The Connection Between Spinal Alignment and Mood
Many people are aware of the benefits of exercise, nutrition, and stress management for maintaining good mental health. But have you ever considered how spinal alignment may also be a crucial part of the puzzle?
As your chiropractor, we’re trained to diagnose and care for conditions that affect the musculoskeletal system, including the spine. By correcting spinal misalignments, we aim to improve the function of the nervous system and restore the body’s natural ability to heal itself.
One of the ways in which spinal alignment may affect mental health is through its impact on the nervous system. This system is the body’s primary means of communication, and it is responsible for transmitting signals between the brain and the rest of the body. When the spine is misaligned, it may put pressure on the nerves, which can interfere with proper function. This can lead to a range of symptoms, including anxiety and irritability-whether pain is present or not.
This misalignment and subluxation can reduce the vagal tone of the vagus nerve putting your nervous system and body in a chronic state of fight or flight. As the fight or flight response heightens over time our doctors have noticed more susceptibility to anxiety, sleep issues, brain fog and other mental health symptomatology. Specific chiropractic adjustments in conjunction with key lifestyle changes can help stimulate the vagus nerve and move your nervous system back to the parasympathetic side which consists of rest, relax, heal, recover.
Adjustments may also help improve sleep quality, which is an important factor in maintaining good mental health. When the spine is misaligned, it can alter your normal sleep wake cycle and lead to discomfort and pain, which can make it difficult to get a good night’s sleep. By correcting spinal misalignments, chiropractors can help improve sleep quality and reduce the risk of sleep-related disorders.
It’s important to note that chiropractic care is not a cure for mental health conditions, but in our office we have witnessed our specific adjustments and treatment as effective complementary ways to improve symptoms and enhance overall well-being.
Know someone that needs to read this? Forward to them so they can also begin to think outside of the box.
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