of an Anxiety Disorder?

While it’s perfectly normal to experience sporadic moments of anxiety throughout life, it’s not normal if those intense feelings occur frequently, and over everyday situations. Five of the most common anxiety disorders are generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and panic disorder. These disorders can be extremely complex for many reasons, but mostly because they aren’t just mental health issues. They will oftentimes wreak havoc on a person’s physical health too. In addition to the depression, uncontrollable responses, compulsive behaviors, full-blown panic attacks, and sense of doom and dread, a person suffering from anxiety may also experience the following physical symptoms.

• Muscle tension
• High blood pressure
• Heart palpitations
• Disrupted sleep patterns
• Fatigue and weakness
• Neck, back, and shoulder pain
• Headaches
• Weight gain or loss
• Digestive issues

How Can Anxiety Be Treated?

Anxiety disorders are often treated with psychotherapy and prescription medications such as anti-anxiety medicines, antidepressants, and beta blockers. Although these treatments have been proven to alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression, and help people function better, the downside to them is that it may take some trial and error to find the best plan for each individual. Even worse, there is often a long list of undesirable and risky side effects associated with the medications prescribed during these treatments.

Is Chiropractic Care an Effective Alternative Treatment?

When searching for ways to treat anxiety and depression, many people are surprised to learn that chiropractic treatments may be a big help to them. Chiropractic care is beneficial because the adjustments help promote optimal spinal and nervous system health. If a spinal misalignment results in the brain and the central nervous system being unable to send and receive clear communications with each other, the rest of the body won’t be able to function optimally. In other words, if a subluxation in the spine is not corrected, the body could respond in ways that exacerbate the symptoms of anxiety.

Fortunately, the chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic are in a unique position to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Regular chiropractic adjustments may help reduce anxiety symptoms and improve mental and physical health in many ways. Below are a few examples of the ways chiropractic can assist in a complementary fashion.

• Lowers blood pressure - Chiropractic adjustments may help lower blood pressure by releasing tension around the vertebrae and correcting joint dysfunction.
• Reduces stress - Chiropractic adjustments trigger the release of endorphins, your body’s positive hormones. This can help reduce the cortisol levels associated with stress and anxiety and promote relaxation.
• Relieves tension - Anxiety is known for causing serious tension throughout the body, particularly in the back, neck, and shoulders. To release this tension, your chiropractor will adjust your spine and place your body in proper alignment.
• Promotes sleep - Chiropractic care can improve sleep by alleviating pain, balancing hormones, and restoring optimal function to the nervous system. This can have a huge impact on a patient’s overall well-being and how they respond to stressful situations.
• Improves function - Chiropractic care can help with depression and anxiety by addressing the stressors that are causing imbalances in the body. By restoring optimal function to the body’s major systems, patients will be able to navigate their days better.

Visit The Joint Chiropractic

Chiropractic care is an all-natural, non-invasive method of helping treat anxiety and depression. If you would like to learn more about the chiropractic approach and how it can complement and assist relieving some of the mental and physical symptoms you are experiencing, visit The Joint Chiropractic today.

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this page are for informational purposes only. The purpose of this post is to promote broad consumer understanding and knowledge of various health topics, including but not limited to the benefits of chiropractic care, exercise and nutrition. It is not intended to provide or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your chiropractor, physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this page.