The Emotional Brain Versus the Thinking Brain: How NSA Creates Healing on All Levels

I want you to think about one of those moments in life—one of those overwhelming moments in which what you were feeling, experiencing, seeing, etc. was so vivid and intense that it was seared into your memory.  It could have been a joyous event, a stressful event, a frightening event—or it could have been many other emotions.  The intensity of the emotion is the key.  You don’t have to stay in that space of intensity for too long—and now, take a deep breath.  Candace Pert, PhD, a neurobiologist explained so much to us about how our bodies process these events.  When the brain is taking in large amounts of information at one time, especially when there is an emotional charge associated with the event AND the nervous system enters a state of FIGHT-OR-FLIGHT, the brain may reach a state of complete overwhelm.  This is where Dr. Pert’s research comes in: the spine will move into a pattern of nerve and spinal cord tension to compensate for the overwhelm.  This pattern of tension is a form of self-protection in order to cope with the overwhelm.  While her research discusses this in-depth, in summary, Dr. Pert revealed that the brain is the “thinking” part of the nervous system (how we process information) and the spine the “emotional nervous system.”

The fascinating thing is that this starts at a young age as experiencing a stress response and moving between fight-or-flight and parasympathetic nervous system function is part of life.  When certain patterns are used as a “go-to” coping mechanism repeatedly, they can become the primary neurological pattern our bodies exist in much of the time.  We wear our stress patterns in our bodies as these defense postures.  These tension patterns are a physical anchor for events that overwhelm our body-minds.  These patterns of tension and defense act as a filter for the nervous system, not only how we store tension on a physical level (what we feel—muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, vertebrae feeling stuck) but also a filter for how we interpret situations—meaning the shape of the spine is a filter for our perspective.  This is on an emotional/neurological level: the amount and type of tension on the spine actually affects how neurochemical molecules can bind to the cells of the body.  This greatly influences which emotions you commonly experience (the more tension, the greater likelihood of experiencing negative emotions).  What this means is that tension on your spine greatly affects your emotional state, sense of wellbeing, and quality of life.

There are many different patterns that can become our primary pattern or way of being.  This is where Network Spinal Analysis (NSA) comes in.  With chiropractic and NSA training, as well as spinal EMG testing and X-rays, we are able to determine (by measuring specific physiological parameters) the major neural tension pattern affecting someone’s body/being.  Typically, each of us have an underlying pattern that is our primary pattern and as we encounter different stressors, we use other patterns to cope that may be more fleeting or less ingrained in our nervous system.  As you receive NSA adjustments, the specific contacts release spinal cord tension while increasing blood flow to the frontal cortex of the brain.  The brain has increased access to create awareness of the spinal tension patterns that have become ingrained in someone’s being (bringing an unconscious pattern into consciousness).  Nerve and spinal tension is decreased, allowing for adaptability and freedom in the nerves, tendons, ligaments, muscles and vertebrae.  The adjustments then allow the brain to engage different nerve signaling patterns.  The goal is not to “get rid” of a pattern, but to create more adaptability and freedom within the patterns as well as teach the body/brain new strategies for handling stress and increasing sense of wellbeing.  Patients in NSA care typically notice both physical and emotional changes.  Perspective regarding common life situations may shift.  Patients may notice that it is easier to let go of emotions and stress.  In fact, because NSA allows your nervous system to release emotions and trauma automatically, many patients report huge shifts in emotional, physical, and even spiritual health.  

The longer-term result of this is creating a resiliency--an adaptability, in the nervous system.  NSA adjustments teach your spine to recognize, adapt, and even clear difficult patterns.  This works to build knowledge, strategies, and resources for the nervous system, that can then act as fuel for change.  This creates the awareness for the brain to handle situations differently, to make a different choice, to suspend autonomic unconscious behavior, allowing you to make a different or new choice or to handle a situation differently.  When the body functions with more adaptability and freedom on a physical and emotional level, healing occurs.  NSA research demonstrates remarkable changes in someone’s physical and emotional health, improved adaptability to stress, and increased sense of wellbeing.  This is why:  We are working on shifting the patterning and function of the nervous system—which affects every aspect of your being—physical and emotional as well as your resiliency, adaptability, and ability to heal.  This is the magic in a well-functioning spine (really, the magic in a well-functioning nervous system).

Dr. Scott and I are incredibly passionate about Network Spinal Analysis.  We want our community to have access to health, wellbeing, and vibrancy.  If you know of anyone who needs our help, we want to be of service.  Please ask our team about our referral program. We firmly believe that educated patients make the BEST decisions about their HEALTH.

Remember, Create Health by Choice, Not by Chance!

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Monday
8:30 am - 11:20 am 2:30 pm - 5:20 pm
Tuesday
8:30 am - 11:20 am
Wednesday
8:30 am - 11:20 am 2:30 pm - 5:20 pm
Thursday
8:30 am - 11:20 am 2:30 pm - 5:20 pm
Friday
Admin Hours 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed