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Explore our blog that focuses on holistic care for any and all ages - pediatric well-being, pre/post-natal health, and adult vitality.
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There are so many emotions to navigate through when finding out you’re pregnant. Whether you have longed for a positive pregnancy test or this was a complete surprise, emotions and thoughts flow through your brain at what seems to be 1000 mph. “Is it a boy or girl?! How will my body do this? Who do I need to call and tell first?! How will we announce it on Instagram? What about the nursery? Will they go to private or public school? When do we start a college fund….???” It’s like everything starts to spin out of control and escalate. The list really does seem never-ending! And don’t get us started on the number of opinions and questions that start to flood in after telling people the good news!
Take a deep breath. Everything is going to be okay.
Let’s start with two of the most important questions to ask yourself first:
- “What kind of pregnancy do I want?”
- “Who is going to help me achieve that?”
In this article, we will explore what prenatal chiropractic is, the common (BUT NOT NORMAL) symptoms of pregnancy, and the available care options to create the healthiest human beings.
What is Prenatal Chiropractic?
Prenatal chiropractic care is a specialized form of chiropractic that encompasses two (2) different elements that greatly benefit both mom and baby on this incredible journey:
- We provide safe, gentle, and effective adjustments that help mom’s nervous system better relax and make room for the growing baby, and keep mom strong and ready for a natural birth and optimal transition to motherhood
- Our office also provides an incredibly empowering and supportive environment where expecting moms and dads can ask the tough questions, access incredible resources, and feel confident throughout their journey
Taking it one step further, the kind of chiropractic care we provide goes beyond just typical structural-based chiropractic care and focuses entirely on mom’s nervous system.
The umbilical cord connecting that developing baby to mom is not just there to carry oxygen and nutrients, but it’s also the neurological “power cord” that connects mom’s nervous system to her baby’s. In today’s world, where we have more stress, tension, and anxiety than ever before, the neurologically-focused prenatal chiropractic care that we offer, therefore acts as a crucial component of keeping both mom and baby’s nervous system healthy, calm, and clear of interference all along the way!
What are the Common Health Challenges Faced During Pregnancy?
During pregnancy, a woman’s body undergoes significant changes, neurologically, hormonally, and physically, to accommodate the growing baby. These changes can lead to various hormonal changes, nervous system imbalances, and neuromuscular issues. There are many symptoms that commonly come along with pregnancy. From the early stages of morning sickness and fatigue to the annoying struggles of reflux, heartburn, trouble breathing, and the body changes, such as lower back pain, pelvic discomfort, and postural imbalances. All of these are very common during pregnancy, but are they normal?
What Causes All of These Pregnancy-Related Health Challenges?
This may seem like a silly question. The obvious answer is that you are growing a brand new beautiful baby from scratch. A little more… Every. Single. Day. OF COURSE YOU’RE FATIGUED AND UNCOMFORTABLE! But let’s dive deeper into the root causes of what is really causing some of these symptoms and what we can do about it!
The Role of the Nervous System in Pregnancy
A regulated and well-balanced nervous system is of utmost importance during pregnancy. It profoundly influences both the expectant mother’s health and the developing baby’s well-being. The nervous system acts as the master control center. Coordinating and regulating all body functions, from basic physiological processes to complex hormonal interactions. And now your nervous system has to do “double” the job, controlling all of your bodily functions and baby’s too.
During pregnancy, the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which is responsible for involuntary actions, plays a crucial role. The ANS consists of two branches: the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). The SNS is what comes to life when you are under duress and experiencing stress. You might have heard it referred to as fight or flight. The PNS is the branch that helps us calm down, relax, and function once again after the stress has passed. To learn more about the parasympathetic nervous system and the vagus nerve that controls and regulates most of it, check out this additional article here.
But this wildly important parasympathetic side of the nervous system is not just responsible for rest and relaxation; it’s in charge of growth and development as well. Making it perhaps the single most important system to pay attention to during the prenatal period (and postpartum as well). If mom’s nervous system is not in optimal growth and development mode, how can baby’s be?
A well-regulated and optimally balanced nervous system is essential for both mom and baby’s optimal well-being. When the nervous system is in a state of balance, it promotes better hormonal regulation, blood flow, and immune function, creating an optimal environment for the baby’s growth and development. It also contributes to the mother’s overall well-being, reducing stress levels, promoting relaxation, and improving sleep quality.
