Can osteopathy help with anxiety?

Can Osteopathy reduce those feelings of worry, agitation, restlessness or panic?

Do you fear the worst, feel unable to relax, have difficulty concentrating? 

These are common symptoms of anxiety, and thankfully, there are ways to reduce or eradicate these feelings. It is no surprise that many of our clients ask: can osteopathy help with anxiety?

Symptoms of anxiety

Common symptoms and signs of anxiety include:

• Feeling, tense, nervous, on edge
• Having an increased heart rate
• Rapid breathing
• Sweating
• Trembling
• Panic attacks
• Difficulty concentrating or focusing on anything other than what you’re worrying about
• Feeling tired and weak
• Agitation
• Overthinking
• Having a sense of impending doom, fearing the worst
• Trouble sleeping
• Unable to relax 
• Avoiding things that trigger anxiety 
• Digestive issues 
• Irrational fears 

There are a number of types of anxiety disorders, which include:

• Agoraphobia
• Generalised anxiety disorder 
• Panic disorder
• Separation anxiety disorder
• Selective mutism 
• Substance-induced anxiety disorder
• Social anxiety disorder

So the question is: can osteopathy help with anxiety?

Anxiety – an imbalance of the adrenal glands

The adrenal glands are located at the top of the kidneys; they are chiefly responsible for regulating the body’s stress response through the synthesis of corticosteroids and catecholamines, which include cortisol and adrenaline. You may know this better as the ‘fight or flight’ response, which is initiated by the sympathetic nervous system. 

This response is there to save our lives in case of danger; however, when overstimulated, these hormone can flow through your body for too long, creating a chronic state of stress. This can have an impact, both emotionally and physically.

Can osteopathy help with anxiety? Muscle manipulation, massage and palpitation

There are a number of ways that you can reduce stress and lower your ‘fight or flight’ response. Meditation, exercise, time spent outdoors or with friends and family – they are all natural ways to feel less anxious. However, if you have become accustomed to this heightened state of anxiety, it can be very difficult to break those habit alone. 

Our osteopaths can help you to leave anxiety behind. Osteopathy treats the body as a whole, looking at the body’s systems in order to encourage all-round health. As such, we will take into account the physical symptoms you are displaying, as well as your lifestyle and any external stressors that may contribute to your anxiety. 

When it comes to anxiety-related conditions, our osteopath will focus on the muscles around the thoracic spine, which is where the sympathetic nervous system is located. Using gentle, non-invasive palpitation, massage and manipulation techniques in this region of the body, your osteopath can identify areas of tension that may be causing pain and affecting your muscle mobility. 

Can osteopathy help with anxiety? Breathing techniques 

Deep breathing is one of the best ways to reduce anxiety. Your osteopath will take you through a variety of breathing techniques, which are effective in lowering the body’s heart rate and blood rate. You will be encouraged to practice your breathing exercises regularly at home. 

Everyone experiences anxiety at some stage in their life and in most cases, it is a very normal response to uncomfortable situations. However, if you are feeling debilitated by anxiety, please remember that it can be treated. 

Please call Parkstone Osteopaths on 01202 734211 to find out more and to arrange an initial consultation. 

We hope you found our article, ‘Can osteopathy help with anxiety?’ of interest. Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any queries.