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How Chronic Stress Impacts Health

Dr. Kirsten Foullong
April 17, 2025
A chronically stressed out Mom receives a nervous system based chiropractic adjustment at Pinnacle Chiropractic.

Understanding Chronic Stress: The Hidden Health Disruptor

If you've ever felt like your family is constantly running on empty—rushed mornings, chaotic schedules, and sleepless nights—you’re not alone. In today’s world, chronic stress has become a silent epidemic, not just affecting parents, but even impacting our kids.

But here’s something most people don’t realize: chronic stress doesn’t just affect your mood; it directly disrupts your body and mind, starting with your nervous system.

How Stress Affects the Nervous System

When stress becomes a daily constant, your nervous system shifts into “fight or flight” mode. This triggers:

  • Increased cortisol (stress hormone) levels
  • Elevated heart rate and blood pressure
  • Digestive issues
  • Trouble sleeping and focusing
  • Suppressed immune function

For children, chronic stress can look like frequent meltdowns, trouble concentrating, digestive troubles, and constant colds. For parents, it might manifest as fatigue, anxiety, headaches, or nagging back and neck tension.

The Brain-Body Connection

Your brain and spinal cord are the command centers of your nervous system. When your spine is misaligned—even slightly—communication between your brain and body becomes distorted. This miscommunication keeps your system stuck in a stress response, making it nearly impossible to relax, heal, or function optimally. Our care works to activate the vagus nerve, the longest nerve in your body, helping the body to work the way it's designed to.

How Nervous System-Based Chiropractic Relieves Stress Naturally

At Pinnacle Chiropractic, we specialize in gentle, targeted chiropractic adjustments that restore balance to the nervous system.

Here’s how it works:

We scan your nervous system. Using state-of-the-art technology calling INSiGHT scans, we identify where stress and tension are affecting you. These scans give us a peek into the function of the nervous system, so we can help it to work optimally.

We adjust with precision. Our gentle adjustments relieve interference, allowing your body to shift from survival mode (fight or flight) to healing mode (rest and digest).

We help your body regulate. As stress levels decrease, you’ll notice:

  • Improved sleep
  • Calmer moods (for you and your kids!)
  • Better digestion
  • Stronger immune function
  • Clearer focus and energy

Moms, Dads, Kids—Everyone Carries Stress Differently

Whether you’re a mom carrying the mental load of your family, a dad juggling work and home life, or a child facing the pressures of school and activities—stress affects everyone differently but impacts every part of your health.

The good news? Your body was designed to heal and regulate itself naturally, once the stress on your nervous system is removed.

Ready to Break Free from the Stress Cycle?

We believe every family deserves to live with ease, energy, and resilience. Chronic stress doesn’t have to run the show.

👉 Book a consultation with our team at Pinnacle Chiropractic today and experience the power of nervous system-based chiropractic care.

Contact Us

Visit Our Office

Contact us for expert chiropractic care in Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota, and Bradenton, FL.

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Pinnacle Chiropractic
7984 Cooper Creek Blvd., Suite #104
University Park, FL 34201
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