Have you ever looked at your child and thought, “Why does everything seem so hard for them?”
Maybe it’s the daily meltdowns, constant tummy troubles with no clear cause, or the way they react to noises, textures, or transitions that others breeze through. These challenges can feel overwhelming—and deeply isolating. But you’re not alone, and more importantly, you’re not crazy for thinking there might be something deeper going on.
For so many families we work with, these behaviors aren’t just random. They’re signs of something often missed by conventional care: a dysregulated nervous system.
Why Are So Many Kids Struggling?
Over the past few decades, we’ve seen a dramatic rise in chronic and neurological health challenges in kids:
- Autism now affects 1 in 36 children (CDC)
- ADHD is diagnosed in nearly 12% of kids
- Anxiety and depression have more than doubled in teens since 2010
And this only scratches the surface. From allergies and autoimmune conditions to sleep issues, constipation, and behavioral challenges—many of these struggles stem from a nervous system that’s stuck in survival mode.
At Foundations, we specialize in neurologically-focused pediatric chiropractic care, and we’ve seen firsthand how life-changing it can be when we help a child’s nervous system shift from stressed to self-regulating. Let’s take a closer look at what nervous system dysregulation actually is—and what can be done to help.
What Is Nervous System Dysregulation?
The nervous system is your child’s internal control center, made up of the brain, spinal cord, and all the communication lines between them and the body. When it’s functioning well, it helps your child stay calm, focused, connected, and healthy.
But when the nervous system is overwhelmed or imbalanced—what we call dysregulated—it can show up in all kinds of ways:
- Emotional: anxiety, mood swings, shutdowns
- Behavioral: impulsivity, aggression, sensory overload
- Physical: chronic pain, sleep issues, gut problems, frequent infections
- Cognitive: brain fog, poor focus, trouble learning
- Immune: chronic inflammation, coughing, congestion, food sensitivities
Many kids aren’t “just difficult.” Their nervous system is working overtime, stuck in fight-or-flight mode without the ability to rest, digest, and reset.
The Gas and Brake Pedals of the Nervous System
To understand what’s going on, it helps to know about the autonomic nervous system—specifically, its two branches:
- The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is the “gas pedal.” It kicks into high gear in stressful situations to help us fight, flee, or freeze.
- The parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) is the “brake pedal.” It’s in charge of calming the body, digesting food, healing, and regulating emotions.
A key player in this calming system is the vagus nerve. It connects the brain to the body and plays a vital role in regulating mood, digestion, immune response, and social engagement. When the vagus nerve is under-functioning—often due to early stress or trauma—kids get stuck in gas pedal mode. That’s when we see chronic meltdowns, illness, gut problems, and more.
What Causes a Child’s Nervous System to Become Dysregulated?
We call it the “Perfect Storm.”
It’s not one single thing, but a combination of stressors—often starting long before your child was even born:
- Prenatal stress: If mom was under chronic stress while pregnant, those stress hormones can shape the baby’s developing nervous system.
- Birth trauma: C-sections, forceps, vacuum extraction, long labors, or interventions can put direct pressure on the brainstem—home to the vagus nerve—and throw off brain-body communication from the very beginning.
- Toxins and gut stress: Repeated antibiotic use, exposure to chemicals or heavy metals, poor gut health, and even sensory overload all challenge the nervous system further.
- Modern lifestyle: Too much screen time, not enough movement or nature, poor nutrition, and fast-paced schedules keep kids stuck in stress mode.
When these layers stack up, we often see what’s called subluxation—miscommunication in the nervous system due to interference or tension—and that’s where we step in.
What Does a Dysregulated Nervous System Look Like?
Because the nervous system touches every part of the body, dysregulation can show up in many ways:
Physical signs:
- Chronic constipation, reflux, or tummy pain
- Sleep troubles or chronic fatigue
- Allergies, asthma, and immune struggles
- Sensory sensitivities (lights, sounds, textures)
- Bedwetting or toileting issues
Emotional + cognitive signs:
- Meltdowns over “small” things
- Trouble focusing or following directions
- Mood swings, anxiety, or depression
- Learning or developmental delays
Behavioral signs:
- Hyperactivity or impulsivity
- Aggression, defiance, or difficulty with transitions
- Repetitive movements or tics
- Avoidance of social situations or activities
These symptoms are often labeled as Autism, ADHD, SPD, PANS/PANDAS… but what’s commonly missing is the root cause: nervous system dysregulation.
Why Traditional Approaches Fall Short
In the traditional model, many of these symptoms are treated separately—with medications for focus, therapy for behavior, specialists for digestion or sleep. And while some of those may help in the short term, they rarely address the root cause.
Worse, many parents are told early symptoms like colic, chronic ear infections, constipation, or developmental delays are “normal” or that their child will “grow out of it.” But deep down, you may feel something isn’t right—and your instincts are often spot on.
The truth is, if the nervous system is left stuck in stress mode, symptoms stack and worsen over time.
A Different Approach: Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care
At Foundations, our care model is built on one simple but powerful truth: when the nervous system is free of interference, the body can heal, regulate, and thrive.
We use a unique approach called Neuro-Tonal Chiropractic Care to identify where the nervous system is stuck or overwhelmed. Our team uses tools like:
- INSiGHT Scans: to measure tension, tone, and regulation in real-time
- Neuro-Tonal Adjustments: gentle, specific adjustments to help reset and balance the nervous system
- Movement and tone assessments: to track progress and guide care
These techniques are safe, non-invasive, and tailored to each child. Many parents are amazed at how quickly things begin to shift. For some babies, the nervous system responds so clearly that they have a blowout diaper on the car ride home after their very first adjustment!
Hope for Your Child’s Future
If your child is showing signs of nervous system dysregulation, know this: you are not alone, and there is hope.
At Foundations, we walk alongside families every day who felt lost, overwhelmed, and out of options. And time and time again, we’ve seen incredible changes when we address what’s really going on—at the root level.
Our team is here to listen, support, and guide your family toward real answers and lasting change. Let’s work together to help your child feel calm, confident, and connected—so they can truly thrive.
👉 Ready to learn more or schedule your child’s INSiGHT scan? Reach out to our team today. We’d be honored to walk this journey with you.