The Role of Stress and Subluxation in Pregnancy
Unfortunately, an imbalanced or dysregulated nervous system can lead to various health challenges during pregnancy. High levels of stress and anxiety lead to constant activation of the SNS and can contribute to complications like elevated blood pressure, decreased blood flow to the placenta, and potential adverse effects on fetal development.
Experiencing occasional stress is as normal as it gets, but unfortunately, today, too many women experience moderate to high levels of stress far too often. And sadly, our current medicalized system of prenatal care only adds to that stress, fear, anxiety, and disempowerment, it seems, with each and every visit to the doctor, additional ultrasound or exam, and so forth.
This ongoing and overwhelming stress is called subluxation. When subluxation is present, the entire nervous system shifts into an excessive sympathetic dominant state. Increasing the tension on not just the nerves and muscles but also organs, glands, digestive system, and more. It even leads to its own “perfect storm” vicious cycle where now stress and anxiety are increased once again, other health challenges and concerns set in, and more trouble brews as the pregnancy goes on.
This tension can exacerbate blood pressure issues, back pain and sciatica, neck pain and headaches, anxiety and nausea, hormonal imbalances, and even affect a baby’s position in the womb.
Drug-Free Care Options for Pregnancy-Related Health Challenges
Fortunately, there are care options available to help pregnant women manage their stress and greatly improve their quality of life while their bodies are adapting to these new changes.
Often by the time pregnant women learn about the things we just covered with subluxation and the nervous system, they have tried all of the medications, homeopathics, teas, nutrition hacks, and physical therapies for pregnancy symptoms like heartburn, reflux, morning sickness, and pelvic pain.
As most of these things are great, they aren’t fully addressing the root causes of pregnancy-related health challenges. If you want to tackle these issues head-on and not only reduce the symptoms and health challenges you’re experiencing but also optimize your entire body and nervous system throughout the pregnancy, then neurologically-focused prenatal chiropractic is perfect for you!
Can You Measure This Stress and Subluxation? Introducing HRV to Prenatal Care
It’s quite an exciting time to be at the forefront of prenatal care like we are! In the past few years, we’ve not only seen more and more research prove how important neurological health is during the prenatal journey (for both mom and baby), but also, some incredible technology has been developed to help us track and measure your neurological health all along the way in just a matter of minutes!
This technology is called HRV, which stands for Heart Rate Variability. It is an absolutely essential exam for all pregnant women to take on a regular basis because it provides valuable insights into the health and function of their autonomic nervous system (ANS) function and overall health during pregnancy.
As stated above, the ANS controls and regulates every vital function in the body. Including heart rate, respiratory rate, digestion, and more. With “fight or flight” and “rest and relax” being the two main branches of the ANS, it’s important to track how it is functioning and whether things are out of balance or not.
HRV is a measure of the variation in time between consecutive heartbeats. A higher HRV indicates a more flexible and adaptable nervous system, which is associated with better overall health and resilience to stress during pregnancy. This also means reduced maternal stress, better sleep quality, improved cardiovascular health, and enhanced immune function. Additionally, maintaining a balanced ANS is essential for supporting proper blood flow to the placenta and optimal fetal development.
On the other hand, a lower HRV suggests an imbalanced or stressed ANS, which can lead to various health issues, commonly leading to a high-risk pregnancy.
Therefore any professionals working with pregnant women need to be using HRV technology as the foundation of their care protocols and programs. Allowing them to not only establish a baseline at the onset of care but also to track and monitor progress via actual neurological change and improvement.
Measuring and tracking true autonomic nervous system and vagus nerve functions are, therefore, the foundation of our work as Prenatal PX Doctors. Each and every pregnant woman who walks into our offices first get an HRV test to measure their overall adaptability and parasympathetic or vagal nerve tone.
Below is an image with a series of three (3) HRV Scans performed on a pregnant woman throughout her pregnancy. The first scan on the far left shows the small white box way in the lower left quadrant of the HRV plot, indicating her parasympathetic nervous system and vagus nerve are both suppressed and shut down, allowing her sympathetic fight or flight system to run out of control.
Then as care progresses over the second and third trimester, you can see the white box move towards the center line and higher up towards the green circle, indicating that her subluxation and dysautonomia were vastly improved and her nervous system is now much calmer, balanced, and better regulated, which shows that she is more adaptable to the stressors of pregnancy and ready to conquer her birth!
More Stress to Measure
In addition to HRV, we ALSO run two (2) additional tests. NeuroThermal and NeuroSensory EMG, to complete the overall INSiGHT Scans and neurological exam. Together these three (3) collective scans can function as a pregnancy test that actually looks beyond symptoms, and dives deep into the nervous system and how prenatal chiropractic can help both mom and baby.
