As we get older, we tend to deal with more aches and pains, but we also deal with more stressors. Many of us have to juggle work, family, homeownership, and countless other stressors. Pain and stress can intertwine as well. We’ve all been in situations where we experience back pain, neck pain, headaches, and other sources of pain that make our days more challenging and add to the stress we’re already managing. It can also prevent us from having a good night’s sleep, which will add to our stress and take a toll on our overall mental health.
So, how can chiropractic care help mental health?
Can A Misaligned Neck Cause Anxiety?
As was mentioned earlier, pain and stress are directly connected. Stress, for example, can be broken down into three broader categories; environmental, physical, and mental or emotional stress.
- Environmental stressors aren’t necessarily weather-related; it’s your job, how loud and distracting your work or home may be, the anxiety you get when you need to perform a task under a tight deadline, etc.
- Physical stressors come from injury, illness, lack of sleep, and poor nutrition.
- Mental and emotional stressors can be linked to depression, mania, and social anxieties.
Having a misaligned neck or spine causes muscle tension and stress throughout the body. That physical stress can feed into your overall anxiety. Not fully understanding the causes of our chronic pain and discomfort adds to our daily stress.
Can Stress Cause A Misalignment?
Many people assume you can only suffer a spinal misalignment from a car accident, suffering from whiplash, or a similarly traumatic injury. Stress can lend itself to spinal and neck misalignment while causing muscle tension and inflammation in your nervous system, making you more susceptible to injury. Chronic tense muscles in the back and neck can also cause misalignment over time.
Can Chiropractors Help Alleviate Panic Attacks?
Chiropractors may be able to help you alleviate panic attacks, but it might not be precisely in the way you’re thinking. Chiropractic care involves more than just spinal manipulation and can include healthy living counseling, such as diet and exercise advice tailored to your needs. Approaching your health with a multi-pronged approach, which chiropractic care provides, has an overall positive impact on your body, which can help alleviate panic attacks.
It’s essential to keep in mind that everybody is different, and a chiropractor would need to evaluate you to give you an accurate assessment of what they feel they can do for you.
East Bay Chiropractic Wellness Can Help Relieve Pain from Stress
Stress may be unavoidable, but it doesn’t have to control your life. We have multiple tools, including the Graston Technique® for pain management and relief caused by soft tissue fibrosis and chronic inflammation. With over 30 years of experience, you know you’ll be in good hands. Contact East Bay Chiropractic Wellness today and learn more about how we can help you reduce your internalized stress and alleviate your chronic pain and discomfort.