Children who experience chronic stress, neglect, or trauma may develop a hyperactive sympathetic nervous system (SNS), leading to:
- Heightened fear response (easily startled, hypervigilance)
- Frequent anxiety or panic attacks
- Difficulty calming down after stress
- Insomnia or restless sleep (due to excess cortisol)
- Digestive issues (nausea, diarrhea, constipation)
- Muscle tension, headaches, or body pain
Overactive Stress Response (“Fight, Flight, Freeze”)
A chronic “fight-or-flight” response can make the child feel unsafe, even in normal situations, leading to emotional dysregulation and physical symptoms.
If a child is experiencing nervous system dysregulation due to chronic stress, trauma, or emotional struggles, parents can take proactive steps to help regulate their child’s nervous system, support emotional well-being, and promote resilience. Here’s a step-by-step approach:
Create a Safe & Predictable Environment
A child’s nervous system feels safest in a structured, predictable environment.
- Maintain routines – Regular mealtimes, bedtime, and daily rituals provide stability.
- Reduce unpredictability – Give warnings before transitions (e.g., “In 10 minutes, we’ll leave the park”).
- Provide a safe emotional space – Let the child know they can express feelings without fear of punishment or shame.
Why? Predictability reduces stress and helps the child’s nervous system feel safe.
Practice Co-Regulation Before Self-Regulation
Children need to borrow a calm adult’s nervous system to regulate their own emotions.
- Stay calm yourself – Children mirror the nervous system state of their caregivers.
- Use soothing voice and body language – Soft tone, gentle touch, and slow movements help regulate their system.
- Practice deep breathing together – Guide them through belly breathing: “Breathe in like you’re smelling a flower, breathe out like you’re blowing out a candle.”
- Offer physical reassurance – Hugs, cuddles, and gentle back rubs can activate the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS).
Why? When a parent regulates their own emotions, the child’s nervous system can naturally settle.
Neurologically-Focused Pediatric Chiropractic Care is a perfect drug-free options to support your child’s nervous system health.
Our approach focuses on restoring optimal function and balance to the nervous system, with an emphasis on activating and restoring the function of the vagus nerve.
The PX Docs network uses advanced technology called INSiGHT Scans to access neurological function. These scans can detect, quantify, and locate subluxation patterns disrupting communication within the nervous system, allowing for personalized care plans tailored to your child’s unique needs.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to us at Pacific North Chiropractic today to make your child an appointment for a consultation with one of our trained and ready pediatric and family chiropractors! By addressing the root causes of Nervous System Dysregulation and providing specific, Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care, you can be proactive in supporting your child’s health. Together we’d love to help your child reach their full potential, one step at a time!