Anxiety is a debilitating condition that can affect many aspects of everyday life. Corona virus induced anxiety is the latest of the anxiety driven responses. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders are the most common mental health issue in the United States, affecting about 18% of the population, or about 40 million people.

Experiencing anxiety can be debilitating and detrimental to everyday life.  If you’re not quite feeling like yourself and think anxiety may be the reason it’s important to educate yourself on the different types of anxiety disorders.  

There are also several types of anxiety disorders that a person can experience:

• Corona Virus Anxiety: Fear of catching the COVID-19 virus and dying from it.
• Separation Anxiety:  Fear of being away from family or home. Fear of cathching the COVID-19 virus and dying from it.
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Unprovoked, excessive anxiety that lasts for six months or more.
• Hypochondriasis: Persistent fear of having health issues
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Recurring patterns and thoughts that cause specific behaviors.
• Phobia: Fear of finding yourself in a specific situation or activity.
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Severe anxiety after a traumatic event (Ex. Rape, War, etc).
• Social Anxiety:  Fear of humiliation or judgement in social situations..

Anxiety symptoms can vary depending on the type and the person. 

The most common symptoms include:

• Problems sleeping
• Shortness of breath
• Heart palpitations
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Cold or sweaty hands
• Uneasiness
• Dry Mouth
• Uncontrollable shaking

Anxiety is not just a mental or emotional phenomenon but has associated physical attributes of muscle aches, body pains, jumpiness, an ability to fall asleep or stay asleep, impaired ability to concentrate, stomach problems, nausea and diarrhea.

Because the mind and body are interconnected the spine and nervous system have a profound impact on mood and emotions.  The nervous system runs through the spine and when there is a disconnect or block in this area it can severely impact an individual’s mental state, especially with anxiety.  Chiropractic treatment can help with anxiety by attempting to address the cause rather than the symptoms. Because panic attacks are triggered by miscommunications with the nervous system, chiropractors can align your spine to eliminate aggravated nerve roots which will decrease your anxiety. Chiropractic care will also help to increase activity occurring within the brain and balance the nervous system in order to prevent your body from reacting strongly to outside stimuli. 

Chiropractic care and Craniosacral Therapy seek to prevent or eliminate what is known as “subluxations.” These are areas of misalignment in the spine that result in an interrupted flow of the nervous system and cerebral spinal fluid. This fluid is responsible for carrying nutrients to just about every cell in the body, including the brain.  An interruption in this flow results in mood disturbances. 

Craniosacral Therapy also helps balance out hormones, which can be a huge contributing factor with anxiety. All of our hormones work together and influence our mood, sleep patterns, weight gain or loss, and help our bodies function effectively and properly. When our hormones are unbalanced, we become unbalanced and issues such as anxiety can arise. The health of our nervous system affects our hormone production, so if our nervous system isn’t working properly, it can throw us off kilter. With chiropractic care, our nervous system can work properly and our hormones can begin to work in harmony again, decreasing anxiety. This will also allow positive hormones, like cortisol, neurotensin, and oxytocin to be released and have a positive impact on our mental health.

The connection between chiropractic care and its impact on mental health was tested in a Study published in the Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research on June 20, 2013. This study referenced prior research showing of 2818 patients undergoing chiropractic care, 76% reported an improvement in their mental/emotional health. Additionally, this 76% population also reported positive changes in stress and increased life enjoyment in the months after receiving chiropractic care.

Chiropractic care and Craniosacral Therapy are natural and medication-free treatments for those who experience anxiety to consider, both offering long term benefits in a way that can benefit the entire body.  Feel free to contact Dr. Alex Kaminsky to have a more comprehensive conversation on paths of treatment to any anxiety you may be experiencing.

About Dr. Kaminsky & Craniosacral Therapy

Dr. Kaminsky earned his Chiropractic degree in the year 2000 and is licensed to practice in NY. He has since completed close to three thousand hours of continuing education seminars in various healthcare fields.

Since 2015, he is implementing primarily the hands-on techniques of Craniosacral Therapy (CST), a gentle, non-invasive, laying of the hands that brings about reversal and restoration.

The Craniosacral Mechanism is the driver of moving fluid in the body and head called cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF), which is produced by the Choroid Plexus of the brain and encapsulated within the head and spine.

The craniosacral system is the hydraulic mechanism of a human being and is a component of the Central Nervous System (CNS) and (ANS) Autonomic Nervous system.

There is a function inside of your brain that autonomically generates rhythmic impulses that function to pump CSF throughout your body via the craniosacral pathways, regulating your central and peripheral nerves, nervous system and organ systems, musculoskeletal system, etc.

This moving fluid is palpable to a trained craniosacral therapist, like the heart rate, pulse rhythm, breath, that can all be seen, heard or felt, so too can the Cranial Sacral Rhythm (CSR) be palpated and diagnosed for its health.

By placing his or her hands on your body, including your head and sacrum, the therapist can detect, feel and evaluate the SQAR (symmetry, quality, amplitude, rate) of this fluid rhythm.

The health of your body and mind are dependent on the vitality of this fluid. Compromises of your CSR’s rhythmic impulse correlates to CSF flow restrictions in the system which, when the fluid isn’t flowing optimally, your bodily rejuvenation and recovery is affected.

With anatomically correct hand placement on different parts the body during a session, through gentle manipulation and mobilization the therapist guides and facilitates a positive change in that region of the body which brings forth a correction. A myofascial release in a sense.

A craniosacral therapist stimulates and helps your rhythm refocus, allowing for improvement of musculoskeletal tightness and spasms, neurological issues, organ function, many common conditions, pain, and the mind-body re-connect.

Through a practitioners properly focused and individually attuned touch, your body is facilitated to release channels of fluid stagnation and flow restriction, which ultimately breakthrough, overcome and improve your rhythmic fluid and your potential for health improvement.

The existence of the Craniosacral mechanism was first discovered by Osteopath Dr. William Sutherland in the early 1900’s, who called it Cranial Osteopathy. And many years later, renamed to Craniosacral Therapy by Osteopath, Dr. John Upledger.

Dr. Alex Kaminsky is an advanced and certified Craniosacral Therapist, having studied advanced levels including SER, Brain and Pediatric courses. He has built a significant skill-set with many years of experience treating adults, children and babies. To learn more, visit the other pages on this website. Call to schedule your appointment with Dr. Kaminsky.