By Dr. Michelle Irwin

The mind is a powerful force in how we feel, act, and live. If we have nagging thoughts, bad self-talk, or just worry about everything all the time, we can make ourselves as sick as though we ate a rotten fruit or caught a bad bug. Emotional stress is one of the hardest factors to clear when trying to eliminate causes of subluxations in the spine, because we can have things that are currently stressing us, memories of the past that come back when triggered, or the worry we have when our future is uncertain.

There is hope though. Meditation and breathing exercises can help when we find ourselves in a state of emotional distress. By taking time to breathe slowly and focus on a sound, a mantra, or a spot on the wall, we can lower stress hormones, blood pressure, heart rate, and even get our body into a state of relaxation, rest and repair, which helps us to have a better immune system response, healthy clotting levels, more energy, and better digestion. This is only part of the equation, however.

Getting adjusted has been shown to change the brain chemistry, which will allow the body to recover from emotional stressors faster. When chiropractic is incorporated into your health care routine, you notice that health is easier to attain. Patients under chiropractic care have not only reported being able to decrease or cease medication dosages, but they also report that they are more active, which helps with mental health, and they report a better quality of life and happiness. Studies that span 10 years and more have confirmed what we already know to be true: Chiropractic makes us happier, safer, and healthier. When we combine it with mental health care practices such as meditation and proper nutrition and supplements that help further balance the brain chemistry, such as Stress Less or Calm, we can fully engage in our life and enjoy each day to the fullest.