Anxiety & Depression
(402) 934-4220
It’s not a surprise that many people in the United States mistakenly believe that anxiety and depression are “all in the head” or the result of some moral failing. This is largely due to the fact that it is instilled in us to stay calm, cool, and collected or push through even the most nerve-wracking situations no matter what. At Life Source Chiropractic, our opinion is that anxiety and depression are no different than having a medical condition, such as high blood pressure or diabetes. Our hope is that the following information can provide some insight into these complex mind and body conditions while also providing some information concerning chiropractic for anxiety and depression.
What Are Anxiety and Depression?
Anxiety and depression not only affect mental health, they also affect our physical and social well-being. They are complicated medical conditions that change how the brain processes emotional information. They are not just terms used to describe being sad or nervous. They have an impact on everyday activities, such as personal care, relationships, and work because these conditions influence how the brain interacts with the world around us.
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Just like depression, anxiety is a group of related conditions. It can come in the form of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), which is anxiety that affects everyday life, or it can come in the form of situational anxiety, for example, a fear of crowds or a fear of spiders.
Depression can also be related to a variety of circumstances, which can include postpartum or seasonal depression. It can also be related to other conditions, such as psychotic depression or bipolar depression.
Common Causes of Anxiety and Depression
Anxiety and depression are frequently brought on by a variety of factors. The connection between the mind and body has a powerful influence on all aspects of health, but this connection is easier to understand in terms of anxiety and depression.
Health issues, such as an irregular heart rhythm or a hormonal imbalance due to thyroid issues, can cause or worsen anxiety. Likewise, depression commonly occurs with other conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and Parkinson’s disease. Although it may seem natural for a person to suffer from depression after having a serious health problem, the truth is that depression can actually make them worse.
Many prescription medications can also cause or worsen the symptoms of anxiety and depression due to the fact that they interfere with the chemistry in the brain. When we have a patient with one of these conditions at Life Source Chiropractic, we advise them to speak with their physicians to see if a safer medication regimen is possible. If that is not a possibility, we work to provide supportive care in an effort to improve their overall health.
From our experience, many patients who have anxiety and depression usually have a family history of these conditions. Therefore, it is beneficial to be proactive and watch for manifestations of these conditions in children and teenagers. Anxiety and depression can also be linked to traumatic events in a person’s life. This can include anything from a car accident to the death of a loved one, such as a spouse or child. For this reason, we ask our patients about their current life events in order to carefully screen them for anxiety and depression.
Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression
Anxiety and depression can be very challenging to identify because stress affects our daily lives. Listed below are some common symptoms of anxiety according to the National Institute of Mental Health:
- Sleeplessness
- Persistent fatigue
- Increased irritability
- Difficulty concentrating
- Frequent feelings of worry
- Unexplained headaches, stomachaches or other aches and pains
If any of these symptoms persist for more than a few days or weeks, it is important to get care as soon as possible since there are several different types of anxiety. The same is true for depression.
Depression, like anxiety, can be difficult to distinguish from just feeling down or over-stressed. Although every patient’s symptoms are unique, depression symptoms typically occur for longer than two weeks and include one or more of the following:
- Increased fatigue
- Sleeplessness
- Difficulty sitting still
- Difficulty concentrating
- Increased irritability
- Changes in weight or appetite
- A constant feeling of emptiness, anxiousness, or sadness
- A feeling of guilt, helplessness, or worthlessness
- Talking or moving more slowly than usual
- Loss of pleasure or interest in hobbies or recreational activities
- Unexplained digestive issues, headaches, or other symptoms
- Death-related thoughts or attempted death by suicide
As this list demonstrates, it is simple to link some of these symptoms to a challenging week at work, family relationship issues, or other traumatic life events. Too many of our patients also regard these problems as inevitable aspects of aging or part of modern life. All of our patients are encouraged to let us know if their health has changed so that we can help them quickly obtain natural anxiety and depression relief.
How Chiropractic Can Help Anxiety and Depression
At Life Source Chiropractic, we reassure our patients that being aware of these issues is half the battle, which is usually the case with anxiety and depression. Our chiropractic for anxiety patients typically feel quite relieved once they know their symptoms have real causes and real solutions.
Comprehensive Health History Review
We give every chiropractic for depression patient who comes to Life Source Chiropractic a comprehensive health evaluation. We go over their medical records and inquire about their health history. It’s also important to ask about other aspects of their lives since there is a strong connection between lifestyle factors, brain health, and overall well-being.
Physical Examination and Testing
After getting the necessary history from our patients, we perform a thorough physical exam. To the surprise of some of our patients and as part of neurological and muscular testing, we ask them to sit, walk, stand, and perform various other movements. If we feel that further testing is necessary, we may send our patients out for x-rays or scans.
Chiropractic Interventions
Chiropractic for anxiety and depression focuses on correcting issues contributing to the patient’s symptoms once neurological and other functional assessments are completed. It’s vital to keep the spine in optimal condition since the spine is home to the spinal cord which connects the brain to the rest of the body.
When we examine our patients, we’re looking for areas of misalignment, or subluxation. Misalignment of the spine can cause nerve compression that can interfere with how the nerves function. This can cause inaccurate, incomplete, or missing information between the brain and the rest of the body. Chiropractic adjustments help to restore a healthy spinal alignment, allowing the nerves to communicate freely between the brain and body.
In addition to restoring the neurological system, chiropractic for anxiety and depression also has other benefits. Chiropractic adjustments can lower blood pressure. They can also help relieve tension, promote better sleep, and release powerful hormones that can help reduce stress.
When to See Our Chiropractor for Anxiety and Depression
If you’re already a patient of Life Source Chiropractic, there is no need to schedule a special appointment for an anxiety or depression screening, since these are a crucial part of routine chiropractic care.
Whether or not you’re a patient of ours, our desire is for you to receive timely and adequate care. When one of our patients realize they are suffering from anxiety or depression, they usually feel shocked and overwhelmed by some of the feelings they’re experiencing. Please seek medical care immediately if you’re having suicidal thoughts or are thinking of harming yourself in any way. Once you’ve received treatment, give Life Source Chiropractic a call to learn how chiropractic for anxiety and depression can help you manage your symptoms and improve your overall well-being.