Understanding Nervous System Dysregulation — What It Means & How Chiropractic Care at Mackay Spine Care Can Help

At Mackay Spine Care, we often see patients—children and adults alike—struggling with symptoms that seem disconnected: sleepless nights, digestive issues, mood swings, or ongoing pain without a clear cause. Many of these problems can stem from nervous system dysregulation.

In this post, we’ll explore:

• What nervous system dysregulation is

• What role the autonomic nervous system plays

• Contributing factors (“the perfect storm”)

• Signs and symptoms to watch for

• How chiropractic care can support regulation and restore balance

What Is Nervous System Dysregulation?

Your nervous system is your body’s control centre. It includes your brain, spinal cord, and all the nerves branching out to every part of you. When it works well, you respond to stress, recover from challenges, and maintain internal balance.

Dysregulation occurs when this system is out of balance—when the body struggles to switch between “go” (stress, alert) and “rest/repair.” Chronic dysregulation can contribute to ongoing fatigue, physical pain, emotional overwhelm, sleep issues, and more.

The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS): Your Body’s On/Off Switches

A big part of understanding dysregulation is knowing about the Autonomic Nervous System, especially its two branches:

• Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) — Think: “gas pedal.” It’s activated under stress, threat, or high demand: faster heart rate, higher alert, etc.

• Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS) — Think: “brake / rest, repair, digest.” It helps slow things down, digest food, repair the body, calm the mind.

Also crucial is the vagus nerve, a major pathway carrying information between the brain and organs, helping regulate digestion, stress responses, heart rate, immune function, and even mood.

When the SNS is dominant, and the PNS/vagus side is underactive, balance is lost. This imbalance is often seen in many chronic health conditions.

What Leads to Dysregulation? The “Perfect Storm”

There is rarely one single cause. More commonly, several risk factors combine over time to trigger dysregulation. We at Mackay Spine Care think of this as a “perfect storm” where multiple stressors affect the nervous system. These can include:

1. Prenatal or Early Life Stress
   Stress experienced by the mother before or during pregnancy (high cortisol levels, difficult pregnancies) can influence development of the nervous system in the unborn baby.

2. Birth Trauma
   Difficult births, interventions (forceps, vacuum, cesarean), or complications can physically or neurologically stress the newborn. The brainstem (a key communication hub) is particularly vulnerable.

3. Environmental Exposures & Lifestyle Factors

   • Frequent infections, antibiotic use that can disrupt the gut microbiome

   • Exposure to toxins (heavy metals, chemicals, pollutants)

   • Sensory overload — noisy or chaotic environments, constant screen time, bright lights

4. Diet, Movement, Rest
   Poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, inadequate rest or sleep can worsen dysregulation. The body needs good fuel, movement, and regular rest to maintain nervous system health.

Signs & Symptoms of a Dysregulated Nervous System

Because the nervous system runs everything, dysregulation can show up in many ways. Some common signs include:

CategoryExamplesPhysicalFrequent headaches, digestive problems (reflux, constipation), sleep disturbances, fatigue, sensitivities (food, environment), recurring infectionsEmotional / CognitiveAnxiety, mood swings, difficulty concentrating, low frustration tolerance, learning difficulties, memory issuesBehavioralImpulsivity, irritability, social withdrawal, changes in routine causing distress, repetitive movements, difficulty with change

These symptoms often overlap with other diagnoses (e.g. anxiety, ADHD, sensory processing issues), so it’s helpful to look at the whole picture—not just individual symptoms.

Why Conventional Approaches May Not Be Enough

Standard medical care often focuses on managing symptoms—prescribing sleep aids, treating digestive issues, or using medications for mood or attention. While these can provide relief, they may not always address why the nervous system is out of balance in the first place.

We find that when care is fragmented—seeing multiple specialists for different symptoms without an integrated view—it can lead to:

• Conflicting advice

• Treatments that don’t interact well with each other

• Frustration, lack of progress

How Chiropractic Care Supports Nervous System Regulation

At Mackay Spine Care, we take a whole-person, nervous-system focused approach. Here are some of the ways chiropractic care can help:

1. Neurological & Postural Assessments
   We assess posture, movement, muscle tone, coordination, and look for misalignments or areas of stress (often called subluxation). These interfere with proper nerve communication.

2. Gentle Adjustments
   Our adjustments aim to restore proper alignment and remove interference, so the nervous system can function more optimally. We tailor techniques to the individual (especially in children).

3. Supportive Tools & Monitoring
   Tools such as scans, movement analysis, or other assessments can help in identifying dysregulation and tracking how well the nervous system is improving over time.

4. Lifestyle and Environmental Support
   Beyond the adjustments themselves, we advise on:

   • Sleep hygiene

   • Diet & nutrition

   • Managing sensory input (like limiting overstimulation)

   • Stress management techniques (breathing, relaxation, rest)

   • Encouraging movement and time outdoors

Taking the First Steps

If you suspect you or your child may be experiencing nervous system dysregulation, here are some actions to consider:

• Keep a journal of symptoms — when they happen, what seems to trigger them

• Evaluate daily routines — sleep, diet, exposure to screens/noise, physical movement

• Talk to a chiropractor or health provider experienced in nervous system / autonomic health

• Ask about assessments that look at nervous system function — beyond just treating symptoms

How Mackay Spine Care Helps

We believe the body has an innate ability to heal and regulate when given the right support. At Mackay Spine Care:

• We offer nervous system–focused chiropractic services

• Our practitioners assess the whole nervous system, not just the site of pain

• We partner with you to build a care plan that includes lifestyle, nutrition, movement, rest, and gentle adjustment techniques

• Our goal is long-term relief and improved overall health — not just masking symptoms

If you’d like to learn more or discuss how we can support you or your child with nervous system regulation, feel free to contact Mackay Spine Care. Let’s work together to restore balance and unlock better health.