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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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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!
Are you exhausted from the daily mealtime battles with your picky eater? If you’ve tried hiding vegetables in smoothies, created elaborate reward charts, or found yourself negotiating “just one more bite” at every meal, you’re not alone. As a parent, these struggles can leave you feeling frustrated, worried, and sometimes even like you’re failing.
But what if we told you that your child’s picky eating likely isn’t really about the food at all?
Beyond Behavior: Understanding What’s Really Happening
Studies show that up to 22% of children are classified as picky eaters, with 40% remaining picky for two years or longer. While most healthcare providers suggest waiting it out or trying various behavioral approaches, they’re often missing a crucial piece of the puzzle: the nervous system connection.
The truth is, picky eating frequently has less to do with stubbornness or behavior and more to do with an overwhelmed nervous system.
Let us share a story that might sound familiar. Leo’s family faced significant challenges with his eating habits — there were many days when he wouldn’t eat at all. His mom felt completely helpless, especially when their pediatrician kept saying he would “grow out of it.” They tried speech and eating therapy but saw little progress.
Everything changed when they discovered that Leo’s nervous system was overwhelmed. Once they addressed this root cause, Leo’s sensory skills improved dramatically, his meltdowns decreased, and he began eating regularly. He transformed from a struggling picky eater to a thriving, happy toddler.
The Nervous System Connection
To understand what leads to picky eating, we need to look deeper at what’s happening neurologically:
Sympathetic Dominance: When Your Child’s Body is in “Fight or Flight”
Your child’s picky eating likely stems from a neurological state called “sympathetic dominance” — where their nervous system is stuck in a constant “fight or flight” mode. This creates several challenges:
- Sensory overload makes normal food textures, smells, and tastes feel overwhelming or even threatening
- A stressed nervous system actually programs the brain to crave simple carbs and sugars that can be quickly converted to energy
- What seems like a normal mealtime to you feels like a battlefield to your child’s body and brain
The Three Root Causes of Picky Eating
1. Sensory Processing Challenges
When there’s stress or subluxation in the upper neck and brainstem regions, it creates nervous system imbalance. This leads to heightened sensitivity to food textures, temperatures, and tastes.
What might seem like a normal food texture to you can feel extremely uncomfortable or even painful to your child. That soggy cereal or slightly lumpy yogurt isn’t just unappealing — it might trigger a genuine sensory aversion.
2. Vagus Nerve Dysfunction
The vagus nerve is crucial as it controls digestion, appetite regulation, and the gut-brain connection. When this nerve isn’t functioning optimally, it disrupts natural eating patterns.
This can cause digestive discomfort, making children associate eating with unpleasant experiences. No wonder they become hesitant at mealtimes!
3. Oral-Motor Coordination Issues
Proper neural connections affecting the cranial and cervical areas impact chewing and swallowing abilities. When these aren’t working efficiently, children often prefer soft, simple-to-eat foods.
The struggle with certain textures isn’t stubbornness — it’s a physical challenge requiring proper neurological support. When your child says they “can’t” eat something, they might be telling the literal truth.
Why Traditional Approaches Often Fall Short
Now it becomes clear why hiding vegetables, using reward charts, or creating mealtime rules often don’t create lasting change. These approaches focus on behavior modification without addressing the underlying neurological causes.
It’s like trying to teach someone to swim while they’re actively drowning — they can’t learn new skills until they feel safe.
A Different Approach: Supporting Your Child’s Nervous System
Understanding these neurological connections is the first step toward real, lasting change!
Remember Leo’s story? His transformation didn’t happen overnight, but addressing the root cause — nervous system dysfunction — made all the difference. His mom went from feeling helpless to empowered, and mealtimes transformed from battlegrounds to bonding time.
At Rochester Chiropractic and Wellness we use advanced INSiGHT scanning technology to identify specific areas of nervous system subluxation that might be contributing to your child’s picky eating. Our gentle precise adjustments help restore nervous system function, allowing your child’s natural eating instincts to emerge.
Don’t let another meal end in tears and frustration. With the right support and understanding, your child can develop a healthier relationship with food, and your family can enjoy peaceful mealtimes together.
