If you were to do a little eavesdropping at Dr. Livingston’s office, you would learn that not every patient there is having pain because of something physical that they did. Dr. Livingston will explain that in some cases the pain is rooted in our mental health. There is a definite connection between our emotional health and our physical health. Mental health has a sneaky way of showing up in our muscles, joints, and posture.
For example, when people are stressed, they tend to tense up their shoulders, clench their jaws, and have sporadic headaches. Feeling anxious can put your stomach in knots, cause your heart to race, and generate shallow breathing. And how about depression? Some of Dr. Livingston’s patients report that their body feels like it is weighed down, they have no energy, and they are experiencing an all-over achiness. Do not write these off as ordinary bodily aches and pains. They are the way your body is telling you that something deeper is going on.
Your mind and your body have an amazing communication system. When mental health is suffering, the body often pays the price. Don’t, for one minute, think what is happening is all in your head. Dr. Livingston sees this every day at Integrated Health Associates. Several times patients will come in to be treated for neck pains or chronic headaches, but as they’re talking through their symptoms it becomes apparent to Dr. Livingston that they are also dealing with a lot of stress at work or dealing with tough incidents at home. In some cases, Dr. Livingston can see this right away simply by the way a patient is holding himself. Are their shoulders hunched from anxiety, or is their neck stiff from holding all the week’s worries?
Following his diagnosis, what is the next step that Dr. Livingston takes? His chiropractic care will aid in breaking the cycle of anxiety to physical ailments. When your spine is out of alignment, it amplifies the body’s stress response. In other words, Dr. Livingston’s adjustments relieve your physical pain at the same time as they help your nervous system regain balance. The end result? Better sleep, greater focus, less tension, and a strong resistance to life’s next curve ball. We often hear these patients say that when they leave our office they feel lighter both physically and mentally.
Dr. Livingston’s approach is always a holistic one. After listening carefully to what hurts and where it hurts, he will discuss with you what is going on in your life that could be contributing to your pain. Often just having someone acknowledge the emotional side of your physical pain can be a huge relief.
The mind-body connection needs to be addressed both ways – talking it out and taking care of your body. Dr. Livingston can be a valuable part of this process. When you are carrying your worries on your shoulders and your headaches seem to come out of nowhere, remember that you are not alone – and help is right here at Integrated Health Associates.
So, the next time you are in our office, remember that chiropractic care isn’t just about taking care of your spine, it’s about caring for your whole self – mind and body. Call Integrated Health Associates at 440-528-0005 #1.