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Before investing in another ashwagandha supplement, booking a wellness retreat to Sedona, or purchasing an infrared sauna for your home, there’s something crucial you need to understand about your family’s nervous system.
The conversation around nervous system “regulation” has exploded recently, and that’s genuinely wonderful news. Providers, parents, and experts everywhere are finally talking about ways to support and “hack” your nervous system. But here’s what most people don’t realize: like most hacks, these approaches only scratch the surface. They rarely dive deep enough to truly HEAL and REPAIR the nervous systems of the families who need help most desperately.
Please don’t misunderstand. We’re huge advocates of nervous system regulation practices, functional medicine, targeted supplementation, detox protocols, diet modifications, and thoughtful fitness programs. These approaches have tremendous value. But here’s what we hear from parents almost daily: “I’ve tried everything, and none of it seems to be working.”
The brain fog persists. The anxiety remains. The exhaustion won’t lift. And for your children, the sleep struggles continue, sensory challenges intensify, and behavioral issues seem stuck in an endless, frustrating loop.
Here’s what most parents and even many healthcare providers don’t yet realize: you can’t regulate a nervous system that needs to be repaired first.
Until we address the foundational problems at their root, everything else becomes just another surface-level band-aid that eventually peels off without delivering lasting results.
Let’s look at some eye-opening statistics. Depending on which research you examine, between 60 to 75% of US adults are living with at least one chronic illness. The numbers for children aren’t much better, with 40% to over 50% facing chronic health challenges according to various studies.
Whether we’re discussing chronic digestive issues, autoimmune conditions, or neurodevelopmental challenges like autism, the rates of nearly every condition have exploded in just a couple of generations.
This means we can’t simply blame genetics or attribute it to better diagnostic tools. Instead, we must acknowledge the real culprit: a chronically stressful, chaotic, toxic, and overmedicalized environment and lifestyle that’s impacting our families from day one.
We witness this pattern every single week in clinical practice. Parents arrive after trying everything imaginable. They’ve consulted multiple specialists. They’ve invested thousands in every therapy, protocol, and program available. They see temporary improvements—maybe a few good weeks—but then everything resets. The anxiety returns. The digestive issues flare up again. The developmental progress stalls.
It’s not that these approaches don’t work. The problem simply runs deeper than surface-level interventions can reach.
Nervous system repair addresses the actual dysfunction within the nervous system itself. The interference and disruption caused by past trauma and accumulated stress that leads to something called subluxation and nervous system dysfunction.
Think of it like repairing faulty wiring in your home’s electrical system. No matter how many high-end appliances, 4K TVs, or premium sound systems you try to plug in to make your house more awesome, they’ll just overload the system further until everything breaks down. The problem isn’t with the equipment you’re trying to add. It’s with the foundational power supply that needs to be repaired.
Nervous system regulation includes practices that help an already-intact nervous system shift into calmer, more balanced states. This encompasses breathing exercises, yoga, meditation, cold therapy, supplements, and various wellness practices.
Here’s what you need to remember: repair is fixing the engine; regulation is learning how to drive it smoothly. You can take all the driving lessons in the world, but if the engine itself is broken, you’re not going anywhere.
According to the groundbreaking book “The Body Keeps the Score,” trauma isn’t just processed and filed away in our minds. It’s stored in the actual tissues, structures, and nervous system of the body, often far below our conscious awareness.
This entire system is known as the Somatic or NeuroSpinal System. This is why you feel all sorts of stress. Whether from physical exertion, environmental toxins and chemicals, or long, stressful, and emotional days. The stress fully lodges in your neck, between your shoulder blades, in your low back, and other parts of your body.
When your body encounters overwhelming stress or trauma, it goes into protection mode. This response is brilliant for survival in the moment, but that protective state can become locked in, creating patterns of dysfunction that persist long after the initial threat has passed.
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: you simply can’t talk your way out of trauma that’s stored in your neurospinal system, brainstem, and vagus nerve. Similarly, you can’t breathe away physical subluxation patterns that have been locked into your nervous system since birth trauma or early childhood stress.
