Is your child struggling with big emotions that seem impossible to manage? Are meltdowns, anxiety, or mood swings taking over your family’s daily life? You’re not alone. Many families in Cooper City and throughout Broward County and Pembroke Pines are watching their children battle emotional challenges that feel overwhelming for everyone involved.
💡 Key Takeaway: Emotional challenges in children often stem from nervous system dysregulation, not behavioral problems, and can be addressed naturally by helping the nervous system function properly.
As a parent, you’ve probably tried everything—behavior charts, therapy, maybe even medication—but the emotional storms keep coming. You might feel exhausted, confused, and worried about your child’s future. What if we told you there’s a different way to look at these challenges? What if the answer isn’t just managing symptoms, but addressing what’s happening in your child’s nervous system?
❤️ You’re Not Alone: The exhaustion and confusion you feel as a parent watching your child struggle with overwhelming emotions is completely understandable and shared by many families.
Proudly serving families in Cooper City, Davie, Pembroke Pines, Hollywood, Weston, and throughout Broward County, FL.
What Is Transform Emotional Challenges into Natural Balance?
When we talk about transforming emotional challenges into natural balance, we’re addressing the root cause of emotional dysregulation in children. This isn’t about suppressing feelings or forcing good behavior. Instead, it’s about helping your child’s nervous system function the way it was designed to.
Emotional challenges in children often stem from a nervous system that’s stuck in “survival mode.” When the nervous system can’t properly regulate stress responses, children experience heightened emotional reactions, difficulty calming down, and trouble adapting to daily situations. Their fight-or-flight response stays turned “on” even when there’s no real danger.
Natural balance means your child’s nervous system can smoothly shift between active states and calm states as needed. They can feel emotions without being overwhelmed by them. They can bounce back from disappointments and handle everyday stressors with greater resilience.
Your child isn’t choosing to have big emotions—their nervous system simply can’t regulate properly.
Signs and Symptoms of Emotional Challenges in Children
Every child is different, but parents often notice these patterns when their child’s nervous system is struggling to regulate emotions:
- Frequent meltdowns that seem disproportionate to the trigger
- Difficulty calming down once upset, taking hours to settle
- Extreme reactions to changes in routine or unexpected events
- Anxiety about everyday activities like school, social situations, or bedtime
- Aggressive behaviors when frustrated or overwhelmed
- Withdrawal from activities they used to enjoy
- Sleep difficulties, including trouble falling asleep or frequent nightmares
- Physical symptoms like headaches, stomachaches, or tension when stressed
✓ What You Can Do: Keep a simple journal noting when emotional outbursts happen and what might have triggered them—this information can help identify patterns and contributing factors.
What Causes Emotional Challenges in Children?
The root cause of emotional challenges often lies in nervous system dysregulation, which typically develops through what we call “The Perfect Storm.” This storm begins early in a child’s life and builds over time.
The first layer often starts during pregnancy and birth. Birth interventions, prolonged labor, C-sections, or even normal births can create stress on a baby’s delicate spine and nervous system. This early trauma can set the stage for nervous system dysfunction.
The second layer involves ongoing physical, chemical, and emotional stressors. These include falls while learning to walk, poor posture from screen time, processed foods, environmental toxins, and daily emotional stress. Each stressor adds to the nervous system’s burden.
Over time, these stressors create subluxations—areas where the spine isn’t moving properly, interfering with nervous system communication. When subluxations affect the upper cervical spine, they can disrupt the vagus nerve, which plays a crucial role in emotional regulation and the body’s ability to calm down.
The result is a nervous system stuck in fight-or-flight mode, unable to access the calm, regulated state necessary for emotional balance. Your child isn’t choosing to have big emotions—their nervous system simply can’t regulate properly.
⭐ Did You Know? The vagus nerve, which runs from the brain through the neck, is essential for emotional regulation and can be affected by spinal misalignments from birth trauma or daily stressors.
How Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Helps with Emotional Challenges
At Alive & Free Chiropractic, we use a unique approach that addresses the nervous system directly. Instead of guessing what might be wrong, we use advanced INSiGHT scanning technology to measure exactly how your child’s nervous system is functioning.
These scans show us where subluxations are interfering with nervous system communication. We can see areas of tension, inflammation, and dysfunction that may be keeping your child’s stress response activated. This objective data helps us understand why your child is struggling and create a specific care plan.