Once we have these incredible INSiGHT Scans done, we can then put together a fully customized and personalized care plan made uniquely for the pregnant woman’s corresponding trimester. Once care begins, each and every neuro-tonal adjustment our doctors are trained to make is designed to address subluxation and dysautonomia directly.
By activating and stimulating the vagus nerve and parasympathetic nervous system repeatedly over a period of many weeks to months, we then start to see an incredible decrease in the sustained sympathetic storm so many pregnant women are stuck in.
The first improvements these women typically notice are with sleep, digestion, fewer aches and pains, less “pregnancy brain,” more energy, and more focus. From there, the brain and nervous system can get back on track developmentally, and benefit both mom and baby, leading to optimal development and baby positioning, which can result in a quicker birth, fewer interventions, more vaginal births, and can help seek to prevent The Perfect Storm.
HOW TO GET THE HELP YOU NEED
Being pregnant can be one of the most rewarding, exciting, and joyous times of our lives. But it can also feel very scary and overwhelming. Just remember that you are not alone, and you have choices when it comes to the pregnancy that you want and to the type of healthcare that you want supporting you along the way.
The earlier you are able to optimize and improve your neurological function, the better your pregnancy and birth outcomes will be for both you and your baby.
The best place to start on this journey is with a consultation and HRV test. Get scheduled for an empowering consultation, INSiGHT Scans, and HRV right away!
Remember, you are not alone in this pregnancy journey, and we’re on your team! Take the first step and find the doctor, the care, and the community you and your baby deserve.
Is your child already dreading summer celebrations? Are you anxious about the inevitable meltdowns, tantrums, and tears that seem to accompany every fireworks display or crowded holiday gathering?
If you’re like many parents we meet, you’ve probably tried everything. Noise-canceling headphones, watching fireworks from a distance, or even avoiding celebrations altogether. But what if we told you that these well-meaning strategies only address the symptoms, not the actual root cause of your child’s sensory overload?
The Hidden Truth About Sensory Challenges
Studies show that up to 1 in 6 children struggle with sensory processing challenges. For these kids, events like Fourth of July celebrations aren’t just uncomfortable—they can be genuinely overwhelming and even painful.
But here’s what most physicians aren’t telling you: your child’s extreme reaction to fireworks and celebrations isn’t simply about loud noises or bright lights. It’s often a sign of a deeper neurological imbalance that can be properly addressed, not just managed through avoidance.
Logan’s Story: From Overwhelmed to Thriving
Let us tell you about Logan, a child whose story might sound familiar. For his first few years of life, Logan struggled with such severe sensory overload that his family couldn’t take him anywhere in public. Not grocery shopping, not to restaurants, certainly not to loud events like fireworks displays.
His parents constantly dreaded social gatherings and worried about his future and starting school. Logan’s sensory challenges were so extreme that once, when he cut himself badly, he didn’t even register the pain. He was only bothered by the sensation of blood running down his arm.
Traditional approaches weren’t helping, and his family felt increasingly isolated and hopeless. But today, after receiving neurologically-focused chiropractic care that addressed the root cause of his sensory processing challenges, Logan is a thriving honor roll student who can enjoy family celebrations, including Fourth of July festivities.
His transformation from a child trapped by sensory overload to one who can participate fully in life’s experiences shows what’s possible when we address the real underlying cause rather than just managing the symptoms.
Understanding Your Child’s Nervous System
Sensory overload isn’t just about external triggers like loud noises and bright lights. It’s a sign that your child’s nervous system is stuck in a state of constant “fight or flight,” making normal sensory input feel threatening or overwhelming.
This state, which we call “sympathetic dominance,” means your child’s brain is constantly on high alert. Unable to properly filter and process sensory information from their environment.
What makes the Fourth of July particularly challenging is that it combines multiple intense sensory experiences simultaneously. Loud unexpected noises, bright flashing lights, crowds, unusual smells from sparklers and barbecues, and disrupted routines.
When your child’s nervous system is already struggling to process everyday sensory information, these holiday celebrations can become the perfect storm that pushes them over the edge into complete overload.
The Root Cause: Beyond Symptom Management
The root cause of your child’s sensory challenges is often a condition called dysautonomia. An imbalance between the “fight or flight” sympathetic nervous system and the “rest and digest” parasympathetic system.