There’s a fundamental principle in neuroscience that every parent should understand: you can’t be in growth and protection at the same time. When your nervous system is stuck in that sympathetic-dominant, survival-oriented state, all the meditation and supplements in the world won’t create the lasting change you’re desperately seeking.
While we all know modern life is incredibly stressful for us as adults. What most parents and providers don’t yet realize is how early the stress, toxicity, and medicalization of our current lifestyle begins. Even for our children. We call this “The Perfect Storm”.
Most children today experience a series of stressors that create cascading neurological dysfunction:
Prenatal Stress: When mothers experience high anxiety or take certain medications during pregnancy, it affects the developing nervous system of their baby.
Birth Interventions: C-sections (now occurring in 1 in 3 births), forceps delivery, vacuum extraction, or induction place profound physical strain on an infant’s delicate brainstem and upper neck.
Early Childhood Stressors: Colic, reflux, and constipation aren’t just normal infant struggles. They’re early warning signs of nervous system dysfunction that too often get dismissed or only treated symptomatically.
The Antibiotic Cascade: When these issues lead to frequent ear infections and repeated rounds of antibiotics, the damage deepens. Research shows that repeated antibiotic use in children under age 2 significantly increases their likelihood of struggling with allergies, asthma, and gut issues later in life.
The level of stress and trauma most children experience locks the neurospinal system into such a deeply stuck state that surface-level interventions simply can’t penetrate through to create meaningful change. It’s not that other approaches are wrong—the dysfunction is just too severe and too deeply embedded for them to address on their own.
When subluxation creates constant interference in the system, and the vagus nerve is dysfunctional due to early trauma, regulation tools are like trying to change the thermostat when the furnace itself is broken.
Once the system is repaired and in a “ready state,” something remarkable happens:
At RCW, we understand that nervous system repair opens the door for all those regulation tools to finally work as intended. Your family doesn’t need more health hacks or another stack of supplements. You need the right foundation.
We practice specialized Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care and can measure and restore nervous system function using advanced scanning technology and gentle, effective adjustments. This approach helps release years of built-up stress and tension so your child’s body—or your own—can finally shift from protection mode to healing mode.
So, if you’re exhausted from trying intervention after intervention without lasting results, please reach out to RCW today!
Your family’s healing journey doesn’t have to feel this hard. Sometimes, you just need to start at the right place—the foundation.


Picture this: It’s Thanksgiving dinner. Your kids are having complete meltdowns, grandma’s anxiety is through the roof, dad’s jaw is clenched from work stress, and you’re trying to hold everything together while your eye won’t stop twitching. Sound familiar?
Here’s what you need to know: This isn’t just holiday chaos—this is your family’s nervous systems playing tug-of-war with each other.
Stress is contagious. And I don’t mean that metaphorically—I mean neurologically, scientifically, measurably contagious.
When one family member’s nervous system gets stuck in fight-or-flight mode, it creates a ripple effect that impacts everyone in the house. Your baby picks up on dad’s work tension. Your toddler mirrors your overwhelm. Even the dog starts acting differently when the family stress peaks.
We keep trying to fix individual problems—anxiety medication for mom, sleep training for baby, behavior charts for the five-year-old. But we’re missing the bigger picture. You can’t heal in isolation when you’re neurologically wired to co-regulate with the people you live with.
Research reveals that up to 15% of infants experience regulation difficulties in their first year. However, what that statistic doesn’t capture is that those babies are usually born into families where their parents are already dysregulated.
The data gets even more compelling. When mothers experience chronic stress during pregnancy, their cortisol levels can directly program their baby’s developing nervous system. That baby grows up with a nervous system pre-wired for stress. They become anxious kids, then stressed adults, who have babies of their own.
The cycle continues.
During the holidays, when three or four generations gather, you’re not just sharing turkey—you’re sharing nervous system patterns that have been passed down like family recipes.
Your nervous system doesn’t operate in isolation. It constantly reads and responds to the nervous systems around you through a process called co-regulation.
Think of it like this: just as an air traffic controller coordinates multiple planes, your nervous system is trying to coordinate with every other nervous system in your home.
