In the last few years, more people than ever before have dealt with mental health challenges. Between the fear of getting sick from feeling isolated to having significant changes in our daily lives, we’ve all struggled to cope at times. While any mental health problems aren’t great, the benefit of widespread struggle is that it has brought to light the importance of mental health. For a long time, and still in some cases, mental illness, anxiety, depression, panic disorder, and more were viewed as very negative and almost as taboo. But as most of us have felt the weight of the world on our shoulders in the last few years, our eyes have been opened to the seriousness of mental health and the importance of addressing these concerns.
It is estimated that around 1 in 5 American adults suffer from a mental health disorder, and nearly one-third of our population will deal with an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. While each situation is vastly different and should be treated as such, chiropractic care is a great option for anyone struggling with their mental health who wants a natural, safe, and effective means of improving their mental wellness.
Causes and Considerations
Although there is not one singular cause of mental illness or mental health disorders, researchers have found a few common threads across individuals suffering from these conditions. First, the cause can be linked to environmental, biological, or psychological factors. These can include the physical environment in which a person lives, their genetic makeup and predispositions, trauma, personal experiences, biological makeup, infections, substance abuse, and more.
A second commonality among mental health problems is abnormally functioning neural pathways or nerve cells. While the cause of these abnormalities may not be known, they often exist in individuals with mental health struggles. In many cases, people suffering from mental illness have spinal misalignments, which is when the vertebrae are shifted slightly out of alignment and put pressure on the spinal cord. This pressure impedes communication from the brain and alters the neural pathways, stopping the nerve cells from transmitting appropriate information to the rest of the body. This can disrupt hormones, bodily chemicals, sensory receptors, and much more, bringing about dysfunction to the body, sometimes in the form of mental illness.
Chiropractic Care for Mental Health
When the spine is properly aligned, the body is better able to function as it should. Systems will regulate, organs will perform how they were intended, and bodily processes will take place properly. A chiropractor can not only help with physical pain like headaches, sciatica, and neck pain, but they can also help improve your overall health and wellness, including your mental health.
Dr. Thomas Keogh and his team at Bare Chiropractic serve the Billings area with neurologically-based chiropractic care that addresses whole-body health and natural healing. They take a proactive approach to health and wellness care, and they love to teach their community about the many benefits of chiropractic care. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health and you’re looking for a safe, effective, and all-natural approach, contact Bare Chiropractic today to schedule your consultation.
Sources
Lucks C, Lucks L. “Resolution of Panic Disorder and Improved Quality of Life in a Patient Receiving Network Spinal Analysis and Somato Respiratory Integration Care: A Case Report.” Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research, 2016 Oct 17:111-17. https://www.epienergetics.org/research-resources/2016/10/17/resolution-of-panic-disorder-and-improved-quality-of-life-in-a-patient-receiving-network-spinal-analysis-and-somato-respiratory-integration-care-a-case-report.
White, P. D., Rickards, H., & Zeman, A. Z. J. (2012). Time to end the distinction between mental and neurological illnesses. BMJ, 344(e3), 4540. https://www.bmj.com/bmj/section-pdf/187559?path=/bmj/344/7861/Analysis.full.pdf.
