How special are our children? Einstein said that within every child is a glorious genius greater than him. Every child is gifted in a multitude of ways. Some gifts are easily apparent: beauty, amiability, athletic prowess, obedience. Others need to be coaxed or developed in the right environment. Still others aren’t discovered until tested by extreme conditions or adversity.
Gifts can also be obscured or unappreciated because they don’t serve a person in their current environment. Creativity and spontaneity get muffled where conformity and obedience are de rigueur. Explosive energy is dangerous in confined areas with breakables. Vulnerability and openness are preyed upon in the presence of people who derive pleasure from causing pain.
Stresses of a physical, mental, chemical, or emotional nature can cause a person to shut down and hide their gifts, either intentionally, subconsciously, or reflexively as a protective mechanism. On the flipside, these same stresses can prevent a child from gaining control over their gifts, so that they have difficulty calling upon different gifts, or modulate them so they won’t become a hindrance.
The all-important nervous system is the connection between the mind and the body, impulses and actions, sensations and perceptions, and integration/processing. This includes the brain, spinal cord, nerves, neurotransmitters, and spinal fluids to transmit proper messages for ideal internal functioning and adapting to the external environment and situations.
The nervous system can get upset when its supporting structure, the spinal bones, become misaligned due to injury, repetitive stress, or poor posture. Another way is from overload of mental, emotional or chemical stress. The nervous system “blows a fuse” at the spine to stop a surge along the nerves.
A nervous system disconnect may be present in a child (or adult) if they repeatedly hear or think phrases such as the following:
- Get a grip on yourself
- She seems to be in her own little world
- Stop overreacting
- I don’t feel a thing
- You’re too sensitive
- You shouldn’t be in so much pain
- Nobody ‘gets’ me
- I just don’t seem to fit in anywhere
- Why is it so hard for you to understand
- Stop being so clumsy
- It’s all in your head
- You’re hopeless/It’s hopeless
- Stop being such a worry-wart
In chiropractic, we call such disconnect a “subluxation.” Subluxations cause nerves to be either hypersensitive or give a dampened, muted message. Can you imagine trying to drive a car while wearing boxing gloves with both legs in large plaster casts and mosquitoes biting you along the way? Or trying to drive after a sedative has kicked in and it’s exceedingly difficult to keep your eyes open?
As a pediatric and family wellness chiropractor, my purpose is to examine my patients’ whole being to uncover what might be holding them back from being their best. Through repeated gentle adjustments to the spine, soft-tissue work, and lifestyle advice, our goal is to help our patients, especially children, gain control over their gifts so they can live successful, fulfilling lives.
Dr. Sabrina Chen-See is a pediatric and family wellness chiropractor based in Vancouver. She is a firm believer in making positive contributions to society, and regularly volunteers her time and chiropractic skills for community and charitable events. Website: www.DrChenSee.com. Phone: (604) 566-9088
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