Kids are especially tuned into their parents’ nervous system states. They detect stress through your tone, your touch, and even your heartbeat from across the room. When dad comes home stressed from work, the entire family’s nervous systems shift toward sympathetic dominance—fight or flight mode—within minutes.
Studies using Heart Rate Variability (HRV) measurements show that the stress patterns of family members often synchronize, creating either a cycle of calm or a storm of chaos.
Here’s the hard truth: caring for your anxiety while your partner stays dysregulated is like trying to remodel a house on a cracked foundation. You’re building on an unstable base.
Sending your child to therapy while the home environment stays stressed? That’s like pushing a car with the parking brake on. Progress will be slow and frustrating.
The “Perfect Storm” isn’t individual—it’s environmental, generational, and collective, affecting everyone under the same roof.
When one family member gets adjusted or receives care while everyone else remains dysregulated, it’s like having one instrument tuned in an orchestra where every other instrument is off-key. The discord remains.
Ever wonder why family gatherings feel so exhausting? It’s not just the cooking and cleaning.
Holiday gatherings amplify nervous system dysregulation because multiple stressed systems converge in one space. Grandparents bring their lifetime of patterns, you bring work stress and parenting overwhelm, and your kids absorb it all—creating a perfect storm of nervous system chaos.
This explains:
It’s not the tryptophan making you tired—it’s nervous system overload from trying to regulate with multiple dysregulated people. Your nervous system can only handle so much input before it trips like an overloaded circuit breaker, leaving everyone feeling fried.
Here’s the empowering truth: when you understand how your family’s nervous systems are connected, you can actually do something about it.
When families receive neurologically-focused care together, their HRV patterns begin to synchronize in healthy, balanced ways. You create what we call a “regulation field” where everyone’s nervous system supports rather than stresses the others. Just like that umbilical cord that connected you and your baby, your family stays neurologically connected—and healing happens best when you heal together.
Start by acknowledging the connections. Notice how your stress shows up in your kids. Pay attention to how one person’s bad day affects the mood of everyone else. You’re not imagining it—these patterns are neurologically real.
When you prioritize whole-family nervous system support, you’re not just helping your child with their sleep issues or anxiety. You’re rewiring your entire family’s capacity for calm, connection, and resilience. You’re breaking generational patterns and giving your children a different neurological foundation than you inherited.
Your family deserves better than survival mode. So don’t wait to reach out to Rochester Chiropractic and Wellness today to schedule a consultation!
Now that you understand how deeply you’re all connected, you can take charge and create real, lasting change—together.


What do fussy babies and kids with ADHD have in common? The answer might surprise you—and empower you to take action.
If you’re a parent dealing with a colicky baby, you’ve probably heard these words from well-meaning healthcare providers: “Don’t worry, they’ll grow out of it.” But here’s what no one is telling you—babies don’t just grow out of colic. They grow into other challenges.
The endless crying, the back arching, the sleepless nights that leave you questioning everything you’re doing as a parent—these aren’t just difficult phases that magically disappear. They’re your baby’s way of communicating that something deeper is happening in their nervous system.
Every week, parents walk into healthcare offices with seven-year-olds struggling with sensory issues, ADHD, or anxiety. When practitioners dig into these children’s histories, there it is—they were colicky babies. The same stress that caused endless crying at three months old is now causing meltdowns at seven years old. The labels changed, but the underlying problem never left.
You’re not imagining the connection, and you’re certainly not failing as a parent.
If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve already tried everything—eliminating dairy from your diet if you’re breastfeeding, keeping detailed food journals, trying every colic drop and remedy on the market, adjusting feeding schedules, and following countless pieces of advice from family, friends, and online forums.
You’re exhausted, overwhelmed, and probably wondering what you’re doing wrong. Here’s the truth: You’re not doing anything wrong. You’re just missing the most important piece of the puzzle.
Most people think colic is purely a digestive issue—gas, indigestion, food sensitivities. While these symptoms are real and distressing, they’re only part of the story. The digestive system is completely controlled by the nervous system.
Think of your baby’s nervous system as their internal air traffic controller. This system coordinates every function in their tiny body. When that controller gets stressed and overwhelmed, everything starts backing up—digestion, sleep, emotional regulation, and development.