As a parent, watching your child struggle with chronic health issues can feel like being trapped in an endless maze. You’ve tried everything – special diets, medications, supplements, various therapies – yet the breakthrough you’re desperately seeking remains elusive. If this resonates with you, you’re not alone, and more importantly, there’s hope.
When “Trying Everything” Still Isn’t Enough
Let me share a story that might sound familiar. Hannah was just 11 years old when her family found themselves at their wit’s end. Diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis, she battled daily with nausea, headaches, digestive issues, chronic fatigue, anxiety, and depression. Her family had explored countless options: special diets, supplements, medications – even chemotherapy. Nothing provided lasting relief, and Hannah had reached such a low point that she felt empty and didn’t want to live anymore.
This scenario plays out all too often for families dealing with various conditions, from Autism and ADHD to Epilepsy, PANS/PANDAS, allergies, and asthma. Parents exhaust both traditional medical routes and alternative therapies, yet their children continue to struggle.
The Missing Piece of the Puzzle
There’s a crucial piece of the healing puzzle that most healthcare practitioners – both traditional and alternative – often overlook entirely.
It’s not about finding the next treatment or therapy; it’s about understanding the proper sequence of healing.
The Foundation: Your Child’s Nervous System
Think of your child’s body like a house. The nervous system is the foundation, developed first in the womb and controlling every other bodily function:
- Gut health and immune function
- Sensory processing and speech
- Motor development
- Emotional and behavioral regulation
- Focus and cognition
When this foundation is compromised, it’s like building a beautiful house on unstable ground. You can invest in the finest furniture, most advanced security systems, and gorgeous decorations, but if the foundation is cracked, nothing will function as intended.
Understanding the “Perfect Storm”
Three key factors often contribute to nervous system dysfunction:
- Pregnancy Stress Impact: High levels of stress during pregnancy can affect the developing nervous system
- Birth Interventions: C-sections, forceps, vacuum extraction, and other interventions can create physical trauma to the brainstem and vagus nerve
- Early Environmental Factors: Early exposure to antibiotics and environmental toxins can trigger inflammation and compromise the system further
Why Traditional Approaches May Fall Short
When we try to address “brain-based” issues without first stabilizing the nervous system, it’s like trying to repair a roof while the foundation is still shifting. This explains why many children show minimal improvement despite trying numerous interventions – we’re working in the wrong order.
The body follows a specific developmental sequence:
- Nervous system
- Motor system
- Gut and immune health
- Brain function
A New Path Forward: Neurologically-Focused Care
This is where neurologically-focused chiropractic care comes in. Unlike traditional medical treatments that might only address symptoms, this approach:
- Identifies and addresses subluxation, or nervous system dysfunction, that standard medical tests might miss
- Uses specialized neurological scans to pinpoint areas of concern
- Provides gentle adjustments to help restore proper nervous system function
- Creates an environment where other therapies can work more effectively
Hannah’s Breakthrough
Remember Hannah? Everything changed when she discovered neurologically-focused chiropractic care. After her very first adjustment, she experienced immediate relief – sleeping through the night, feeling less nauseous, and regaining her appetite. Today, she’s not just surviving; she’s thriving.
Taking the First Step
If you’re feeling exhausted from trying everything without success, have faith that this might just be the missing foundational piece in your child’s healing journey.
At RCW, the journey starts with understanding your child’s unique needs through specialized neurological assessments. These INSiGHT Scans can reveal if nervous system dysregulation might be holding your child back from complete healing, and if so, we can create a personalized path forward.
Your Next Steps
- Get Assessed: Schedule a consultation and INSiGHT Scans to identify areas of subluxation and understand your child’s specific needs
- Start with the Foundation: Address any nervous system dysfunction with gentle adjustments before adding other interventions
- Build Systematically: Work with your healthcare provider to develop a sequential healing plan
- Stay Hopeful: Remember that healing is possible when we address the root cause
So often, the breakthrough you’re looking for starts with going back to the foundation and building from there. Your child’s healing journey might not be a straight line, but with the right approach and proper sequence, lasting improvement is absolutely possible.
