You Are Not Alone in Your Anxiety
Anxiety disorder affects over 40 million people in the United States alone. For some, the symptoms of anxiety are more than just inconvenient, they are debilitating. Anxiety can disrupt your immune system, productivity, social life and overall well-being. Of the 40 million people in the U.S. with anxiety disorder, only 39% of those individuals seek conventional treatment. Unfortunately, millions of anxiety ridden people forego treatment for fear of the long list of side effects associated with prescription medication.
Anxiety Is Not Just All in Your Head
For years, people suffering from anxiety have been told their disorder is due to a chemical imbalance within the brain. New research shows that for decades we have been addressing the wrong “brain” when searching for the root cause of anxiety. The gut has been termed the second brain because of the substantial role it plays in helping the body to function. The brain and gut are connected by the Vagus nerve, which is the primary nerve used by your gut bacteria to send information to your brain. Your gut sends far more information to your brain than your brain sends to your gut. Neurons that are found in the brain are also found in the gut, including neurons that produce neurotransmitters like serotonin. Serotonin has been linked to mood and is the target neurotransmitter for many prescription medications in the treatment of mood disorders. These neurotransmitters have the important function of relaying messages to the brain.
A Damaged Gut Impairs More than Digestion
The gut bacteria are vulnerable and can easily be damaged by diet and lifestyle. The neurotransmitters and the Vagus nerve are injured by intestinal invaders that create inflammation and throw off the delicate balance within the gut lining. When the gut micro-biome is damaged by things like processed food, stress, alcohol, medications and conventionally raised meats, it impairs the guts ability to properly communicate with the brain. This results in things like anxiety, depression, mood and even hormonal imbalances.
Heal Anxiety by Healing the Gut
Although there is no miracle pill that restores optimal function of the gut overnight, our patients at Abundant Life Chiropractic have experienced immense success in healing their gut following our doctor guided and patient tailored Metabolic Reset Protocol. To begin healing the gut there are three main phases that need to be addressed. To explain the three phases, we like to use the example of rebuilding a house that has once caught on fire.
Phase 1- Heal and Seal
When a house is on fire, calling a carpenter to rebuild the house is not a priority. The priority is calling the fire department to extinguish and contain the fire so it doesn’t spread. The same thing applies to your gut. Phase one focuses on first putting out the fire or inflammation in your gut lining and sealing off any gaps that may have developed from years of inflammation. This step is critical as the gut must be free of inflammation and sealed off to begin healing.
Phase 2- Detox
Once the fire is out and the area is sealed, the aftermath of the fire remains. Phase two focuses on the removal of the debris left behind from inflammation causing intestinal invaders. This step clears the gut of any harmful toxins, infections, microorganisms while also supporting your stress response by addressing cortisol and insulin.
Phase 3- Restore and Replenish
Now that the fire has been extinguished and debris cleared, it’s time to call the carpenters to rebuild. Phase three focuses on balancing the acidity of the stomach and replenishing it with beneficial bacteria to create a balanced micro-biome.
At Abundant Life Chiropractic, we believe everyone is unique. So, each case must be addressed with an individualistic approach to discover the true cause of a symptom or disorder. Click here to schedule a consultation with one of our doctors to uncover and address the root cause of your symptoms.
