Dysregulation & Dysautonomia: What They Mean and How Harmony Cary Chiropractic Can Help
If you’ve ever felt like your body is stuck in overdrive or completely shuts down without warning - you’re not imagining things. These experiences are often tied to nervous system dysregulation, and in more complex or chronic cases, something called dysautonomia. While these words might sound overwhelming, they’re simply ways of describing what happens when your body’s autopilot system - the autonomic nervous system - isn’t functioning properly.
What Is Dysregulation?
Dysregulation is when your nervous system struggles to move between its two primary states:
Sympathetic (fight, flight, or freeze - your “gas pedal”)
Parasympathetic (rest, digest, and heal - your “brake pedal”)
When your body is healthy and adaptable, it shifts between these modes as needed throughout the day. But when stress builds up - physical, emotional, or chemical - that balance gets disrupted. The body can become stuck in a chronic stress state or swing between extremes. This is called dysregulation.
What Is Dysautonomia?
Dysautonomia is a broad term used to describe conditions where the autonomic nervous system (ANS) is not working correctly. The ANS controls automatic functions like heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, temperature regulation, and more. When the ANS is impaired, those functions can become unpredictable or unstable.
There are many types of dysautonomia, with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) being one of the more commonly recognized forms. But even without a formal diagnosis, many people - including kids and teens - live with nervous system dysfunction that falls under this umbrella.
Common Symptoms of Dysregulation and Dysautonomia:
Dizziness or lightheadedness, especially when standing up
Heart palpitations or rapid heartbeat
Chronic fatigue or “crashes” after activity
Brain fog or trouble concentrating
Digestive issues like constipation, bloating, or nausea
Temperature dysregulation (feeling hot/cold at odd times)
Anxiety or panic
Trouble sleeping or feeling tired even after rest
Sensory overwhelm (especially in kids)
Poor stress tolerance or emotional outbursts
It’s easy to feel dismissed when you’re experiencing these symptoms, especially when tests come back “normal.” But what many people don’t realize is that these aren’t random or “just in your head” - they’re signs of a nervous system stuck in survival mode.
How Chiropractic Helps
At Harmony Family Chiropractic, we take a neurologically based approach to care. That means we focus on how the spine and nervous system are functioning, not just how they feel.
Here’s why that matters: the brain and body communicate through the spinal cord and nerves. The spine protects this system - but when there are misalignments or tension (called subluxations), it can disrupt that communication and overload the autonomic nervous system.
Gentle, specific chiropractic adjustments help to:
Reduce interference in the nervous system
Improve vagus nerve function (key for calming the body)
Restore better balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic states
Support more consistent regulation of heart rate, digestion, immune response, and more
We often see changes in sleep, mood, digestion, energy, and emotional regulation - especially in children and teens dealing with sensory issues, anxiety, or chronic overwhelm. Over time, consistent care builds adaptability, which is the key to long-term healing and resilience.
You’re Not Broken. Your Nervous System Is Just Tapped Out.
Whether you’ve been diagnosed with dysautonomia or are just beginning to connect the dots of dysregulation, know this: your body is doing the best it can with the input it’s receiving. With the right support, it can shift.
If you’re ready to explore how chiropractic care in Care, NC could help your child or yourself regulate, heal, and thrive, we’d love to connect. Call 919-234-0505 or book a complimentary 15-minute consult with our team at Harmony Family Chiropractic.
You don’t have to keep guessing. There’s hope. And healing starts with the nervous system. 🤍