Does your Child or Baby Stay Stuck in GO-GO-GO Mode?
Most of my new patients in my office in Viridian, Arlington lately have had many different presentations but seem to have one thing in common: A Nervous System stuck in Sympathetic, or Fight or Flight Mode.
A healthy nervous system is able to adapt to demands and the environment and return to feeling safe. When the nervous system perceives no danger, the Parasympathetic Nervous System takes over, allowing for rest, digestion, play, and healing.
Many of us have nervous systems that are amazing at flooring the gas: we can push through fatigue to perform well, stay up late to finish those last tasks, and ignore those small signs our body gives us that it’s time to slow down.
If our nervous systems have the engine of a racecar of your choice, it seems like our “brakes” are more like those of a golf cart. Meaning the parasympathetic nervous system has trouble coming online so that our bodies can rest, digest, and heal.
What does this look like clinically? Wanting more or deeper sleep almost always makes the top 3 in health goals for new patients, whether the patient is an infant, a busy parent, or a child at any stage.
Another classic red flag that a nervous system is stuck in fight or flight: digestive issues. For infants or toddlers, infrequent bowel movements is a sign that the nervous system is out of balance. For older children and adults, constipation can still be an issue, but sometimes more complex digestive issues tend to manifest such as food allergies or sensitivities, IBS, or even autoimmune digestive issues such as Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis.
Another strong physical symptom of sympathetic dominance is an immune system that is out of balance. Frequent colds, flus, fevers may be the body’s way of slowing down to get the rest it needs. An overactive immune system with high sensitivity to allergens and asthma also shows that the sympathetic nerve system is in charge. When the individual’s nervous system has been stressed for years or even decades, autoimmune disorders often show up: latent (or inactive but present) viruses and bacteria such as Epstein Barr, strep, and even COVID have been known to trigger autoimmune diseases. These autoimmune issues such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disorders, etc. can affect many systems and locations in the body.
Next week, we will discuss ways (including gentle chiropractic and craniosacral therapy of course) to help move the body back toward a balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic so the body has more energy for those precious functions, rest, digestion, repair, and play.
If you’d like to discuss you or your child’s GO GO GO nervous system with Dr. Erin, call or text (612) 280-6596 to set up a complimentary phone consult.
