Can Chiropractic Care
Help Anxiety & Depression?
For 25 plus years I have had patients tell me that getting adjusted made them not only feel better physically but also seemed to be helping their mental stress. Many would report better sleep, less anxiety with the kids and they could even have a better relationship with their spouse. A lot of patients have called and stopped in for an adjustment after a "bad day at work" and they want to feel better before seeing their family or told me they needed the adjustment so that they would be able to fall asleep that night.
For many years I volunteered to adjust the homeless in New York City and heard from those getting adjusted that getting adjusted allowed them "to stay clean" as they attempted to give up drug and alcohol abuse. (Thank you to one of my favorite Chiropractors, Dr. Anita Morgenstern, for setting up and running that amazing program at the St. Francis Xavier Sunday Meals soup kitchen.)
I have been blessed to experience patients feeling better about themselves, sometimes able to take less or even stop their prescription medications (always in coordination with their mental health providers!) but bottom line better able to perform their daily activities and responsibilities. Does this phenomenon happen 100% of the time? No, of course not. But understand when we define a mental disorder we are talking about stress that keeps a person from being able to normally perform their daily activities so when a person can return to work or yell at their children less or sleep better this is a major change in their lives!
A study published in the 2013
Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research supports
Chiropractic care improving stress symptoms. Chiropractor, author and JUCCR study researcher Dr. Larry Arbeitman said "Four of the five study completers expressed satisfaction with the outcome and that they would recommend similar care to others with anxiety or depression...participants also reported a decrease in muscle tension and pain and an increase in mental clarity and physical energy." While this study was a small group and the particiants only received 12 adjustments with only one vertebrae adjusted per adjustment
this study does support the empirical evidence and experience of a large number of Chiropractors that patients under Chiropractic care handle stress better, feel better and most importantly perform life's daily activites better.
Want to discuss if Chiropractic may help you? Please feel free to call my office at 973-625-2600 and ask for a complimentary 5 minute phone consultation. I'll call you back at your convenience (after or before my office hours) and answer any questions you have.
And yes, Chiropractic is appropriate for children with these disorders. Thank you to my patients for again voting me as one of
New Jersey Magazine's 2016 Favorite Kids Docs.
Source: American Chiropractic Association, Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research
