Dysautonomia: What Parents Need to Know
What Is Dysautonomia?
If your child seems “off” but no one can quite explain why — they’re tired but can’t sleep, anxious but can’t calm down, or complain of stomach pain with no clear cause — dysautonomia may be part of the picture.
Dysautonomia means the autonomic nervous system isn’t functioning properly. This system controls automatic processes like heart rate, breathing, digestion, temperature, and emotional regulation. When balanced, it keeps the body calm and adaptable. When out of sync, kids can feel like their body is working against them.
Understanding the Autonomic Nervous System
The autonomic nervous system has two branches:
Sympathetic: The “fight or flight” system that helps us react to stress or danger.
Parasympathetic: The “rest, digest, and regulate” system that allows the body to heal, grow, and recover.
In a child with dysautonomia, the sympathetic system dominates — keeping their body in a constant state of alert. Even when there’s no real danger, their heart rate stays elevated, their digestion slows, and their brain struggles to focus or rest.
What Causes Dysautonomia in Kids?
Dysautonomia rarely has one single cause. It’s usually the result of chronic stress building over time from what chiropractors call the three T’s:
Thoughts – Emotional stress, anxiety, sensory overload, and constant screen exposure all strain the nervous system.
Traumas – Physical stress from birth interventions, sports, or falls can create spinal tension and subluxations.
Toxins – Poor diet, antibiotics, or environmental toxins contribute to inflammation that affects the gut–brain connection.
When these stresses pile up faster than the body can adapt, communication between the brain and body falters. That’s dysautonomia — a body stuck in stress.
Common Signs of Dysautonomia
Because the autonomic nervous system regulates so many functions, symptoms vary widely. You might notice:
Fatigue or “energy crashes”
Rapid heart rate or lightheadedness
Constipation or nausea
Temperature sensitivity
Sleep problems
Anxiety, panic attacks, or sensory overload
Poor stress tolerance or emotional meltdowns
These challenges often overlap with other labels — ADHD, anxiety disorders, or gut issues — which is why the root cause is often missed.
How Chiropractic Care Can Help
Neurologically-focused chiropractic care works directly with the nervous system — the master controller of every cell and organ. At Innate Family Chiropractic, we use INSiGHT Scans to measure how well a child’s nervous system is adapting.
The scans show whether the body is in sympathetic overdrive, how much stress is stored in the spine and muscles, and where communication breakdowns exist.
Gentle, specific chiropractic adjustments then help release tension and restore balance to the system. As brain–body communication improves, kids often experience better sleep, calmer moods, improved digestion, and more energy for the things they love.
Moving From Stress to Strength
When the nervous system is regulated, kids thrive. They can rest, digest, focus, and bounce back from stress with resilience.
That’s why pediatric chiropractic care is such a powerful tool. Using INSiGHT Scans and gentle adjustments, we help guide their nervous system out of stress mode and into healing mode.
If you’ve been searching for answers beyond symptom management, it’s time to take a deeper look at the nervous system.
Your child’s challenges aren’t random — they’re messages from an overworked system asking for support.
✨ When we restore connection, we restore health.
Let’s help your child move from stress to strength.