Anxiety Treatment through Craniosacral Therapy in New York City
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:
- Separation Anxiety: Fear of being away from family or home.
- 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. Craniosacral therapy 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. It 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.
Craniosacral Therapy seeks to prevent or eliminate what is known as stagnation of fluid build up. and cause a 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 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. 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.