11/05/2025
Your anxiety and depression might not be “all in your head” - they might be in the first bone of your neck.
Here’s what most people don’t know:
Your vagus nerve - the nerve responsible for calming your body, regulating your mood, and helping you feel safe - runs directly past the first bone in your neck (C1).
When C1 is imbalanced, it creates interference in vagus nerve function. And when your vagus nerve isn’t working optimally, your nervous system gets stuck in survival mode.
That’s when you experience:
-Chronic anxiety (fight/flight)
-Depression (freeze/shutdown)
-Feeling “on edge” constantly
-Emotional overwhelm
-Physical tension that won’t go away
This is called low vagal tone - and it’s more common than ever in our overstimulated, dysregulated world.
The good news?
Research shows that specific chiropractic adjustments to C1 can improve vagus nerve function, increase vagal tone, and help shift your nervous system from survival mode back to a state of safety, calm, and connection.
Dr. Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory shows us that our nervous system moves through three states: safe & social, fight/flight, and freeze. Most people are stuck in the last two.
Chiropractic care helps activate that ventral vagal state - where you feel calm, connected, and like yourself again.
You weren’t designed to live in constant stress. Your body is capable of healing - it just needs the right support.
Swipe through to learn the science behind the C1-vagus connection and why consistency with chiropractic care matters for your mental health. 👉
Struggling with anxiety or depression? Drop “VAGUS” below and let’s talk about supporting your nervous system naturally. 🤍
