One day, when my boys were young, I needed to drive to Brookfield to adjust another chiropractor. We exchange adjustments every week or two and on this particular day, I didn’t have any aches or pains. And my boys were in a mood with my youngest in the throes of colic. I remember talking to my mom (hands free, of course) on my cell phone as I was making the drive. Both boys were crying, and I remember complaining to my mom about how stressed I was, what a pain it was to drag both boys out of the house and so on.
We arrived at Dr. Jones’ office, and I unbuckled Brandon and carried Anthony in, still crying in his car seat. I adjusted Dr. Jones and when he adjusted me, all that needed to be adjusted was my atlas (or C1 – the top bone in our neck). We said our goodbyes and I strapped both boys back in and started driving home. About halfway there, I noticed that my mood shifted – it lightened, and I felt happy. My perspective changed too. I called my mom back and said – listen to this – it is so funny. When one boy stops crying, the other one starts. It is like a symphony – like the beginning to Beethoven’s 5th! “Waaa, waaa, waaa, waaa...” I started laughing.
My mom asked me what had changed, and I realized it was me. While I had no symptoms of pain that day, I definitely needed to be adjusted. I was mentally subluxated and stuck in a bad mood unable to handle or enjoy my day. Within minutes of getting adjusted, my nervous system was much better able to adapt, and my perspective and mood changed considerably. And the most interesting thing happened next. When I was no longer upset and stressed out by my boys, when I could make light of the situation and stay happy, they both stopped crying and we went on to have a great day. Now when I am under stress and find myself in a bad mood or snapping easily at my loved ones, I ask myself if I need an attitude adjustment and make time to get adjusted. It works way more than even I would have thought!
By Dr. Lisa Provenza-Tabak
Life can have a way of becoming routine with one day blending into the next. Many of us come to accept that things just are the way they are. This can be true of our health, relationships, jobs and so much more.
It can be helpful to take a step back and look at your life, body and health asking the question – am I thriving or surviving. When you wake up in the morning, do you feel well rested and ready for a new day? Or do you hit snooze multiple times dreading getting up and beginning your day. Do you have to go to work or do you get to go to work? Do you feel comfortable in your body – balanced, strong and flexible? Or do you feel tight, stiff, stressed and old? Do you feel life is full of fun and possibilities or do you feel stuck in rut or like a hamster on a wheel?
If you find that you don’t feel like you are living life as the best version of yourself, now is the time to make positive changes. Your nervous system is the system you use to process your life and to assess your internal environment. Having a nervous system free from interference is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself. This one step can set you on a path of possibility and hope. Consider regular chiropractic care as part of your plan to thrive.
This is a myth that many of my patients have when they begin care. I explain that this is simply not true. You can benefit from chiropractic for as long, or as short, as you choose. Chiropractic care is not addictive. However, beginning chiropractic care is life changing for many. New patients often tell me that they have “normal” headaches or “regular” lower back pain. Chronic pain is not normal, however it is very common. People often get used to feeling tired and sluggish, overwhelmed and unmotivated, stiff and sore because they have felt that way for such a long time. Many just decide that this is the just way that it is.
Once these patients begin chiropractic care, their experience changes. As their bodies begin to heal and adapt well again, many long standing complaints resolve. Once healing occurs, if the pain comes back again in the future, they don’t have to suffer with it again – they know what to do. They need to be checked and adjusted. It isn’t that they HAVE to get adjusted, it is that they know what to do and they WANT to be adjusted. The longer that patients remain under care, the better attuned they can become to their bodies and how they function. Many learn that the best course of action is getting checked regularly so they can stay in optimal alignment and function. Wellness becomes their focus and their lifestyle.