Can Chiropractic Treatment Help With Stress or Anxiety Symptoms? 6 Things to Know

Debra Riley

Published

Facing the relentless toll of everyday stress and anxiety can feel like an uphill battle, with relief often seeming just out of reach. But an unexpected ally might lie in the hands-on approach of chiropractic care.

While traditionally associated with addressing physical ailments, growing evidence suggests that chiropractic adjustments may provide benefits for your mental health

By exploring the potential for spinal alignment to influence stress hormone levels, improve sleep quality, and recommend relaxation techniques, we step into a world where chiropractic treatment emerges as a multifaceted solution to ease both body and mind.

Let’s get started.

chiropractic treatment

What to Know About Chiropractic Treatment and Mental Health

Are you embarking on a journey to understand chiropractic care’s role in mental health? Here are 6 points that shed light on how this treatment may alleviate symptoms of stress and anxiety.

Understanding the Connection

When stress and anxiety linger, they don’t just cloud your thoughts. They can show up physically, tightening muscles, hurting your nerves, and throwing your spine out of alignment. This somatic symptomatology can exacerbate mental tension, creating a vicious cycle. 

Chiropractic care seeks to interrupt this feedback loop by realigning the spine and easing muscle tension. In doing so, it potentially facilitates an improved flow of signals between your brain and body, which may help in tempering anxiety responses and promoting a sense of calm.

Holistic Approach to Wellness

As you explore chiropractic care for mental health, it’s key to note that chiropractors don’t just focus on the spine. They adopt a holistic approach to wellness.

They believe in the interconnectivity of the body and mind, seeking out the root causes of stress and anxiety

During your visit, expect conversations about your daily routines, including diet, exercise habits, and sleeping patterns. In a chiropractor doctor’s notes, they’ll likely detail how your physical pain and spinal alignment are influencing your emotional well-being.

Your chiropractor will work with you to develop a personalized plan that alleviates immediate and long-term discomfort. 

Stress Hormone Reduction

Embarking on chiropractic treatment often leads to unexpected benefits, particularly in terms of stress hormone reduction. The expert adjustments provided by a chiropractor can ease the tension throughout your body, decreasing the production of the stress hormone cortisol.

If you’re starting out as a nurse, for example, you may notice that you’re struggling with your mental health. Being in physical pain can naturally make these problems worse.

By alleviating spinal misalignments or subluxations, chiropractic care supports better nervous system function, allowing your body to manage stress responses more efficiently.

Regular sessions can serve as a sanctuary for your endocrine system, fostering a sense of tranquility.

patient having chiropractic care

Encourages Relaxation Techniques

In the realm of chiropractic care, there’s a strong emphasis on teaching and encouraging relaxation techniques to complement physical treatments. Your chiropractor may integrate practices such as deep breathing exercises, meditation, or progressive muscle relaxation.

These methods are designed to train your body to enter a state of deep rest readily.

As you learn these techniques under the guidance of a chiropractor, you’re equipped with an arsenal of tools to combat stress in everyday life, aiding in both immediate and long-term relief. 

Improved Sleep Quality

When you’re grappling with stress or anxiety, sleep can often be the first casualty. Chiropractic care could be your ally in reclaiming those precious hours of rest.

Adjustments to the spine help alleviate physical discomfort that might disrupt sleep, relaxing your nervous system.

As a result, many find their sleep quality improves after starting chiropractic treatment—falling asleep becomes easier and nights less interrupted.

This is critical because sound sleep plays a pivotal role in mental health and overall emotional resilience. It’s really important to strive for your 8 hours of sleep, especially if you have a physically demanding career like nursing

lady relaxing

Easing Muscle Tension and Nervous System Function

As you delve into chiropractic care, expect a dual focus on easing muscle tension and enhancing nervous system function. The two are intricately linked – tight muscles can disrupt nerve signaling, while a stressed nervous system often manifests in physical tension. 

Your chiropractor’s targeted adjustments aim to release the knots and ease the strain that confines your musculature and spine, thus smoothing out the pathways for nerve impulses.

This holistic treatment helps unlock a more harmonious dialogue between your body’s systems.

In Conclusion… 

Now that you’ve glimpsed the potential harmony chiropractic care can bring to your life, why not take the next step toward tranquility?

If stress and anxiety have overshadowed your days, your mind and body might thank you for reaching out to a licensed chiropractor for an evaluation.