This imbalance is frequently caused by subluxation, which is essentially interference in the communication between the brain and body. Particularly affecting the vagus nerve—the master controller of the parasympathetic nervous system.
Surprisingly, this subluxation often begins during birth, especially when interventions like C-sections, forceps, vacuum extraction, or induction are involved. Creating what we call “overlooked and dismissed birth trauma.”
When the vagus nerve is compromised by birth trauma, your child’s nervous system gets stuck in an overactive sympathetic state. Making it nearly impossible for them to naturally calm and regulate themselves.
Why Traditional Approaches Fall Short
Traditional approaches to sensory overload focus primarily on avoidance strategies—skipping fireworks, using noise-canceling headphones, or creating “sensory-friendly” environments.
While these strategies can help in the moment, they don’t address the underlying neurological dysfunction that makes your child hypersensitive in the first place.
Medications that attempt to dampen your child’s responses often come with unwanted side effects and still don’t fix the root neurological imbalance.
Even therapy approaches like sensory integration therapy or occupational therapy, while beneficial, are often less effective if the underlying nervous system dysfunction isn’t addressed first.
A Different Approach: Addressing the Root Cause
At RCW, our approach takes a fundamentally different path by directly addressing the root cause of your child’s sensory challenges—the subluxation and dysautonomia affecting their nervous system.
We start with comprehensive INSiGHT Scans. Particularly the NeuroSpinal EMG Scan, which allows us to measure the exact location and severity of nervous system stress and tension in your child’s body.
These scans help us identify the “nociception” or neurological noise that’s disrupting your child’s ability to process sensory information properly. Creating what we often call “Noisy Brain Syndrome.”
Our precise, gentle adjustments then target these areas of subluxation. Helping to restore balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems and allowing your child’s brain to better filter and process sensory input.
Imagine a Different Summer for Your Family
Imagine your child actually looking forward to Fourth of July celebrations, get-togethers, and summer parties instead of dreading them. Picture your family enjoying fireworks together without having to leave early because of a meltdown. This isn’t just wishful thinking—it’s what we see regularly when children receive care that addresses the real root cause of their sensory challenges.
Like Logan, who transformed from a child unable to handle even simple public outings to a thriving honor roll student, your child has the potential to overcome sensory overload when the underlying nervous system dysfunction is properly addressed. The difference isn’t just noticeable during big events like the Fourth of July. It impacts every aspect of your child’s development, learning, and quality of life.
Ready to Help Your Child Thrive?
We would love to help your child’s nervous system find balance so they can experience all the joy this summer has to offer. If you’re ready to move beyond just managing symptoms and start addressing the root cause of sensory overload, call RCW today to schedule a consultation and INSiGHT Scans.
Because your child doesn’t need to “grow out of” sensory overload—they need someone to help get to the root of it. And we’re here to help with just that.
Dad, Are You Running on Empty?
I want you to take a moment right now and ask yourself: When was the last time you felt truly energized? Not coffee-jittery or adrenaline-pumped, but genuinely rested and ready to tackle both work and family life?
If you’re drawing a blank, you’re not alone. Nearly 15% of fathers are experiencing perinatal (before, during, and after pregnancy) anxiety, and up to 50% of dads face postpartum depression alongside their partner. That “dad bod” everyone jokes about? It’s not just about skipping the gym—it’s your body trying to tell you something critical about your nervous system.
The Truth About Dad Stress (That Nobody’s Talking About)
Here’s what’s happening: Your nervous system has two primary modes—the sympathetic “fight or flight” response and the parasympathetic “rest and digest” state. When you’re constantly juggling work deadlines, family responsibilities, financial pressures, and trying to maintain relationships, your body gets stuck in sympathetic dominance. You’re essentially driving with the gas pedal pressed to the floor 24/7.
This chronic activation causes your body to continuously release cortisol and other stress hormones. While these hormones are life-saving in true emergencies, they create serious health problems when constantly elevated. Your nervous system wasn’t designed to handle this level of sustained stress, leading to what we call dysautonomia—a dysfunction in the autonomic nervous system that impacts nearly every bodily function.
The Cascade Effect: How Stress Impacts Everything
Chronic sympathetic dominance and elevated cortisol directly contribute to:
- Increased abdominal fat and muscle loss (the infamous “dad bod”)
- Suppressed testosterone production
- Reduced muscle recovery
- Disturbed metabolic function
- Inflammation affecting everything from cardiovascular health to immune system
- Brain fog, memory issues, reduced patience
- Diminished ability to regulate emotions
These aren’t character flaws—they’re neurological responses to chronic stress.
