ANXIETY

A Nervous System Imbalance Rooted in the Brainstem, Vagus Nerve & Upper Neck

The Brain & Body Clinic – St. Petersburg, FL
Dr. Theo Berlingeri, DC

Anxiety isn’t “in your head.”
It’s in your nervous system.

Most of the patients who come to me for anxiety describe it physically, not mentally:

“My heart races out of nowhere.”
“I feel shaky or floaty.”
“My chest feels tight.”
“My neck and shoulders are always tense.”
“My thoughts spiral even when I’m calm.”
“I don’t feel grounded in my body.”

These aren’t psychological flaws — they’re autonomic imbalance patterns involving the brainstem, vagus nerve, proprioception, and the upper cervical spine.

When the nervous system feels unsafe, the mind tries to interpret that sensation — and that interpretation becomes “anxiety.”

The real question isn’t why you’re anxious.
It’s why your nervous system thinks you’re in danger.

The Brainstem: The Hidden Driver of Anxiety

The atlas (C1) sits directly over the brainstem, which controls:

  • Heart rate

  • Breathing

  • Vagal tone

  • Fight-or-flight response

  • Emotional reactivity

  • Balance + grounding

  • Sensory processing

  • Neck–eye coordination

If the atlas is misaligned — even slightly — it can overstimulate the brainstem and:

  • Increase sympathetic (fight-or-flight) output

  • Reduce vagal tone (rest-and-digest)

  • Create chest tightness or shortness of breath

  • Trigger dizziness or “floating” sensations

  • Cause panic-like symptoms

  • Heighten stress reactivity

  • Tighten the neck and shoulders

  • Increase sensory overload

This is why many patients say their anxiety started after:

  • Whiplash

  • Neck strain

  • A car accident

  • Concussion

  • Jaw tension or TMJ issues

  • Periods of high stress

  • Viral illness

  • Postural strain (phones/screens)

The neck–brainstem–vagus system is the backbone of emotional regulation.

The “Body-Based Anxiety” Model

Most anxiety patients experience:

  • Racing heart

  • Dizziness

  • Tingling

  • Muscle tension

  • Brain fog

  • Difficulty grounding

  • Sleep issues

  • Sensory overwhelm

  • Digestive changes

  • Neck or suboccipital tightness

These are signs of autonomic dysregulation, not just emotional distress.

Your nervous system is trying to protect you — it just needs help recalibrating.

This is where Upper Cervical Chiropractic and Functional Neurology shine.

Our Brain–Body Approach to Anxiety Relief

We address the root neurological imbalances that drive anxiety.

Our method integrates:

  • Upper Cervical Chiropractic (Advanced Orthogonal)

  • Functional Neurology + autonomic testing

  • Applied Kinesiology (cranial + vagus nerve patterns)

  • Torque Release Technique (TRT)

  • Neuro Emotional Technique (NET)

  • Sensory + proprioceptive grounding work

This combines structure, neurology, and emotional processing — not just coping strategies.

Upper Cervical Chiropractic (Advanced Orthogonal)

A gentle, precise sound-wave correction helps:

  • Calm brainstem irritation

  • Improve vagus nerve communication

  • Reduce sympathetic overdrive

  • Decrease neck/shoulder tension

  • Improve head + eye + proprioceptive integration

  • Create a grounded, safer-feeling body

Many patients say things like:

“I didn’t realize how much tension I was holding.”
“My body finally feels calm again.”
“My anxiety dropped without me trying.”

👉 https://www.drtheochiropractic.com/upper-cervical

Functional Neurology: Resetting the Autonomic System

We evaluate:

  • Eye movements (linked to limbic system)

  • Balance reflexes

  • Head–neck coordination

  • Vagal tone indicators

  • Breathing patterns

  • Proprioceptive accuracy

  • Cranial nerve function

Anxiety often appears when the brain is working overtime to interpret conflicting sensory signals.

Applied Kinesiology: Uncovering Hidden Triggers

AK helps identify:

  • TMJ patterns affecting the vagus nerve

  • Breathing mechanics issues

  • Diaphragm inhibition

  • Cranial tension

  • Muscle imbalance driving sympathetic stress

  • Adrenal/brainstem stress patterns

Correcting these clears the “noise” that fuels anxiety.

👉 https://www.drtheochiropractic.com/applied-kinesiology

Torque Release Technique (TRT)

TRT is one of the best tools for autonomic calming.

It helps:

  • Reduce spinal cord tension

  • Reset fight-or-flight patterns

  • Stabilize emotional regulation

  • Improve sleep

  • Increase parasympathetic tone

👉 https://www.drtheochiropractic.com/torque-release-technique

NET (Neuro Emotional Technique)

Anxiety frequently has an emotional component — not psychological, but neurological.

NET helps the body release:

  • Stored stress

  • Trauma patterns

  • Emotional triggers

  • Limbic imprints

  • “Alarm loops” stuck in the nervous system

This is one of the most transformative tools for chronic anxiety.

👉 https://www.drtheochiropractic.com/net

Signs Your Anxiety Is Coming From Your Nervous System (Not Just Your Mind)

✔ Anxiety started after neck pain or whiplash
✔ Dizziness or “floating” sensations
✔ Racing heart without emotional cause
✔ Panic sensations out of nowhere
✔ Tightness at base of skull
✔ TMJ tension
✔ Symptoms worsen with screens or posture
✔ Head pressure or headaches
✔ Symptoms improve when lying down
✔ Brain fog + anxiety combo

These are classic Upper Cervical autonomic patterns.

Why Patients Choose The Brain & Body Clinic for Anxiety Relief

✔ One of the only Advanced Orthogonal chiropractors in St. Pete
✔ A brain-based, not psychological-only, approach
✔ Focus on the vagus nerve + brainstem + autonomics
✔ Gentle, precise care
✔ Integration of structural, neurological & emotional tools
✔ Ideal for somatic anxiety, dizziness, panic, or post-trauma cases

People come here when traditional approaches don’t explain why they feel the way they feel.

Your Body Isn’t Anxious — It’s Asking for Regulation

Anxiety is a message, not a malfunction.
Let’s help your nervous system find safety, grounding, and balance again.

👉 Book Your First Visit
https://www.drtheochiropractic.com/contact

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