Mental health is often relegated to the sidelines, while physical health sits in the spotlight. While the month of May is “Mental Health Awareness Month,” we would like to bring this to light at all times. Coupled with the secondary effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health might finally be getting the attention it deserves.

Early research indicates that while the novel coronavirus is affecting millions of Americans, so too is mental illness. If you do a quick Google search for “mental health” you will find thousands of recent articles highlighting the mental ramifications that this pandemic has caused. In short, America is also under siege from anxiety, depression, and other related mental health issues.

If left untreated, health concerns like anxiety can begin to dramatically impact and control an individual’s daily life and overall well being. In any given year, roughly 18 percent of the United States population suffers from a diagnosable form of anxiety. As the most common form of mental illness, anxiety is also highly treatable, yet only 37 percent of those suffering receive treatment, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.

However, there is a misconception that anxiety treatment must follow specific steps such as therapy and prescription medication. For some, that works. Yet, mental health is a fluid experience and no two cases are the same. Therefore, individuals respond to different treatments in different ways. For many, simple lifestyle adjustments alongside chiropractic care can help alleviate the issues surrounding anxiety. It might not be your first thought, but a chiropractor can help with your anxiety struggles.

How A Chiropractor Can Help Improve Anxiety

Mental health issues like anxiety can be multifaceted and create a variety of issues for individuals living with the condition. With a holistic approach, a chiropractor works to isolate each negative effect, and then works to realign that symptom into a healthier state.

Individuals living with anxiety see issues like elevated blood pressure, stress, poor sleep quality, body tension, and more. By looking at these issues separately, a chiropractor can begin to provide care that aims to fix each problem on its own. Therefore, as these issues become resolved, the overall condition of anxiety improves.

So how is this done?

Dr. Reinhardt and his team work closely with you and your case to understand what your anxiety looks and feels like. From there, multiple treatment methods may be on the table. From spinal manipulation to help realign the spine and release positive hormones like oxytocin and neurotensin to massage therapy to relax and rejuvenate the muscles. Getting the physical damage caused by anxiety is the first task. Once that is under control, looking at lifestyle adjustments like exercise and diet may factor into providing a long-term solution to your anxiety condition.

The difference with chiropractic care is the mind-body approach. It is unfair to think that the mind doesn’t affect the body and vice versa. Therefore, a chiropractor works to help realign your body’s current state and promote healthy habits moving forward in order to fix and sustain your mental health.