Anxiety
Anxiety - when the nervous system is stuck on high alert
It might show up subtly or feel completely overwhelming, but anxiety is one of the most common reasons families seek chiropractic care in our practice.
We see children feeling anxious about school, friendships, or performance. We see mums carrying a constant mental load - worrying about their children’s health, juggling responsibilities, and feeling like they never fully switch off. Often, families tell us they feel like they are living in fear of something going wrong.
What anxiety can look like
Anxiety doesn’t look the same for everyone. It can show up physically, emotionally, or behaviourally. Some common experiences include:
Feeling nervous, restless, or on edge
A sense of impending danger or needing to stay alert
Changes in breathing or heart rate
Difficulty concentrating or switching off thoughts
Trouble falling or staying asleep
Digestive discomfort or appetite changes
In children especially, parents may also notice:
Heightened sensitivity to noise, light, touch, or textures
Difficulty regulating emotions
Frequent waking, nightmares, or unsettled sleep
Increased muscle tension, changes in posture, or a constantly “held” body
These are not signs that something is “wrong” with a person. They are signs that the body may be prioritising protection.
The part that is often overlooked
Anxiety is often explained purely through thoughts, emotions, or behaviour. While these perspectives are important, they don’t always address what the nervous system itself is doing underneath it all.
From a neurological perspective, we look at how clearly the brain is receiving information from the body and environment, and how efficiently it can respond.
When the nervous system receives unclear or distorted sensory input - a concept known as dysafferentation - the brain may struggle to accurately interpret what is happening. In these cases, the body’s responses can become disproportionate to the actual stressor.
Rather than responding with flexibility, the system may default to protection.
Anxiety and the nervous system
The nervous system is constantly assessing safety. When it has experienced stress in the past, it may remain on the lookout for similar situations in order to prepare for them. This can lead to a state of hypervigilance, where the body stays switched on even when there is no immediate threat.
In this state, the body tends to favour the sympathetic nervous system - the fight or flight response. When this happens, access to higher brain functions such as reasoning, emotional regulation, and perspective can be reduced. The body is trying to survive.
The parasympathetic nervous system, often referred to as the rest and digest state, plays a key role in calming, regulation, and recovery. The vagus nerve is a major part of this system and can be influenced by factors such as birth stress, physical tension, or previous injuries like head knocks. These influences are often overlooked when anxiety is discussed.
Supporting nervous system regulation
The clearer the communication within the nervous system, the more accurately the brain can perceive and respond to the world around it. When the system is regulated, people often feel more grounded, adaptable, and able to make appropriate decisions under stress.
In our practice, we use INSiGHT scanning technology to assess nervous system function. For people experiencing anxiety, we often look closely at measures such as heart rate variability, which has been widely researched in relation to adaptability and resilience. These scans do not diagnose or treat anxiety - they provide information about how the nervous system is functioning and coping.
Chiropractic care focuses on supporting nervous system regulation by addressing areas of stress and tension that may be interfering with optimal communication. Care is gentle, individualised, and focused on long-term adaptability rather than symptom control.
A different path forward
Chiropractic does not cure anxiety. What it offers is a way to support the nervous system so the body can move out of constant protection and into a state where regulation is possible.
As the nervous system becomes better able to perceive situations clearly, many people find it easier to trust their body, respond rather than react, and feel more at ease in their day-to-day lives.
At Hands on Health Chiropractic, our role is to support nervous system function and help families build resilience from the inside out.
References:
Haavik, H., Niazi, I. K., Kumari, N., Amjad, I., Ghani, U., Ashfaque, M., Rashid, U., Navid, M. S., Kamavuako, E. N., Pujari, A. N., & Holt, K. R. (2024). Neuroplastic responses to chiropractic care: Broad impacts on pain, mood, sleep, and quality of life. Brain Sciences, 14(11), 1124.
URL to full article: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/14/11/1124
