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Case Studies - Anxiety and Phobia Overview of Anxiety and Phobia  | View All Conditions

During her upper cervical chiropractic evaluation, a neck injury was found. After her first upper neck adjustment, she came back for her next check-up appointment, and described how amazed she was with the changes. She said she felt calm, relaxed, and mellow. She also stated that she felt like her brain no longer got caught up in irrational thoughts. Months later, she continued to be anxiety-free.

At the time she sought help from upper cervical care, she hadn't be able to run for two years. Also, she suffered from anxiety / panic attacks for 6 months that were triggered during stress, being in crowded rooms, and flying on airplanes. During the attacks, her pulse would quicken and she would feel claustrophobic, requiring her to leave the crowded or stressful location. During her initial evaluation, an upper cervical injury was discovered that most likely stemmed from her auto accident 15 years prior.

After only two upper cervical adjustments, all neck pain, headaches, knee pain, and anxiety attacks were gone.

TESTIMONIAL

"Since I was 15, I've had mid back pain that bothered me when I woke up or sat too long. In addition, after a fall in the middle of a crowded movie theater many years ago in which I landed on my face, I developed a strange fuzzy, faint, anxious feeling that I would get every once in a while in public places. The feeling was extremely troubling and I was powerless to try and stop it. With Dr. Elster's treatment, some of my symptoms disappeared almost immediately, like the fuzzy, faint feelings. And sooner than I expected, the morning sore back disappeared. I really like the fact that Dr. Elster uses a reliable, technical device to check me to see if I need adjusting. I also really appreciate the way she addresses ALL of my health concerns. I really feel that Dr. Elster's approach and manner of treatment is a true step forward for chiropractic, a not-so-perfect science which I had never been able to fully reap the promised benefits of, until now." Andy, age 29, January 1998

After one adjustment, she reported "feeling completely normal." Her anxiety was completely gone and she returned to a normal life that she had before the blow to the head. She immediately began going out to eat, to do errands, and even went on a vacation- all without any anxiety at all. She also resumed normal sleeping and discontinued drugs and alcohol.

TESTIMONIAL

"This is the way I used to be -- very outgoing. I love to go out, anywhere and everywhere, with a bold adventurous outlook. I have been told that I am not shy. I have always been able to talk to complete strangers with ease and I am always eager to explore new places. This is the way I started acting-- Trip Anxiety. The thought of going out of town was overwhelming. My sister would completely pack me, and I usually didn't even know what she would pack. That was enough of a problem, but I ran into serious trouble when I gradually found it harder and harder to leave my house.

Going to work became increasingly difficult. I would be ready, at the door, and it would take five minutes, then ten, and eventually hours before I could leave. It got to the point where I would try to leave, then return, and try to leave again, sometimes five or six times, before I could actually leave my house to go to work. After work I would go right home. If I needed groceries I would have to stop on the way home from work, and I would bring a list. If I didn't talk myself out of the need to stop while on the way, while in the store I would cross off most of the items and just get what I actually had to have. I began to find it almost impossible even to go to the mailbox after dark.

Dinner out was out of the question...it was delivery or take-out or cook at home and movies on pay-per-view or cable, never the theater. I really started to miss hearing those live concerts too. This is what I tried to do to fix the problem-- Medical Doctors of all kinds including traditional western docs and psychiatrists and Alternative Medicine Doctors of of all kinds, to no avail. Acupuncture was the only thing that helped, but it was a short-term band-aid. I became completely dependant on my husband and friends/family to come and get me if I needed to leave the house on a weekend or at night.

Nothing was working and the psychiatrists all said I wasn't crazy and that I seemed to have a neurotransmitter problem. I was told to plan outings as exercises, but this seemed to make matters worse. Nothing helped. This is what Dr. Elster did for me--

In my initial meeting with Erin Elster, she explored WHEN I started to have signs of trouble. Through her questioning, and the angle of impact that she suspected my injury had come, I remembered an instance when I had been hit on the head over a year and a half ago. After just a mild bonk on the head with my head cocked to one side at just the wrong angle, I had become dizzy for a second, panicked for a moment, and I remembered that I lost track of time for a few hours that evening. I thought nothing of it the next day. Dr. Elster took x-rays and showed my husband and me how that slight impact had pushed the atlas to one side impairing the ability of some of the nerves to function properly.

