The 2020s are a stressful time to be alive, and this is reflected most in the collective mental health of America. Among mental disorders, anxiety disorders are some of the most commonly reported, and the number of cases has spiked ever since 2020 rolled around. In fact, the average adult is now four times more likely to show symptoms of anxiety than they were pre-2020. Unfortunately, misinformation, stigma, and an overall lack of support can keep those who need help from seeking it. Here at Bare Chiropractic, we want to inform you of what anxiety disorders actually are and how chiropractic may be able to help.
Anxiety? Isn’t That Just a Feeling?
Though the words “anxiety” and “anxious” can and have been used to describe a general nervous excitement, in the context of mental health, anxiety is so much more than just some nervous jitters. Anxiety disorders affect more than 18% of individuals today, including both adults and children. Many of the symptoms will indeed be emotional, such as undue distress in a calm situation or obsessing about small details you didn’t worry about before, but these disorders can also have physical repercussions.
Symptoms of anxiety can include the following:
- Feeling nervous, restless, or tense
- Feelings of impending danger, panic, or crisis
- An elevated heart rate
- Rapid breathing (hyperventilation)
- Sweating
- Trembling
- Weakness or fatigue
- Having trouble focusing or thinking about anything other than the current problem
- Having difficulty sleeping
- Gastrointestinal distress
- Having difficulties controlling your anxiety
- Having an overwhelming desire to avoid situations that cause stress
The Mind-Body Connection
As stated, there are both physical and mental symptoms when it comes to anxiety disorders. These symptoms alone are proof that there is a connection between your mental and physical health, but even if that weren’t enough, there are many recorded cases where someone’s sheer will to live has caused them to fight through illnesses and injuries that should have killed them, such as late-stage cancer or the non-medical amputation of a limb.
In that same regard, pre-existing physical problems such as subluxations or bad posture can make you more likely to develop and maintain mental disorders, with anxiety and depression resting at the forefront of the possible outcomes.
How Chiropractic Can Help
The central nervous system’s principal purpose is to regulate and control hormones in the body through precise communication. Hormonal imbalances can have a significant impact on our sleep habits, moods, weight, and much more. Imbalances also contribute to people’s feelings of stress, worry, and sadness. Misalignments of the spine, which is a major structural element of the central nervous system, can disrupt hormonal equilibrium. That’s why it’s important to consider a chiropractor when thinking of potential treatment options for any variety of mental health challenges, including and especially anxiety.
If you feel like chiropractic sounds like the right option for you, contact Dr. Thomas Keogh at Bare Chiropractic in Billings. Schedule an appointment today, and we just might ease your mind.
Sources
Pawar, Shashikant Yashwantrao. “Mind-body Connection of Illness.” https://www.themmj.in/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/MIMER_42_2020_1.pdf
Twenge, Jean M., Cooper McAllister, and Thomas E. Joiner. “Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms in US Census Bureau Assessments of Adults: Trends from 2019 to Fall 2020 Across Demographic Groups.” Journal of Anxiety Disorders 83 (2021): 102455. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2021.102455