Through gentle, precise chiropractic adjustments, we work to remove subluxations and restore proper nervous system function. These adjustments are specifically designed for children and are incredibly gentle—most kids find them relaxing. Many families notice improvements in their child’s ability to self-regulate as the nervous system begins to function better.
The goal isn’t to suppress emotions, but to help the nervous system develop better regulation patterns. When the vagus nerve can function properly and the fight-or-flight response can turn “off” when appropriate, children naturally become more resilient and emotionally balanced.
Research suggests that chiropractic care can positively influence nervous system function and emotional regulation. The nervous system’s neuroplasticity means it can develop new, healthier patterns of response with the right support.
Wondering if chiropractic care could help your child with transform emotional challenges into natural balance?
Call us at (754) 203-5907 or schedule your child’s assessment online.
What to Expect at Your Child’s First Visit
We know that trying something new can feel overwhelming when you’re already dealing with your child’s emotional challenges. That’s why we’ve designed our process to be thorough yet comfortable for both you and your child.
Your first visit begins with a detailed consultation where we listen to your family’s story. We want to understand your child’s challenges, what you’ve tried before, and what your goals are. This conversation helps us see the bigger picture of your child’s health.
Next, we’ll perform the INSiGHT scans, which are completely painless and take just a few minutes. These computerized scans measure nervous system function and show us exactly where subluxations might be affecting your child’s ability to regulate emotions.
During your report of findings visit, we’ll review the scan results with you and explain how your child’s nervous system function relates to their emotional challenges. If we can help, we’ll recommend a specific care plan designed for your child’s unique needs. Our Cooper City office welcomes families from throughout Pembroke Pines, Weston, and Southwest Ranches.
✓ Action Step: Come prepared with questions about your child’s specific challenges and any patterns you’ve noticed—this helps us create the most effective care plan possible.
Frequently Asked Questions About Emotional Challenges
Is chiropractic care safe for children with emotional challenges?
Yes, pediatric chiropractic care is extremely safe when performed by a trained professional. Our adjustments for children are incredibly gentle—about the same pressure you’d use to check the ripeness of a tomato. Many children find the adjustments relaxing, and we always work at your child’s comfort level.
How long before we see changes in our child’s emotional regulation?
Every child responds differently, but many families begin noticing subtle improvements within the first few weeks of care. Some children sleep better first, others show improved focus, and emotional regulation often follows. Remember, we’re working to change nervous system patterns that may have been developing for years, so patience is important.
Will my child still need therapy or other support while receiving chiropractic care?
We believe in a collaborative approach to your child’s health (source: American Academy of Pediatrics). Chiropractic care addresses the nervous system foundation, which can actually make other therapies more effective. Many families continue with counseling or other support services while receiving chiropractic care, often finding that progress accelerates when the nervous system is functioning better.
What if my child won’t cooperate during visits?
We work with children experiencing emotional challenges every day, and we’re experts at making kids feel comfortable. We never force anything and always work at your child’s pace. Sometimes it takes a few visits for children to feel comfortable, and that’s perfectly okay. We have lots of strategies to help anxious or resistant children feel safe in our office.
Can chiropractic care help with both emotional and behavioral issues?
Often, emotional and behavioral challenges stem from the same root cause—nervous system dysregulation. When we help the nervous system function better, many families notice improvements in both areas. Children may become less reactive emotionally and also show better self-control and decision-making abilities.
Does insurance cover neurologically-focused chiropractic care?
Because we are neurologically-focused rather than a typical back-pain chiropractor, most major medical insurance plans do not cover what we do. Our approach is more specialized and more intensive than what insurance was designed for. However, we accept HSA and FSA — which many families have and don’t realize they can use for this. We also offer family discounts and flexible options to make care affordable. We always find a way for families who are committed to their child’s health.
Take the Next Step for Your Child
You don’t have to watch your child struggle with overwhelming emotions any longer. There’s hope for natural healing that addresses the root cause rather than just managing symptoms.
At Alive & Free Chiropractic, we understand how exhausting it can be to feel like you’ve tried everything. Our neurologically-focused approach offers a different path—one that honors your child’s innate ability to heal and find balance.
You don’t have to figure this out alone. We’re here to support your family every step of the way.
Your child deserves to thrive.
Call Alive & Free Chiropractic at (754) 203-5907 or book your visit online today.






