Stress and anxiety are among today’s most prevalent mental health concerns. According to the Mental Health Foundation, 74% of people in the last year have felt so stressed that they’ve felt unable to cope, while the National Alliance on Mental Illness reports an estimated 19.1% of U.S. adults have an anxiety disorder. Fortunately, many tools and strategies are available to help manage stress and anxiety, including chiropractic care.
Keep reading to better understand how chiropractic care can aid individuals struggling with stress, anxiety, and other mental health concerns.
The Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Stress and Anxiety
Chiropractic care implements manual therapies, alternative therapies, and lifestyle recommendations to improve the health of your neuromusculoskeletal system. It enhances the body’s innate ability to heal itself by restoring spinal alignment, reducing muscle tension, and improving overall balance.
This practice can help manage stress and anxiety by:
- Alleviating muscle tension, a common physical symptom of both stress and anxiety
- Helping to balance the nervous system, which impacts your body’s stress response
- Reducing chronic pain, which has a proven link to mental health conditions including anxiety and depression
- Improving sleep quality by promoting relaxation, proper breathing, and nerve function. High-quality sleep is a key factor for mental health, as it improves mood and cognition while helping the body manage stress hormone production.
- Boosting the immune system—chiropractic care improves immunity by preventing nerve impulse disruptions that could alter your body’s ability to fight infection. Immune system imbalances are known to affect mental health, contributing to problems like stress and anxiety.
Acupuncture for Stress and Anxiety
Acupuncture is an alternative therapy that may be used with chiropractic care for various benefits, including improved mental wellness. It involves inserting tiny, sterile needles into specific points, known as acupuncture points, which are thought to promote a healthy flow of energy throughout the body.
This process helps regulate the nervous system, supporting your body’s ability to produce natural mood-boosting hormones, like serotonin, while reducing the production of stress hormones, like cortisol. It also promotes relaxation and natural pain relief.
Implementing Natural Stress and Anxiety Strategies Into Your Self-Care Routine
Chiropractic care and acupuncture are both natural, drug-free strategies for managing stress and anxiety. By improving balance within the body, these practices promote overall wellness and strengthen the mind-body connection.
If you’re interested in chiropractic adjustments and acupuncture as part of your self-care routine, contact Wasserman Chiropractic to schedule an appointment.