Why Traditional Self-Care Advice Often Falls Flat
Here’s where many well-meaning health advice givers miss the mark. They tell you to “just exercise more” or “eat better,” but when your nervous system is already exhausted, finding the energy to implement these changes feels impossible.
The cruel irony? You need these healthy behaviors to heal, but chronic stress has depleted the very reserves you need to start these practices. This is why willpower alone isn’t enough—you need to address the root cause of your fatigue at the neurological level first.
Until your nervous system shifts out of survival mode, sustainable lifestyle changes remain extremely difficult to implement and maintain.
The Dad Health “Cheat Code”: Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care
Here’s where the game-changer comes in. Neurologically-focused chiropractic adjustments directly address subluxation—neurological interference that keeps your nervous system stuck in stress mode.
These gentle, precise adjustments help restore proper communication between your brain and body, allowing your nervous system to finally shift out of fight-or-flight and into rest-and-recover mode.
This is why dads who receive Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care report:
- Better sleep quality
- Improved energy levels
- Reduced pain and tension
- Enhanced mood
- Gradually improving physical health
Think of it as hitting the reset button on your overstressed nervous system—creating the foundation for all other health improvements to build upon.
What Makes This Approach Different
At Rochester Chiropractic and Wellness, we use advanced INSiGHT Scan technology to precisely measure nervous system function and identify exactly where stress and subluxation are impacting you most. This scientific approach allows for personalized care plans based on objective measurements, not just generic recommendations.
The focus is specifically on the neurological component of health rather than just musculoskeletal pain, addressing the root cause of your signs rather than just temporarily masking them.
Dad, You Deserve to Feel Your Best
You deserve to feel your best, not just for your family, but for yourself. Neurologically-focused chiropractic care isn’t just another thing to add to your already overwhelming to-do list. It’s the essential first step that makes everything else possible.
By addressing the root cause of your exhaustion at the nervous system level, you’ll finally have the energy to implement those other healthy habits you know you should be doing.
Countless dads have experienced this transformation. Within just weeks of beginning care, they report better sleep, improved mood, reduced pain, and the return of energy they haven’t felt in years.
Your family needs you at your best, and that starts with taking care of your nervous system health. If you are ready to take the first step, scheduling a comprehensive Neurological INSiGHT Scan, give RCW a call today!
It’s time to stop running on empty. Your best dad years are still ahead of you!
It’s the middle of the night, and you’re jolted awake by your child’s warm forehead and flushed cheeks. Your heart races as you scramble for the thermometer, confirming what you already knew – your child has a fever. Like most parents, your instinct might be to immediately reach for fever-reducing medication. But what if everything we’ve been taught about fevers is actually incomplete or even incorrect?
The Misunderstood Healing Response
Did you know that fever-reducing medications might actually prolong illness in some cases? What if that elevated temperature isn’t an enemy to be fought, but an intelligent healing response orchestrated by your child’s brain and nervous system. One that’s actively fighting infection, activating the immune system, and doing a very important job!
Fevers account for approximately one-third of all pediatric office visits in the United States. That’s millions of worried parents rushing their children to doctors each year, often unnecessarily. What’s even more concerning is that many parents administer fever-reducing medication for temperatures below 100.4°F, which isn’t even technically a fever!
What a Fever Really Is
A fever is not simply an elevated temperature—it’s a sophisticated response produced by your child’s brain and nervous system. Specifically, the hypothalamus which acts as the body’s thermostat.
When your child’s immune system detects pathogens like viruses or bacteria, it releases chemicals called pyrogens that signal the hypothalamus to raise the body’s temperature via prostaglandins. This creates a controlled, intentional increase in temperature that’s quite different from dangerous overheating that occurs in conditions like heat stroke.
From a neurological perspective, a fever is actually a sign that your child’s nervous system is regulating properly, actively coordinating a complex immune response to eliminate pathogens and restore health.
The Powerful Benefits of Fevers
Here’s what’s happening when your child has a fever:
- Slowing down pathogens: Many bacteria and viruses replicate optimally at normal body temperature. Even a modest increase in temperature can inhibit their reproduction and spread.
- Enhancing immune function: Higher temperatures actually accelerate white blood cell production and improve their mobility and effectiveness. Research indicates that fevers increase the number of circulating neutrophils, a type of white blood cell.
- Activating the healing process: The fever is literally your child’s immune system kicking into high gear. Creating an internal environment where healing can happen more efficiently.