The vagus nerve, often called the “master nerve,” travels from the brainstem all the way down through the neck, controlling the esophagus, stomach, and intestines. When birth trauma or stress affects this nerve, digestion literally gets stuck.
This is why we need to change how we think about colic. Instead of seeing it as a mysterious condition your baby will “grow out of,” understand it for what it really is: STUCK.
Here’s a pattern that’s impossible to ignore: nearly all colicky babies have experienced some form of birth intervention—C-sections, forceps delivery, vacuum extraction, or labor induction. These interventions, while sometimes medically necessary, create physical stress on the upper neck area where crucial nerves originate.
But the stress often begins even before birth. The umbilical cord acts like a direct connection, transferring your stress during pregnancy to your baby’s developing nervous system. If you experienced anxiety, physical discomfort, or stress during pregnancy, your baby’s nervous system was already on high alert before they even arrived.
The physical tension from birth gets stuck in two key places: the upper neck area and the middle back. This explains why colicky babies arch their backs and stiffen their necks—they’re literally trying to stretch out the tension, just like you might do after sitting at a desk all day.
Your baby is communicating through their body language that the problem isn’t in their stomach—it’s in their spine and nervous system.
Here’s the timeline that plays out for countless families when the underlying nervous system stress isn’t addressed:
Each stage involves the same stuck stress pattern affecting your child’s nervous system—it just shows up differently as they grow and develop. The colic didn’t disappear; it transformed into new challenges.
Making matters worse, all those antibiotics prescribed for recurring ear infections can disrupt gut health, while other medications may increase nervous system stress. Now you have a child heading toward emotional and behavioral challenges, and traditional therapies may feel like pushing a car with the parking brake still on.
When your baby cries inconsolably and arches their back, they’re not just expressing discomfort—they’re giving you valuable information. That back arching isn’t about gas or reflux; it’s your baby’s instinctive attempt to release tension in their nervous system.
Just as you might stretch your neck and back after a stressful day, your baby is trying to relieve the physical tension stored in their spine and nervous system from their birth experience.
Understanding that colic isn’t something you have to just “wait out” is the first step to helping your child heal and thrive. Your baby isn’t broken, defective, or unusually difficult—they’re stuck in a stress pattern that can be addressed.
The earlier you address nervous system stress, the faster children heal. This is because of neuroplasticity—the brain’s amazing ability to form new connections and patterns, especially in infancy and early childhood.
Trust your instincts. You know your baby better than anyone. If something feels off, don’t let anyone dismiss your concerns with “they’ll grow out of it.”
Look for practitioners who understand the nervous system connection. Seek providers who look at the whole child, not just individual symptoms. Ask about their approach to addressing nervous system stress and birth trauma.
Consider the birth experience. Reflect on your pregnancy and birth experience. Were there interventions? Stress during pregnancy? Extended labor? This information can provide valuable clues.
Think beyond quick fixes. While symptom management has its place, focus on finding practitioners who want to address root causes rather than just managing symptoms.
Document patterns. Keep track of when your baby is most distressed, what seems to help, and any family history of similar challenges. This information can be valuable for healthcare providers.
Your baby doesn’t need more labels, more medications to manage symptoms, or parents who feel helpless and exhausted. They need their nervous system to shift from a stressed, stuck state to a balanced, thriving state.
When that stuck tension from birth gets addressed properly, families often see remarkable transformations. Babies who once cried constantly become content and happy. Sleep improves. Digestion settles. The whole family dynamic can shift.
You are not failing, you are not overreacting, you are not “just anxious new parents.” You are advocates for your child, and your instincts matter.
Your child isn’t broken—they’re stuck. And with the right approach, they can get unstuck. At Rochester Chiropractic and Wellness, we understand that colic is often a nervous system issue masquerading as a digestive problem, and we know how to address it appropriately. Hope, answers, and help are available, and we want to provide that for you, so don’t hesitate to give us a call today!
The earlier you take action to support your baby’s nervous system health, the better their outcomes will be—not just for colic, but for their overall development, learning, behavior, and emotional regulation as they grow.
