Explore our blog that focuses on holistic care for any and all ages - pediatric well-being, pre/post-natal health, and adult vitality.
As parents, we all envision a future where our children are not just surviving, but thriving. Where they’re full of endless possibilities. However, for some families, this dream seems so far in the distance.
If you are a mom or dad whose child is struggling daily with a myriad of issues: mood disorders, gastrointestinal disturbances, chronic pain, unexplained weakness, and a host of other perplexing symptoms, please know you’re not alone. If they are still suffering despite countless medical consultations and treatments, and the root cause of your child’s suffering remains elusive, it’s heartbreaking and frustrating.
It’s natural for you to ask yourself: could there be an underlying cause behind these relentless challenges? Is there a way to uncover the source of these struggles and help your child truly heal?
The truth is, amidst all of the uncertainty, there lies a significant yet often overlooked condition: dysautonomia.
In this blog, we want to help demystify dysautonomia and empower you to take charge of your child’s health. We’ll dive into the depths of this condition, exploring its origins and why it frequently eludes conventional diagnosis. Moreover, we’ll uncover the role that neurologically-focused chiropractic care can play in restoring balance to the nervous system and offering hope to families navigating the complexities of dysautonomia.
Meet Francesca, a spirited 13-year-old whose childhood was overshadowed by health struggles. At the age of 7, Francesca began experiencing seizures, a harrowing ordeal for any child and parent alike. As she transitioned through puberty, her challenges only intensified – fatigue, anxiety, and chronic constipation occurred on her way to adolescence. Despite tireless efforts and countless consultations, doctors found themselves perplexed by Francesca’s array of symptoms. It seemed as though they were merely addressing individual issues in isolation, rather than finding the underlying root cause.
However, Francesca’s amazing mother’s chance encounter with a friend changed everything. In a conversation about health concerns, dysautonomia came up. A term unfamiliar to so many, but emerged as a beacon of hope. With newfound determination, Francesca’s family sought the expertise of a specialized chiropractor, starting a new chapter in her health journey.
Dysautonomia, at its core, signifies a breakdown within the autonomic nervous system. The intricate network that governs virtually every organ and function in the body. From digestion and immunity to breathing and blood pressure regulation, the autonomic nervous system is in control of so many physiological processes essential for well-being. When this system falters, communication between the brain and the body becomes disrupted. This gives rise to a myriad of symptoms that vary depending on the affected organs.
Though dysautonomia manifests in various forms, common triggers in pediatric cases include prenatal stress, birth trauma (like c-sections, vacuum/forceps), recurrent infections, gut issues, and anxiety. These stressors instigate a cascade of events where the overlooked nervous system struggles to maintain equilibrium, perpetuating the cycle of dysautonomia.
Regrettably, conventional medical practices often overlook nervous system imbalance as a root cause, resorting instead to symptomatic management through medications. This approach, while possibly providing temporary relief, fails to address the underlying dysfunction, leaving children trapped in a cycle of recurring symptoms and frustration.
Enter neurologically-focused chiropractic – the beacon of hope for families like Francesca’s. We utilize advanced INSiGHT Scanning technology to access nervous system function. As well as precise neurological adjustments to alleviate neuroppinal tension (subluxation). RCW offers a tailored approach to restoring balance and harmony to the autonomic nervous system.
Helping the nervous system heal naturally has to happen in the same “order” or sequence that optimal neurological development is supposed to occur. At RCW, we know that before we can expect improvements in brain-based challenges such as seizures and anxiety, we must first get to work on the patient’s digestion, sleep, immune function, and motor system.
In Francesca’s case, once we started to get her sleep, digestion, and immune system back online and healthy again, it was only a matter of time before her brain-based challenges started to improve.
If your child’s health journey has been marred by unexplained symptoms and relentless challenges, dysautonomia could hold the key to understanding their struggles. Take the first step towards clarity and healing by scheduling a consultation at RCW today! Our innovative INSiGHT scans help us identify neurological dysfunction, and tailor a unique care plan. Using non-invasive, gentle adjustments to your child’s specific needs, we pave the way for restoration.
With answers within reach, there is no need for your child to endure another day of suffering. The journey towards healing begins now!
As you know, being a parent is quite a journey filled with joy and challenges. Unfortunately, the stress, burnout, and exhaustion we experience as parents are not exclusive to us. In today’s fast-paced world, our teens and young adults are also wrestling with mental, emotional, and physical health issues. The demands of school, sports, social media, and various relationships can take a toll on our teens, making it crucial for you parents to actively engage in supporting them.
If your teen is struggling in any way and you’re not sure how to help them, this is the blog for you.
It’s important to recognize that the challenges your teen may be facing is not solely a result of their current stressors. Recent research suggests that our modern environment and lifestyle create a “Perfect Storm,” affecting neurological and physiological development from an early age. If your teen is struggling with health and neurological issues in their formative years, they may find it increasingly challenging to cope with stress as they enter adolescence.
Before burnout and exhaustion set in, your teen has experienced two distinct stages of stress and what we call subluxation: sympathetic fight or flight overload and neurological dysfunction. Identifying these stages early can help you to take proactive steps to support your teen.
