As dedicated pediatric specialists at Foundation of Stone Pediatric & Perinatal Family Chiropractic, we understand the challenges your children face—battles with lingering anxiety, restless sleep, weakened immunity, and persistent inflammation. Despite your unwavering efforts to support their health, these struggles often manifest in their behavior through frequent meltdowns and difficulty in self-regulation. These ongoing issues may point to a constantly activated stress response, which puts strain on their delicate nervous systems.
It’s concerning that over 77% of today’s youth experience chronic health conditions, with neurological and mental health disorders being the most common. Recent research highlights that dysfunctional nervous system patterns are often the main contributors to these conditions.
When your child remains stuck in “fight or flight” mode, the surge of stress hormones disrupts essential processes like digestion, immunity, and development. The soothing “rest and digest” state of the parasympathetic nervous system becomes suppressed, creating a continuous cycle known as the “Perfect Storm.”
If your child is caught in this “Perfect Storm” of symptoms, leaving you feeling overwhelmed in your search for solutions—please know you are not alone. Recognizing that these challenges are tied to the nervous system is a crucial step in guiding your child toward better health.
How Children Get Stuck in Fight or Flight Mode
Your child’s nervous system, much like a switch, shifts between active and relaxed states. When faced with a temporary threat, it naturally enters “fight or flight” mode. However, issues arise when this stress response lingers too long.
The Role of the Vagus Nerve
Central to the regulation of the nervous system is the vagus nerve, which activates the body’s “rest, digest, and regulate” parasympathetic functions. This vital nerve oversees digestion, breathing, heart rate, and inflammation while also playing a key role in social and emotional regulation, speech, and more.
When vagal tone is impaired, your child may become trapped in fight or flight mode, leading to a condition called dysautonomia. This imbalance in the autonomic nervous system can then contribute to a range of chronic health challenges in children.
Signs Your Child Might Be Stuck in Fight or Flight Mode
Watch for these signs that your child’s nervous system may be overwhelmed:
- Heightened anxiety, worry, or panic responses
- Frequent emotional meltdowns and outbursts
- Disrupted sleep or nightmares
- Loss of appetite or overeating
- Increased food sensitivities and allergies
- New headaches or body aches
- Overreactions to minor frustrations
- Difficulty focusing and concentrating
- Frequent illnesses and lowered immunity
- Persistent fatigue or hyperactivity
When the nervous system becomes stuck in fight or flight mode, it can lead to a variety of symptoms that disrupt health and development, including:
- Anxiety and mood changes
- Cognitive and behavioral challenges
- Physical issues like headaches, body tension, abdominal pain, low energy, and weakened immunity
- Delays in growth and development
Helping Your Child Break Free from Fight or Flight
As parents, you play a powerful role in nurturing your child’s well-being. Engaging in daily breathing exercises can help activate the relaxation response. Gentle movements, such as yoga, can aid in processing stress hormones like cortisol. Providing optimal nutrition replenishes depleted reserves, and natural supplements can gently reduce inflammation. Prioritizing restorative sleep is essential for overall health.
However, we often meet parents who have tried countless methods to help their child learn to calm, regulate, and balance their emotions and nervous system—yet with limited success.
In cases where the nervous system seems stuck in fight or flight mode, Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care is an essential first step. These specialized adjustments target vagus nerve stimulation and release accumulated stress within the sympathetic nervous system, offering more effective results than traditional methods.
As these adjustments begin to restore better sleep patterns and enhance your child’s neurological health, you can then integrate breathing exercises, calming activities, and nutritional support.
If your child is experiencing symptoms related to a stuck fight-or-flight response, and you’ve explored every avenue without success, consider addressing nervous system dysregulation and subluxation as the missing link.
Reach out to Foundation of Stone Pediatric & Perinatal Family Chiropractic today. If you’re not local to us, check out our PX Docs directory to find a practice near you. We’re here to empower you in guiding your child toward a healthier, more balanced life.