As pediatric specialists, we see far too many children struggling with chronic health challenges that simply shouldn’t be a normal part of childhood.
Anxiety. Poor sleep. Low immune function. Persistent inflammation that shows up in the gut, the lungs, or even the brain.
It’s heartbreaking, because our kids haven’t been here long enough to be battling long-term conditions like these. And yet, a recent study found that 77% of children today face a chronic health condition. That’s a staggering statistic.
When we take a deeper look, these problems are rarely just “bad luck” or unrelated symptoms. More often than not, they share the same root cause: a nervous system stuck in fight-or-flight mode.
What Is Fight-or-Flight in Kids?
The sympathetic nervous system, or fight-or-flight response, is our body’s built-in protection system.
When activated, it changes hormone levels, speeds up heart rate, shifts breathing patterns, and slows digestion- all to prepare the body to deal with a perceived threat.
In short bursts, this is healthy and even necessary. But when a child gets stuck in fight-or-flight for long periods, the constant stress response creates a ripple effect that impacts every system in the body.
The “Perfect Storm” Effect
In our practice, we often see what we call The Perfect Storm: a combination of stressors that build upon each other and create multiple chronic health challenges at the same time.
Instead of dealing with just one issue, like anxiety or sleep trouble, kids begin to experience a cluster of problems, such as:
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Emotional dysregulation and frequent meltdowns
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Persistent digestive discomfort
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Poor sleep quality
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Immune system challenges like allergies or asthma
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Behavioral struggles in school or at home
Left unresolved, this constant stress cycle can make symptoms worse over time, leading to more frequent doctor visits and bigger diagnoses.
How the Nervous System Should Work
A healthy nervous system is adaptable. It moves easily between:
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Fight-or-Flight (protection mode)
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Rest-and-Digest (healing and recovery mode)
Children — and adults — who can switch easily between these states are generally better at handling stress, sleeping well, and regulating their emotions.
But if the nervous system gets stuck in fight-or-flight, it’s like having the gas pedal pressed down all the time. Stress hormones flood the body, digestion slows, and the brain becomes hyper-focused on survival instead of growth and healing.
The Vagus Nerve: A Key Player
One of the most important links in this process is the vagus nerve — a cranial nerve that connects the brain to the heart, lungs, and digestive system.
It’s responsible for about 75% of the sensory communication between the brain and the body, making it a major pathway for regulating health.
In our office, we use specialized neurological scans to measure tone and tension in a child’s body.
For example, one six-year-old girl we worked with — who experienced high anxiety, strong emotional reactions, and frequent tummy aches — showed significant tension in her upper neck, exactly where the vagus nerve originates. By removing this tension from her body, we were able to remove the stress on her vagus nerve. This helped her in all ways- this young girl has significantly less anxiety, is sleeping so much better and having less meltdowns!
Why This Matters
When the vagus nerve isn’t functioning properly, the brain receives distorted signals about what’s happening in the body. This can trigger a vicious cycle:
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The body feels stressed.
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The brain interprets this as danger.
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The brain tells the body to stay stressed.
This constant loop can lead to dysautonomia — an imbalance in the autonomic nervous system (the part that controls automatic functions like heart rate, breathing, digestion, and hormone regulation).
Signs Your Child May Be Stuck in Fight-or-Flight
The symptoms can vary from child to child, but common signs include:
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Heightened anxiety, worry, or panic
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Frequent meltdowns or emotional outbursts
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Disrupted sleep or nightmares
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Digestive issues (tummy aches, constipation, diarrhea, appetite changes)
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Immune challenges like frequent colds, allergies, or asthma
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Hyperactivity, difficulty focusing, or withdrawal in social settings
In this state, the body prioritizes protection over healing — which is why other health concerns can become chronic.
Helping Kids Get Out of Fight-or-Flight
There are many strategies parents can try at home to activate the body’s relaxation response, including:
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Gentle movement, like yoga or stretching
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Outdoor play or walking
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Listening to calming music
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Limiting screen time, especially before bed
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Prioritizing restful sleep
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Supporting gut health through nutrition
These can all be helpful tools, but for children who have been in fight-or-flight for a long time, they may not be enough on their own.
That’s when we need to dig deeper, evaluating the function of the vagus nerve and identifying areas of tension in the spine and nervous system.
By addressing these neurological imbalances, we can help the body shift out of survival mode and back into a state where healing, learning, and growth are possible.
The Bottom Line
If your child is experiencing anxiety, digestive problems, immune struggles, or a mix of chronic health challenges, there’s a good chance their nervous system is dysregulated.
By addressing this root cause, rather than chasing individual symptoms, we can help children not just feel better, but thrive.
We’ve seen time and again that when the nervous system is restored to balance, improvements follow in every area of health.
If this resonates with you, we’d love to connect. Your child’s body is designed to heal. Sometimes, it just needs help getting unstuck.