Banish Your Anxiety for Good with a Simple, Easy Natural Proven Approach to Self-Regulation

We live in a world that could not be more perfect for over-stimulating the Sympathetic “fight or flight” Nervous System. This is the part of the nervous system that is not only overactive in anxiety but also almost every chronic degenerative condition.

Everyone would benefit from bringing greater balance to their Autonomic Nervous System. Research that looked at the results of 40 clinical trials found that treatments incorporating breathwork were associated with significantly lower symptoms of anxiety. 

The Autonomic Nervous System

As mentioned above the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) is that part of the nervous system that controls and coordinates function of our internal organs. The Sympathetic system reacts to stimuli or stress that it interprets as a threat. In response the SNS causes a series of responses that can be devastating in the long term such as:

  • Increased heart rate and blood pressure
  • Increased systemic inflammation 
  • Impaired Digestion
  • Impaired sleep
  • Anxiety

The counterpart of the SNS is the Vagus Nerve of the Parasympathetic “rest and digest” system. A healthy Vagus Nerve is associated with long term health and well being such as:

  • Lowered heart rate
  • Improved digestion
  • Rest, recovery, healing
  • Lowered inflammation
  • Lowered or resolved anxiety

Anxiety is both physiological and psychological. While therapy can certainly help, it is my experience that bringing the body’s physiology, specifically the autonomic nervous system, back into balance can result in profound improvements in anxiety. 

The Life Chiropractic Approach to Anxiety

You might be wondering what a chiropractor is doing discussing a solution to anxiety. The primary symptoms of anxiety:

  • Heart palpitations 
  • Sweating 
  • Trembling 
  • Shortness of breath 
  • Dizziness 
  • Nausea or abdominal distress 
  • Gastrointestinal (GI) problems 
  • Headaches, muscle aches, or stomachaches 

They are physiological symptoms and they seem in many ways to drive the experience of anxiety. All of these symptoms are indicative of an imbalance between the Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) and the Vagus Nerve. 

In my office, Life Chiropractic of Grass Valley we help people experiencing anxiety with two primary approaches:

#1  Corrective Chiropractic Care: The Vagus Nerve is often interfered with in the upper neck where the Vagus Nerve passes in front of the top vertebra. When there is misalignment of the upper neck it often causes a lowering of Vagus Nerve function. Correcting this interference to the Vagus Nerve is critical.

Misalignments in the mid and lower back tend to cause an increase in the activity of the Sympathetic “fight or flight” Nervous System. This in turn causes lowering of Vagus Nerve function. 

These two areas are the first step in restoring greater balance to the Autonomic Nervous System. 

#2  Conscious Breathwork: It turns out that how we breathe has a profound effect on the balance of the Autonomic Nervous System. Common dysfunctional breathing patterns involving the upper chest, shoulders, and neck cause a constant low level activation of the Sympathetic System. Lowered carbon dioxide tolerance and levels also perpetuate dysfunctional breathing, which activates the Sympathetic Nervous System. 

At Life Chiropractic we teach our clients how to:

  • Activate and use the diaphragm as the primary muscle of breathing
  • Breathe using the nose
  • Improve CO2 tolerance and threshold
  • Prioritize nasal breathing
  • Use simple breathing practices to bring greater balance to the ANS.

This all results in people achieving greater mastery over their own body and physiology, gaining control of their nervous system. This ability to self-regulate is powerful. You no longer need to be afraid of your next anxiety attack and no longer need to rely on medications. 

Doesn’t it make more sense to learn how to self-regulate and bring your body and nervous system into greater balance and a state that does not foster anxiety?

If you would like to schedule your first appointment at Life Chiropractic in Grass Valley, CA you can do so here: Schedule Here.

About Dr. Berkowitz  

Bringing more than 3 decades of practice experience, Dr. Bill Berkowitz focuses on balancing and corrective care, applying his expertise to provide patients with predictable, repeatable and measurable results.

Dr. Bill consistently strives to enhance the well-being of his patients by addressing the root imbalances of their problems and promoting optimal balance, alignment, and function of the spine and nervous system.  

Bill’s wealth of knowledge and experience has allowed him to develop a nuanced understanding of the human body and its intricate connections. With each adjustment, he supports the body in returning to a state of balance that goes beyond mere symptom relief, focusing instead on long-term correction for his patients’ well-being.