Since October is both National Chiropractic Month and National Mental Health Awareness Month, we wanted to share how the two go hand-in-hand.
Human Touch &
Mental Health
The human touch you receive when you come into the chiropractic office has an impact on mental health. When your stress hormones are released, we also get a release of oxytocin, which is considered the “cuddle hormone”. When we receive human touch from another person, our bodies release more oxytocin, which in turn lowers stress hormones. Some potential benefits of lowering stress hormones include lower blood pressure, lower heart rate, and lower levels of depression and anxiety.
Brain Chemistry &
Chiropractic Adjustments
When chiropractors adjust a vertebrae in your spine, it stimulates fibers that send surges of positive messaging up to the brain. When the brain receives these messages, it lowers your overall stress response.
When the stress response is reduced, it leaves you with lower blood pressure, lower heart rate and an overall more calm and relaxed feeling, which can reduce feelings of anxiety and depression as well.
Mental Health and Chiropractic Care Connection
Hopefully you can see how coming to get an adjustment can have a positive impact on your mental health, especially when it comes to stress response. Likewise, by reducing pain and promoting better sleep, the impact of chiropractic care goes even further. Scheduling an adjustment also requires you to take some time for yourself, which is another good way to bump up your mental health. So make some time for yourself and your mental wellbeing. Come on in and get adjusted.
More on Reducing Stress
To learn more about reducing stress, check out our article Gratitude to Combat Stress or check out our Stress Series on YouTube with practical tips and encouragement.
Come on in and be well!