When Fever Patterns Indicate Deeper Issues
A child’s fever patterns—whether they spike high fevers easily, struggle to develop fevers when fighting infections, have prolonged low-grade fevers, or never develop a fever when they should—often indicate there might be dysfunction within their neuro-immune system.
If your child’s fever response is consistently excessive OR suppressive, it could be a sign of underlying nervous system dysfunction, sometimes triggered by early life factors like:
- Prenatal stress
- Birth trauma (especially from interventions like forceps, vacuum extraction, or c-sections)
- Frequent early antibiotics
These can disrupt proper neurological development and affect how a child’s body mounts fever responses.
When Fevers DO Warrant Medical Attention
While fevers are generally beneficial, certain situations require professional care:
- Any fever in infants under 3 months
- Fever above 102.2°F in children 3-6 months old
- Persistent fever above 102.2°F for more than two days in children over 6 months
Watch for accompanying signs like lethargy, difficulty breathing, severe headache with neck stiffness, refusal to drink leading to dehydration, or a rash that doesn’t fade when pressed.
Remember that even when medical intervention is necessary, this doesn’t invalidate the premise that fevers themselves are beneficial. The goal is to approach them with understanding while recognizing situations that truly require attention.
Supporting Your Child’s Fever Without Suppressing It
Instead of immediately reaching for medication, consider these supportive approaches:
- Focus on hydration: Offer room temperature water, diluted electrolyte drinks without artificial colors, herbal teas for older children, or homemade popsicles.
- Create a healing environment: Ensure extra rest, a comfortable room temperature, lightweight clothing, and light blankets that can be easily removed.
- Consider tepid sponging: If your child is uncomfortable, try sponging with lukewarm water, but avoid cold baths, which can cause shivering and actually raise core temperature.
- Get your child checked for nervous system dysfunction (subluxation): Consider having your child’s nervous system checked by a neurologically-focused chiropractor to ensure proper communication between the brain and immune system.
From a neurological perspective, these supportive measures create an optimal environment for the vagus nerve and parasympathetic nervous system to function properly, leading to more effective fever patterns and faster recovery.
Empowering Your Approach to Childhood Illness
At RCW, we understand fevers from a natural and neurological perspective that transforms how we approach this common childhood experience. Rather than fearing fevers, we can recognize them as evidence of a well-functioning neuroimmune system organizing an intelligent healing response.
If you are ready to schedule a consultation, please reach out to us today!
When we support rather than suppress this process, we honor the body’s innate wisdom and help our children develop resilient, self-regulating immune systems!
Do you find yourself reaching for that third cup of coffee just to make it through the afternoon? Does your child seem constantly wired yet somehow exhausted, struggling to focus at school but unable to wind down at night? You’re not alone—and there’s a reason for it.
What you and your family are experiencing could be a cortisol addiction. This neurological pattern has become increasingly common in our fast-paced world, affecting not just adults but our children too. The good news? Once you understand what’s happening, you can take effective steps to break the cycle and help your entire family thrive naturally.
Understanding Cortisol Addiction: Why Your Family Feels Wired and Tired
Your body has an amazing system designed to help you respond to the world around you. It’s called the autonomic nervous system, and it has two main branches:
- The Sympathetic Nervous System (fight-or-flight): Activates during emergencies, releasing stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline that increase heart rate, sharpen focus, and prepare you to respond to danger.
- The Parasympathetic Nervous System (rest-digest-restore): Takes over during calm periods, allowing your body to heal, digest food properly, and restore energy.
These systems should work in harmony, with the sympathetic activated only when truly needed and the parasympathetic dominant most of the time. But in today’s world, many families exist in a state of constant sympathetic activation.
Over time, your body can become dependent on these stress hormones just to function—creating a genuine physiological addiction to cortisol. You feel simultaneously wired and exhausted. Your child appears hyperactive yet struggles to focus when needed.
How It All Begins: The Perfect Storm
For many children, this pattern begins earlier than you might think. Birth interventions like forceps, vacuum extraction, C-sections, and even induction can create physical trauma to a baby’s delicate upper neck and brainstem area. This trauma causes subluxation (misalignment, tension, and neurological interference in the nervous system) and impacts the vagus nerve—the master regulator of the parasympathetic system—and shifts a child into sympathetic dominance right from the start.
This neurological imbalance often manifests first as colic, reflux, or sleep issues in infants. As children grow, it can evolve into focus issues, hyperactivity, emotional dysregulation, and behaviors commonly diagnosed as ADHD or anxiety.
