The APA (American Psychological association) defines anxiety as “an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts and physical changes like increased blood pressure.”

What is anxiety?

The APA (American Psychological association) defines anxiety as “an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts and physical changes like increased blood pressure.”

What causes anxiety?

An individual who suffers from anxiety normally has a trigger that is associated with the feeling. These triggers can be anything from having a social anxiety to a separation anxiety. There is typically an adrenaline rush response to the trigger. This sends the body into a sympathetic response AKA ‘fight-or-flight’ response. The fight-or-flight response is a normal body response to stress and is used when needed for survival. When an individual is suffering from anxiety, this response is sent into overdrive and will not turn off as it normally should.When stress and anxiety become chronic it is harmful to the system causing a decline in natural immunity and defense mechanisms.

How can chiropractic help with anxiety?

Our nervous systems are broken down into two main systems, the sympathetic nervous system (‘fight or flight’) and the parasympathetic nervous system (‘rest and digest’). A person who suffers from chronic stress and anxiety has a nervous system that is constantly operating in the sympathetic (‘fight or flight’) mode. This means there is an imbalance in the nervous system that is not allowing the body to return to a parasympathetic state. By using tools to assess the structure and function of the nervous system and spinal column, chiropractors can pinpoint the area of nerve interference and remove the cause of the problem.

What symptoms are associated with anxiety?

Those who suffer from anxiety typically experience a rush of adrenaline and a sudden increase in blood pressure. They may have the feeling of ‘being on edge’.