In today’s fast-paced world, where stress and anxiety are rampant, many people are seeking alternative and holistic approaches to improve their overall well-being.
Chiropractic care, while primarily known for its physical benefits, is increasingly recognized for its positive impact on mental health.
This blog post delves into the profound connection between the spine and the mind, exploring how chiropractic adjustments can not only relieve physical discomfort but also promote mental clarity, reduce stress, and enhance overall mental well-being.
What is Chiropractic Care?
Chiropractic care is a healthcare discipline focused on diagnosing and treating mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, particularly the spine.
Chiropractic considers the body as a whole and believes the body is a system with all parts working together for optimal alignment and function. If the root cause is not addressed, the body’s misalignment in one area may cause issues in another area and delay healing and recovery.
How Is Chiropractic Adjustment Done?
During a chiropractic adjustment, a chiropractor employs hands-on techniques to manipulate the spine, joints, muscles, and other crucial tissues that our body utilizes daily to improve mobility and function while decreasing pain and stiffness.
Mental Health Benefits of Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic adjustment can help improve your mental health through the following benefits:
- Mind-Body Harmony
- Blood Pressure Regulation
- Hormonal Rebalancing
- Restful Sleep
- Tension Relief
- Calm-Inducing Effects
- Stress and Anxiety Management
Mind-Body Connection
A significant focus in chiropractic care is achieving the perfect balance of connection between the mind and the body. Mental stress caused by external factors often presents in the physical body, causing misalignments and other areas of discomfort (i.e., headaches, muscle tension. etc.).
Chiropractic care is a form of holistic treatment where the practitioner will better consider their patients’ physical and mental state to tailor the treatment to their needs.
Helps Lower Blood Pressure
When our sympathetic nervous system is stimulated (fight or flight), blood pressure naturally rises as stress and anxiety increase – especially pain-induced stress/anxiety.
Multiple studies have proven that with only 15 minutes of chiropractic treatment, patient blood pressure lowers significantly as the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest) takes over.
This can help patients with pre-existing mental health concerns feel more grounded within their bodies and everyday lives.
Triggers Positive Hormones
Alignment within the physical body has an incredible impact on the nervous system, especially where the spine is considered. A misaligned spine creates brain pressure, impacting average chemical balances and neurological health.
After chiropractic treatments, positive hormones that increase mental health are released from the brain. These hormones include:
- Neurotensin: helps eliminate stress-induced pain.
- Oxytocin: boosts feelings of social bonding.
- Cortisol: neutralizes pain originating from inflammation.
Generally speaking, these hormones are referred to as ‘feel-good’ chemicals. They are the primary source of happiness and euphoria you experience, both mentally and physically, after something good happens to you – like a chiropractic adjustment.
Achieve Better Sleep
Insomnia is a common issue that is typically associated with stress, anxiety, and depression. Chiropractic treatments help to naturally ease muscle tension that can cause restlessness and relax your entire body for a higher quality of sleep.
When the body and mind are well rested, mental health improves, and healthy coping mechanisms are more accessible daily.
Relieves Tension and Headaches
Spinal adjustments and muscular manipulation help to relieve the tension that causes headaches and migraines.
Tension in the body can trigger unwanted emotional responses, and the same can be true for physical responses. Tension travels up the spine to the occipital ridge (nape of the neck), which can then affect the tension in our scalp, resulting in headaches.
By receiving proper headache treatment, the tension in the body is relieved, and inflammatory responses calm down enough for our headaches to disappear.
In a recent study, physicians and chiropractors discovered that patients suffering from depression had, on average, six headaches a week. When they began chiropractic treatment, patients found their headaches decreasing to only three headaches a week after receiving twelve spinal adjustments for eight weeks.
Encourages Relaxation
The atmosphere of a chiropractic session can make a patient feel less stressed, which leads to higher muscle relaxation.
In a study that measured electrical activity in the human body, researchers found that muscle activity decreased by 25% after a chiropractic treatment. This kind of relaxation can be highly beneficial for patients experiencing heightened levels of stress, anxiety, and depression.
Stress/Anxiety Management
Stress and anxiety are often stored in the body, leading to tension, discomfort, and even injury.
Tension and pain can be alleviated through personalized chiropractic treatments tailored to address your concerns, minimizing the risk of injury. At the same time, you gain control of your stress and anxiety levels.
Is Chiropractic Adjustment Effective for Mental Wellbeing?
Multiple studies show that chiropractic treatments profoundly impact a patient’s mental health.
With reduced stress and blood pressure levels, improved sleeping patterns, reduced internal inflammation, and an increase in ‘feel-good’ hormones, the positive impact of chiropractic care on an individual is evident.
An excellent spinal adjustment triggers a smile, and who doesn’t love to feel happy and pain-free?
As traditional healthcare becomes harder and harder to access, more patients are looking for alternatives that are affordable and much more accessible. Whether you’re dealing with physical discomfort or mental health symptoms, Fulcrum Therapy chiropractic treatment in Coquitlam is a proven and effective method to enhance your overall quality of life.