Modern life makes everything more challenging:
- Screens emit blue light that triggers cortisol production and disrupts sleep cycles
- Processed foods spike and crash blood sugar, creating stress on the body
- Packed schedules leave little downtime for parasympathetic recovery
- Constant digital stimulation keeps the nervous system activated
Children with already dysregulated nervous systems often seek intense stimulation (risk-taking behavior, screen time, sugar) to get the dopamine and cortisol their brains are craving. Parents mirror this pattern with caffeine dependence, busy schedules, and their own screen habits.
Together, these factors create family-wide patterns of sympathetic dominance that become increasingly difficult to break.
The Medication Trap: Why Conventional Approaches May Not Be Working
When children display signs of sympathetic dominance like hyperactivity, difficulty focusing, or emotional outbursts, they’re often prescribed stimulant medications such as Adderall or Ritalin. These medications temporarily boost focus by further activating the sympathetic nervous system.
While these medications might provide short-term symptom relief, they don’t address the underlying neurological imbalance. In fact, they can reinforce the body’s dependence on sympathetic activation, potentially making the long-term situation more challenging.
As parents, we often don’t realize we’re caught in the same trap with our caffeine, energy drinks, and chronic stress, which keeps our own nervous systems in sympathetic overdrive. We’re modeling the very patterns we’re trying to help our children overcome.
Breaking Free: A Family Approach to Resetting the Nervous System
The good news is that the nervous system is remarkably adaptable. With the right approach, both you and your children can break free from cortisol addiction and establish healthier neurological patterns. Here’s how:
- Address the Root Cause
Rather than simply masking symptoms, look for approaches that identify and correct the underlying neurological imbalance. Nothing can accomplish that better than neurologically-focused chiropractic care, which is what we do here at Rochester Chiropractic and Wellness. Our INSiGHT Scans can identify areas of tension and interference in the nervous system, which we can use to develop personalized care plans to restore proper function. Each specific adjustment helps release stuck stress, activating the parasympathetic branch and allowing the body to shift out of fight-or-flight and into rest-and-restore mode naturally.
- Create a Home Environment That Supports Parasympathetic Activation
- Establish consistent sleep routines with earlier bedtimes and screen-free wind-down periods
- Reduce sensory overload by creating quiet spaces and scheduled downtime
- Spend time in nature, which naturally promotes parasympathetic activity
- Practice deep breathing exercises
- Limit processed foods and sugars that create blood sugar instability and stress
Your Family’s Path Forward
If you recognize your family in this story, take heart. You’re not alone, and there is a path forward. The first step is understanding that what you’re experiencing has a physiological basis—it’s not a parenting failure or a character flaw in your child.
By addressing the root neurological causes of cortisol addiction and making supportive lifestyle changes, you can help your entire family break free from the stress cycle and discover what true balance feels like.
Imagine what life could be like when:
- Your child can focus when needed and relax when appropriate
- You have natural energy throughout the day without constant stimulants
- Bedtime becomes peaceful rather than a battle
- Your family enjoys time together without the constant undercurrent of stress
This vision isn’t just a fantasy—it’s entirely possible with the right approach. Your family deserves to thrive, not just survive. The journey to neurological balance starts with a single step, and that step is understanding what’s really happening beneath the surface of those challenging behaviors and exhausting days.
Don’t wait to schedule an appointment at RCW for a consultation. If you are not local to us, check out the PX Docs directory to find an office near you.
You have more power to change your family’s health trajectory than you might realize. The time to start is now!
Motherhood is an excessive amount of responsibilities, from caring for our children to managing household chores, work commitments, and more. It often feels like there needs to be more hours in the day to accomplish everything on our to-do lists. With carpool lines, meal prepping, loads of laundry, and trying to keep all of the kids accounted for, it’s easy for moms to neglect their own well-being leading to exhaustion and burnout. Although motherhood is literally the best job in the world, it can also sometimes feel like the hardest, too. This season is full of joy, and it is very rewarding but can get lonely at times. This is why we created this little “survival guide” to help ease those tough days. To remind you to give yourself grace. That you are the best mother for your child. AND to give you some practical tips to help your overall health and wellbeing.
Understanding the Science
As mothers, our bodies undergo significant changes, both physically and mentally. Due to frequent hormonal changes, sympathetic overdrive, and exhaustion, we need to do all we can to support our bodies through motherhood. One key contributor to exhaustion is adrenal fatigue, a condition where the adrenal glands become overworked due to chronic stress. This constant state of heightened stress can lead to feelings of anxiety and overwhelm as our nervous system gets stuck in fight-or-flight mode.