Neurologically-focused chiropractic adjustments are a specialized form of care that specifically targets the autonomic nervous system. These adjustments serve as a crucial initial step towards achieving better health by directly stimulating the nervous system. This approach recognizes the integral role the autonomic nervous system plays in regulating all bodily functions, and seeks to optimize its functioning.
Prioritizing healthy sleep patterns is emphasized as a key component in promoting overall well-being for your child. The understanding here is that improved sleep can have a significant positive impact on their energy levels, and contribute to better overall health. This highlights the importance of incorporating good sleep habits into your teen’s lifestyle as a fundamental aspect of maintaining and enhancing physical well-being. This is one of the biggest things we hear from our patients once they start care; their sleep greatly improves.
Understanding the connection between gut health and mental well-being and promoting a balanced diet is crucial. Chiropractic adjustments help to activate the vagus nerve, which is sometimes called the rest and digest nerve, because of the crucial role it plays in those functions. Recognizing the relationship between the digestive system and mental health, the approach could also encourage your teen to adopt dietary practices that support both gut and immune health.
Empowerment, engagement, and health education are highlighted as crucial strategies, particularly for your teen. Actively engaging with your teen, understanding their interests, and providing education on the link between physical health and mental well-being are identified as powerful initial steps. This approach seeks to empower teens with the knowledge and tools necessary to make informed decisions about their health, fostering a sense of responsibility.
Lastly, we love to connect and collaborate with other health professionals. We encourage it, and it can end up being a very well-rounded strategy for your teen.
While medication may be necessary in some extreme cases, addressing the root cause of your teens’ challenges involves understanding the neurological imbalances and dysfunctions contributing to burnout and exhaustion.
As parents, our role is pivotal in supporting our teens’ mental health. By recognizing the signs of burnout, taking meaningful actions, and collaborating with healthcare professionals, we can empower our teens to lead healthier, more balanced lives.
To dive deeper into supporting your teen’s mental health we use cutting-edge technology like the INSiGHT Scans. These tools help detect and address neurological dysfunction at the core of teen burnout and exhaustion, ensuring a drug-free approach to their well-being.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to us today at Rochester Chiropractic and wellness to schedule a consultation. We want to strive towards a future where teens are not only healthier but also equipped with the knowledge and support needed to navigate their well-being with confidence. We are here to support you every step of the way!
In a world that is full of intimidating diagnoses, politically-driven agendas, judgy mom groups, social media, trigger warnings left and right, and the Target checkout lady saying “sleep while you can,” it’s so hard to know where to turn to for advice when you find out that you’re pregnant.
With all of this, the transition to motherhood sometimes feels more like a loss than the most joyous and monumental moment of our lives. It’s okay to feel alone and lost. I mean, truthfully, we are saying goodbye to the only versions we’ve known as ourselves: the maiden. We really won’t ever be the same. But what if that’s exactly what it’s supposed to be like? It’s okay to mourn our old selves in this season. To realize that we are closing the door on the life we had before… but what’s next?
What if we started looking at the pregnancy journey and the motherhood transition a little differently than our society does? It starts with who and what we surround ourselves with. Today’s world is muddled with materials, opinions, and options when it comes to pregnancy, so who we choose to be in our circle is most important. Have you ever heard the saying, “You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with?” Who you choose to be around and listen to are the people who have the most influence in your life. And at a time when you are most vulnerable, keep your birth team and circle tight. Have a circle that supports, empowers, and encourages you in all your choices during your pregnancy.
I was sitting in an auditorium with thousands of other women when I heard a story that changed my life. Did you know that when an elephant is giving birth, other female elephants will surround her? It’s fascinating. 40 tons of elephants in the wild kicking up dirt, making loud noises, and warning other predators and attackers that they will not get to their sister while she is the most vulnerable. It’s beautiful. What’s even more special is when the baby elephant is born, the sister elephants will cover him with dirt and sound their trumpets obnoxiously loud; encouraging and cheering their sister on as they share with the entire animal kingdom what just occurred.
This! This is what it should be like when other women are going through their perinatal season of life. Whether it’s a season of fertility, pregnancy, or postpartum, we should never stop encouraging one another.
And as the elephant in the middle. The pregnant one. Know your power, too, that you are the best mom for your baby and that you have been given a “mom gut” that you should trust over everything else. That you have choices when it comes to anything concerning you and your baby. YOU are the one. And you can do this. It’s okay to log off sometimes and find the resources that fit what you need instead of the ones that please everybody else. It’s okay to be different. It’s important to go with your gut.
Our babies are hitchhikers on our nervous systems, so whatever we are feeling, so are they, which is why it’s important that we are their #1 protector.
We do this best when our nervous systems are adaptable to the stressors around us that we can’t necessarily control. We should be able to sprint across the street but then sit down and have a relaxing and digestible lunch right after. That’s how adaptable and resilient we are.
My prayer for you today is that you will step into this motherhood transition feeling empowered and confident, knowing that you are the mom your baby needs. That you step into the role of mom with grace. You will never be perfect, and that’s what is so perfect about it. That you are allowed to change your mind, change your provider, change your course… That your body was made to grow this baby. Your body was chosen to birth this baby. And you were made to nurture and love this baby.