“Can spinal misalignment cause anxiety?”
I am a 28 year old male. I wonder if spinal misalignment can cause anxiety?
22 Answers
Yes, when our spine is not aligned, then our nervous system is not functioning properly. When our parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems get out of line then we can begin to experience different emotions. A lot of the time it can also be caused from either physical, emotional, or chemical interference too. Making sure the spine is aligned, allows our nervous system to communicate at its highest potential and heal from within. Sometimes that level of healing is at a hormonal level which anxiety can be from.
The short answer is maybe. The longer answer is that if the parasympathetic nervous system is being suppressed and the sympathetic nervous system is being overactive (aka - via areas of the spine where the signal is being overstimulated) then yes. An examination by a Chiropractor will be able to determine if any spinal misalignments could be contributing to your anxiety. Often people will feel more relaxed when their nervous system is in balance.
It absolutely has the ability to. Spinal misalignment begits stress on the soft tissues. Stress on the soft tissue brings discomfort. Prolonged discomfort will lead to sleep issues and overall poor sleep hygiene. Our bodies "reboot" when we sleep. If they can't reboot, the body can't clear out the stress and increased stressors will eventually create a more anxious individual. It's called the Pain cycle. Not a good place to be! Hope that helps!
Spinal misalignment does not cause anxiety directly, but anxiety can indirectly be caused by stress and subluxations due to pain.
Yes, it can contribute to anxiety
That depends on what is going on with your spine individually, the effects of a spinal misalignment definitely could cause anxiety, for a multitude of reasons, either related to the organs being affected that can impact overall chemical homeostasis, I’d recommend getting in contact with a chiropractor that can do an exam, and possibly even digital X-rays to see if a spinal misalignment is causing it, and if they can help!
Hope that helps!
Dr. Josh Barton
Hope that helps!
Dr. Josh Barton
Can spinal misalignment cause anxiety? I suppose, but what I know for sure is that if you have subluxations (misalignments), it interferes with your nervous system, and that sure isn't going to make it better. Getting adjusted by a chiropractor has this effect on the nervous system: it turns down the synapses in the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight) and increases the synapses in the parasympathetic nervous system (restorative functions like sleep, digestion, etc.)
Best of luck,
Dr. Denny D.C.
Best of luck,
Dr. Denny D.C.
Yes, it absolutely can cause anxiety. It can lead to many different neurological issues which anxiety is one. The best way to know if chiropractic can help with your condition is a chiropractic consultation.
Hello,
Yes, it is incredibly amazing what a misalignment can cause to your body.
Yes, it is incredibly amazing what a misalignment can cause to your body.
In my experience, yes.
Yes. Due to stress and anxiety, muscles get contracted, can cause trigger points leading to vertebral subluxation or misalignment. Your body will reflex your state of mind and can manifest pain symptoms. Chiropractic can help to decrease muscle tension and correct misalignments.
No, in most cases, a spinal adjustment can actually help to reduce anxiety.
Dr. Daniels
Dr. Daniels
Great question. The three major things that cause spinal misalignment are trauma, toxins, and your thoughts. If your spinal misalignment is causing physical pain then it does have the potential to cause anxiety. It is also very possible for anxiety to cause you to become misaligned. Emotions like stress and anxiety typically have negative effects on your body long-term.
Hopefully this helps.
Dr. Lauren Harden, D.C
Hopefully this helps.
Dr. Lauren Harden, D.C
There has been no triple blind peer reviewed studies that support this, however, there is anecdotal evidence that individuals that have anxiety have had their symptoms improved after having spinal misalignments corrected by a chiropractic physician.
Spinal dysfunction can put stress on the body, for sure. I don't think it can cause anxiety, if you are talking about the debilitating anxiety that results in panic attacks and the like, there is something also going on. For that type of anxiety, it would be helpful to talk to a professional counselor, especially if it is disruption your life, work, or social activities.
In short, yes. There are some major neurological pathways that get disrupted when there are certain areas of the spine “out of alignment.” They can activated the “Fight or Flight” part of your nervous system which can lead to anxiety. Getting those areas treated properly can help shut off the Fight/Flight pathways and stimulate relaxation/stress relief.
Skylar Bakko, DC QNCP PAK BFM
Skylar Bakko, DC QNCP PAK BFM
yes
I can't say there is a direct correlation between anxiety and subluxations or spinal misalignments.
There is evidence that suggests it is possible that spinal or cranial misalignment can contribute to anxiety. There are many other factors that also contribute to anxiety such as, vitamin D deficiency, poor nutrition, exposure to chemicals, head trauma, emotional trauma etc.
Anxiety is not a diagnosis that is treated by Chiropractors. However, many patient report a feeling of calmness and relaxation after a treatment and some with a lasting effect. I don't like the term "alignment". In my opinion treating the spine is about function. Everybody's spine is different and responds differently. The goal is to make the spine work well within its own structural parameters. Stretching, exercises, posture, habits and activities of daily living can make a difference. It is important to get help from a licensed professional. Doctors of Chiropractic (DC) are trained to diagnose and treat all the areas of the neuromuscular skeletal
David Ptacnik
Brownsville, TX
Short answer is yes. There are spinal misalignments or "subluxations" that directly interfere with your adrenal gland function causing anxiety
Yes, spinal misalignment can cause anxiety.