After she had time to study the x-rays, my husband drove me to her office and Dr. Elster laid me down on her special table and pushed that atlas back into place in one motion. After a few minutes of resting, I went out to breakfast, even choosing a second restaurant and then shopping. I've been running around ever since. Thank you Dr. Elster." Janette, age 34, September 1997

TESTIMONIAL

"I began having migraines during the last 5 years after crashes snowboarding. My massage therapist suggested that I visit Dr. Elster to help relieve the headaches that I had been treating with daily medication. Within 2 weeks, my symptoms began to lessen. Within a month, I was able to stop taking my medication. My migraines have stopped, and as an added bonus, a life-long condition of tremors and anxiety disappeared also! Thank you Dr. Elster!" Liz, age 28, March 1998

After a careful analysis of her neck injury from the auto accident, she received her first adjustment. After the first adjustment, she reported that her anxiety was cut in half, she had no headaches, her ear popped open and the ringing stopped, she slept better, the pain was reduced, and dizziness stopped. One week later, all symptoms were corrected except for some slight numbness in her face. Two weeks later, the numbness healed as well. Months later, she remained symptom-free.

TESTIMONIAL 

“Phobias can be debilitating and mine was no exception.  I have emtophobia, an irrational fear of me or someone else getting sick and vomiting, and my entire life has been riddled with fear.  Reactions characterizing my typical nervousness include increased heart rate, shakiness, a hollow feeling in the pit of my stomach, and clammy hands.

These symptoms were manageable for me until a decade ago.  I was involved in a car accident at that time, which, according to Dr. Elster’s description of possible catalysts, most likely intensified my condition.  I began to notice more pronounced symptoms – an overwhelming desire to isolate myself, feelings of hopelessness, inability to breathe calmly, and inability to focus my thoughts.  Whenever I was in what I perceived to be a threatening situation, the panic would almost overwhelm me.  The most pronounced physical symptom was repeated “waves” of nervousness permeating my entire body.  Sleeping was also a challenge, as I would wake up with those waves coursing through me.  I lived without a good night’s rest for several years.  As would be expected, daily life was becoming intolerable.

A friend recommended Dr. Elster and gave me a brochure outlining some of the physical ailments that had been relieved by her method of upper spine care.  One of them was phobias.  I must admit I was skeptical but I was also desperate.

The first visit revealed my head was indeed sitting atop my spine lopsided, which was preventing panic-relieving chemicals from passing from my head to the rest of my body.

Within a month after my first treatment, I was sleeping uninterrupted.  I continued with the treatments and although I cannot pinpoint the exact moment my panic attacks subsided, I can relate with certainty that within 9 months, the intense symptoms of my phobia were gone!

After 3 years now, I continue to sleep deeply and thoroughly and when I find myself in situations that may involve illness, I am able to function without panic. 

I am confident, and frankly thrilled, that Dr. Elster’s re-positioning my upper spine has contributed to my recovery.” 

-Jenn Z., Longmont, CO

This 22-year-old male is a mountain bike racer and extreme skier.  He experienced his first confirmed concussion at age 16 during a mountain bike race when he flew over the handlebars.  He experienced some temporary memory loss but seemed to recover in a few hours.  At age 21, he jumped off a cliff while skiing and hit his face into his knee upon landing.  He reported that he saw stars and felt "weird" at the back of his neck right away.  He was diagnosed with a concussion.  His CT scan and MRI were reported as normal, but within a week he began experiencing daily panic attacks with vertigo.  He saw numerous doctors including neurologists, general chiropractors, psychiatrists, and eye therapists, but his symptoms persisted.  He became increasingly debilitated with the panic attacks and was unable to engage in any of his sports.  Under recommendation from a friend, he sought help from upper cervical chiropractic care.

During his upper cervical chiropractic evaluation, an upper neck injury was discovered.  Undoubtedly, the injury was caused by the skiing incident or by a combination of his various sports traumas.  After receiving treatment, he noticed an immediate decrease in the severity and frequency of the panic / dizziness attacks.  Within a couple of months of treatment, the attacks were gone and he was able to resume biking and skiing.