Most people recognize that chiropractic care is good for people who have neck or back pain, but did you know that chiropractic care is able to help people with so many more health concerns?
The Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Anxiety and Depression
The purpose of a chiropractic adjustment isn’t to fix pain, although that’s a great benefit that many people experience once they start getting adjusted. The true goal of a chiropractic adjustment is to remove interference from your nervous system so that your body can function better. When there are misalignments in your spine, the added pressure on your spinal cord and nerves causes miscommunication between your brain and the rest of your body. Messages between your brain and body can be slowed down or distorted, which interferes with your body’s ability to function according to its original design. For many people, the result of this interference is that the functions of their body become erratic. And this process can affect any body system: cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, excretory, reproductive, endocrine, and more. The most shocking part of this is that most people don’t experience any outward signs or symptoms of the interference that their nervous system is experiencing until the problem has been there for quite a while. This is why we always advocate for a complete spinal checkup for every member of the family, no matter their age, and even when they aren’t having any outward signs or symptoms.
For people who experience anxiety or depression, there’s a possibility that interference in their nervous system is at least partially responsible for the symptoms they are experiencing. We recently received a testimonial from a patient who came to Family First Chiropractic because she was seeking a way to manage her daily migraines. As she started getting adjusted regularly, she was able to experience a near complete resolution of her anxiety and worked with her medical doctor to get off ALL her medications!
Here is Megan’s story:
I’ve spent my entire adult life suffering from anxiety, depression, ADHD, migraines, and sleeping problems. I’ve also spent my adult life completely medicated, constantly searching for the right combination of pills to fix me. I found my way to Family First when my husband had a work injury and was in desperate need of an adjustment. I went along to his appointment when Dr. Jeremiah went over Kyle’s x-rays, and listened as they broke down their plan for helping Kyle. I remember sitting in the room and looking at the different posters and all the things that chiropractic care could help with, and I mentally checked off each thing that I was struggling with. I was intrigued, but I wasn’t ready to take the leap.
It wasn’t until two weeks later when my daily headaches had turned into almost daily migraines that I decided I was ready to try anything to find some relief. I went to my initial appointment where Dr. Jeremiah took x-rays and went over my lengthy medical history. When we came back later to go over my results, Dr. Jeremiah very honestly explained to me that he hadn’t really seen a case like mine, but that he was confident he could help me. Kyle and I panicked over the financial burden it would potentially cause us since I stay home with our daughter, but we knew we’d figure out a way to make it work.
For probably the first two weeks of adjustments, I’d get myself so worked up during our hour-long drive to Family First that I’d be in tears by the time I got there, or I’d start crying right before they adjusted me. Every single time that happened Dr. Jeremiah and Dr. Joel were completely understanding and would be so patient while I got myself calmed down. They never rush my adjustments. Any time I need a moment or I’m just not ready, they give me the time I need. Obviously as the months have gone by, this has improved for me.
I’m on month three out of the four month plan we started with, and I couldn’t be happier. I went from 4-6 medications down to only 1 that is there only if I need it. I haven’t touched my migraine medication since the day I started here because I know I don’t need it. Between lifestyle changes and chiropractic care, I’ve had only two migraines in the past three months. I wake up each day feeling refreshed and truly happy. I fall asleep at night with ease, and for once in my life I feel like my anxiety is manageable without the need of medication.
I wish I would have turned to chiropractic care sooner because this is the life I want to live.
Stop By Our Anxiety and Depression Workshop
Do you know someone like Megan who isn’t able to live the life they want because of a daily struggle with anxiety or depression? We want to help! We’re hosting a workshop on February 23rd to share what our doctors know about anxiety and depression to help equip our patients and our community. Please join us! If you know someone who would also benefit from learning this information, pass along an invitation. You can call our office to register, or stop by the front desk the next time you’re in the office and we’ll help you get signed up. This is a battle we can win together!