Moreover, the lack of quality sleep exacerbates the problem, leaving us reliant on caffeine to get through the day. Unfortunately, coffee, energy drinks, and other caffeine only act as band-aids. Forcing us as moms to never get out of this cycle and help the root cause, which is helping our nervous system become more adaptable to all of this stress!
Tips for Survival
So, how can we navigate motherhood with resilience and adaptability? It starts with prioritizing self-care and making small but impactful changes to our daily routines. Here are some tips to help you thrive:
- Prioritize sleep: Aim for at least 7-8 hours of quality sleep each night by establishing a bedtime routine and creating a relaxing sleep environment.
- Fuel your body with nutritious foods: Focus on eating whole, nutrient-dense foods that nourish your body and provide sustained energy throughout the day. Start the day with protein first, even before coffee!
- Delegate tasks and ask for help: Don’t be afraid to ask for support from your partner, family members, or friends. Delegate tasks and responsibilities to lighten your load and give yourself time to recharge.
- Make time for self-care: Schedule regular self-care activities that rejuvenate your mind, body, and soul. Whether it’s taking a long bath, going for a walk in nature, or indulging in your favorite hobby. Prioritize activities that bring you joy and relaxation, even if it is just 10 minutes to reset!
Regulate Your Nervous System
This should be the first step! The above suggestions are very important, but most of them won’t make a major impact unless our nervous systems are rested and regulated FIRST. So what does this mean? First, let’s go over the two parts of our nervous system. The Parasympathetic Nervous System (the brake pedal) and the Sympathetic Nervous System (the gas pedal). Each part is equally important! The goal is to have fluidity between the two. If you need to be in go mode, chasing after your child, you want the gas pedal on! But once they start to calm down, your nervous system should be able to recognize this and enter a rested and relaxed state as well. Most of us as moms are stuck in sympathetic dominance. This means that even when our children are safe, our body is stuck in stress mode. When we are chronically stuck in this state, exhaustion really settles in, and motherhood challenges become physical fast.
Taking the First Step
If you’re struggling to find balance in motherhood, consider exploring neurologically-focused chiropractic care. By being on a care plan that is customized to your “mom exhaustion,” your nervous system will be able to find the balance between the gas vs brake. It will strive for resiliency and adaptability to all that comes with being an amazing mom!
So, how do you start?! Our cutting-edge technology, called the CLA INSiGHT Scan, assesses your nervous system’s function. It shows us exactly what is going on within your brain and body and can pinpoint that mom exhaustion! Take the first step towards a healthier, happier you by scheduling a nervous system scan today.
Success Story: Alyssa’s Journey
Let us tell you about our awesome friend, Alyssa, and we’ll look at one of her Neurological INSiGHT Scans.
About three months after giving birth, Alyssa threw out her back. She thought it would just resolve over time, but instead, the pain she was experiencing was not decreasing and, in fact, was increasing rapidly. Alyssa was at the point where she was barely able to move off the couch, let alone care for her newborn baby.
When she saw her scans, Alyssa was really shocked and immediately a little disappointed. She was expecting everything to be lit up like a red Christmas tree! But there wasn’t a lot lit up at all. She immediately felt hopeless and like she was “unhelpable.” BUT then we explained to her that her body was so exhausted from the pain and the neurological state of the “gas pedal” that it was in shutdown mode! The scan wasn’t lit up because it was exhausted!!
Surprisingly, pain relief wasn’t the first sign that Alyssa’s care plan was working. Instead, she noticed that she was finally able to sleep! She had always struggled with sleep and had never been able to fall asleep or stay asleep. She also noticed that her anxiety was no longer affecting her everyday life. AND finally her back pain began to diminish!
Here is Alyssa’s first EMG scan! The yellow in Alyssa’s neurological scans indicated exhaustion in her body after being stuck on sympathetic ‘stress mode’ for too long.
Alyssa’s life has looked different in many ways since starting. She is completely off all anxiety meds, has less and less pain every day, and has been able to achieve her initial goal – PLAY ON THE FLOOR WITH HER BABY. Alyssa said that she loves having a provider team that believes in her and feels more empowered to advocate for herself and her family.
Ready to see what your Neurological INSiGHT Scans look like?!
Motherhood is the most extraordinary club to be a part of, but it is also just straight-up HARD sometimes. We hope that we can help you find the hope, answers, and drug-free help that you have been searching for. For not only your sweet kiddos and family but FOR YOU too!
