Could Your Back Cause Anxiety and Depression?

Anxiety and depression are incredibly common yet there is still no single go-to method for treatment.

Millions of people suffer from these conditions on a daily basis and are constantly seeking solutions to feel “normal again” and find out what can cause Anxiety and Depression. They long to be rid of the worries, the pain, and the suffering. While certain levels of anxiety and depression are normal, they’re never enjoyable. In a way, they are serving as natural ways of becoming a stronger version of yourself.

My own experience with panic attacks didn’t stop until I started receiving regular chiropractic care.

This connection made me curious and I wanted to know how that had happened. I went to chiropractic school and became extremely well educated in the neurology behind both anxiety and depression; I wanted to learn everything I could about it.

Dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin are the feel-good chemicals in our bodies and brains that can help us achieve an overall sense of well-being.

These chemicals can sometimes become depleted, oftentimes resulting in mental health problems and cause anxiety and depression, nervousness, bipolar disorder, compulsive disorders and much more. Until recently it was only thought that these chemicals were made in the brain. However, recent research has discovered that there are several spots throughout the spinal cord that help produce these chemicals, as well.

The research suggests the spine may be an anatomical extension of the limbic system, the area of the brain responsible for mediating your feelings and overall sense of well-being.

This is done through the Brain Reward Cascade system, the process that your brain uses in order to correctly distribute those useful chemicals. The Brain Reward Cascade is also the means by which humans experience feelings of pleasure and reward. Serotonin is first secreted by the hypothalamus, which then stimulates the release of the rest of your well-being chemicals. These chemicals then further stimulate pathways in the brain and spinal cord, thus giving the person a sense of well-being.

When you begin to have problems in these areas of the spine it can disrupt the brain reward cascade and cause a disconnect in the body. This can result in “Reward Deficiency Syndrome”. Reward deficiency syndrome is characterized by a depleted amount of dopamine in the body, which can ultimately lead to an array of symptoms and cause anxiety and depression, bipolar disorder, back pain, neck pain, addiction and more.

Not all chiropractic techniques address mental health and wellness and even fewer address the limbic system and the brain reward cascade process.

Dr. Shane Kurth, at Apex Chiropractic, is the only chiropractor in the 80027-zip code certified in the Torque Release Technique, a technique that addresses the reward system directly. In fact, Dr. Kurth is one of only 10 certified Torque Release practitioners in the entire state of Colorado. This technique hyper-focused on these specific spots in the brain and spinal cord that are responsible for your well-being leaving the patient with a better functioning reward system.

Research shows that there are many naturally occurring brain and spinal cord substances that play a role both in emotions and pain reduction, ultimately leading to an increased sense of well-being. In this regard, we can make the connection that the limbic system includes not only the brain but certain areas of the spinal cord as well.

There has been extensive chiropractic research regarding neck and low back pain as it stands.

More interestingly, though, is that there is also research that supports the notion that chiropractic treatment is helpful in improving human potential and state of well-being as well. More research is warranted in this area to draw firm conclusions, but even so, it remains promising as a way to achieve an overall sense of well-being. In fact, one of the beauties of trying to increase your state of well-being with chiropractic care is that it does not come with the harsh side effects that most medications typically come with, making it a generally safer and more enjoyable form of treatment. Please SHARE this article it may save a life!