Anxiety, Stress, and Overthinking around the Holidays

Winter months bring holidays and family gatherings, a time of celebrating and spending quality time with loved ones. These can also be stressful, anxiety-inducing experiences for many people. If you struggle with anxiety or finding yourself stressed more around the holidays and in the winter months, then you are not alone. Chiropractic care at Waypoint Chiropractic can help to naturally manage your anxiety and help you enjoy all these special moments ahead. 

Anxiety in Winter Months

The winter months bring cold weather and darker evenings, both of which can affect people who struggle with depression and anxiety. We tend to spend more time indoors in the winter and can sometimes neglect our health and well-being. If you used to take walks outdoors after work you might not be able to for as long because the sun is setting earlier. If you spend most of your day inside and then get less outdoor time than normal in winter months, you are likely getting less sun exposure. Sunlight gives your body much-needed vitamin D and encourages the healthy release of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin that help regulate your mood. Less time in the sun can actually disrupt your brain’s ability to send signals to release these neurotransmitters that help relieve your anxiety, so even if it’s cold, you should try your best to get outside for a few minutes each day. 

Anxiety During the Holidays

From picking out the perfect presents to figuring out how to schedule with various family members, we all know how stressful the holidays can be. Especially with the holidays looking a little different this year, you might be experiencing a bit more anxiety and mental health struggles than you normally do. Traveling, buying the right gifts, and spending time with relatives you haven’t seen in a long time can lead to overthinking and make what is supposed to be a fun time of year more stressful than it needs to be. Try to be realistic about expectations and what you can accomplish, and try to manage your stress triggers to minimize anxiety. It is okay to expect a little bit of stress around the holidays, but if you notice it’s keeping you up at night then it’s worth looking into natural options to take better care of yourself.

Chiropractic Care for Anxiety

Dr. Cary Gentry and his team at Waypoint Chiropractic understand the stress that the holidays and the long, cold months can take on the body. Chiropractic care can help offer natural, non-invasive approaches to helping you better manage your anxiety in these challenging times. Your Bozeman chiropractor can help with a series of gentle adjustments, helping realign your spine and encouraging healthy function. When we are stressed, we tend to take shorter breaths and hunch our shoulders up closer to our ears. Restoring proper posture can help take the stress and strain off of your shoulders and back, and deep breathing can help bring fresh oxygen to your body and rebalance yourself mentally. 

Chiropractic care is more than just adjustments to combat back pain! At Waypoint Chiropractic in Bozeman, MT, Dr. Cary Gentry wants to help you experience optimal physical and mental health through neurologically-based chiropractic care. Contact Waypoint Chiropractic to schedule an appointment and to learn more about how chiropractic can help relieve your anxiety, release the tension in your body, and help you experience a calm and joyful winter season. 

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Gemmell, H. A. “Effects of chiropractic treatment on blood pressure and anxiety: a randomized, controlled trial.” Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics, 1989; 12(3): 240. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2664064/. 

White, P. D., Rickards, H., & Zeman, A. Z. J. (2012). “Time to end the distinction between mental and neurological illnesses.” BMJ, 344(e3), 4540. https://www.bmj.com/bmj/section-pdf/187559?path=/bmj/344/7861/Analysis.full.pdf.