Anxiety and chronic health conditions in children are on the rise. It is estimated that 1 in 8 children under the age of 14 suffer from anxiety, and the numbers increase to 1 in 5 in children between 14-18. Anxiety at any age ca be debilitating, but especially in children anxiety can hold a child back during their crucial growth and development periods. When it comes to treating anxiety, often patients and parents of patients turn to medication to help reduce symptoms. SSRI medications such as Zoloft, Paxil, Lexapro or Klonopin are prescribed with potentially harmful side effects. These include nausea, vomiting, headaches, irritability, depression, suicidal thoughts, panic attacks, insomnia, tremors, weakness, dizziness and many many others. However, chiropractic seeks to create the best functioning adaptable body possible to overcome anxiety.
Anxiety disorders are known to happen when improper functioning of the nervous system occurs. Subluxations (interference to the nervous system) has been proven to play a role in the increase of anxiety in both adults and children. When you remove or reduce the interference to the nervous system, the functionality increases and a state of homeostasis is restored. Especially with upper cervical chiropractic care, adjustments can provide huge improvements in children with anxiety disorders. A study following an 11 year old boy with unstable emotions and high-level anxiety published in 2018 showed subluxations of the childs upper cervical (neck) area. X-rays and thermal scans were performed to pinpoint exactly the precise area that needed focused on in treatment sessions. The child's nervous system was dysfunctional because of these subluxations. After his initial visit, the child reported a reduction in anxiety levels. After a short time receiving chiropractic treatment, he stated that stress triggers that would have before set him of to a level 10/10 was now reduced to a 4/10. His anxiety continued to decrease with further care as the subluxations were removed and his neurological system was no longer in a state of dysfunction.
Finding the root cause of the issue helped this child to manage his anxiety and kept him off of SSRI medications. We often forget that children can have major issues even though their bodies are younger than adults. As we say in our office, healthy children grow to become healthy adults!
Yours in Health,
Dr. Nicholas J. Knutson, DC
Owner/Doctor
MOUNTAIN ISLAND CHIROPRACTIC
10917 Black Dog Ln., Suite 101
Charlotte, NC 28214
Tel (704) 394-8556
Fax (704) 395-8556
"If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day. That's a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you're going to have something special." JV
Merkt, M., DC. (2018). The Effect of Upper Cervical Specific Analysis and Procedure Has On Children With Anxiety. J. Philosophy, Principles & Practice of Chiropractic, 2018.
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