Chiropractic + Wellness

Driving requires focus, quick reflexes, and calm decision-making. Yet, many people get behind the wheel while experiencing strong emotions like anger, sadness, stress, or even excitement. This behavior, known as emotional driving, is a form of distracted or impaired driving that puts lives at risk (Lawyer Don, n.d.). Just as alcohol or texting can slow reaction time, so can powerful emotions. Emotional driving leads to poor judgment, impulsive actions, and delayed responses that increase the chance of accidents (Car Accident Help, n.d.).

At the same time, many people underestimate how emotional stress affects their bodies. Strong emotions create physical tension in muscles, raise blood pressure, and limit concentration. Chiropractic and integrative care—including functional medicine, massage therapy, and acupuncture—offer strategies to reduce this tension, restore balance, and help individuals regulate emotions more effectively. These treatments not only address physical stress but also support the mental resilience needed to drive safely.

This article explores what emotional driving is, why it is dangerous, and how chiropractic and integrative care can help. Drawing on research and the clinical observations of Dr. Alexander Jimenez, DC, APRN, FNP-BC, a dual-scope chiropractor and nurse practitioner in El Paso, we will also look at how integrative approaches can prevent accidents, improve recovery after injuries, and support long-term wellness.

What Is Emotional Driving?

Emotional driving happens when a driver’s attention is divided between the road and their emotional state. Strong emotions compete with cognitive focus, making it difficult to stay alert or make rational choices.

• Anger or frustration can lead to aggressive driving, speeding, or tailgating.

• Sadness or grief can cause distraction and a lack of attention to surroundings (Pintas & Mullins, n.d.).

• Stress and anxiety impair concentration and slow decision-making.

• Excitement or euphoria can cause overconfidence and risky maneuvers.

According to accident reports, emotional driving is responsible for many preventable crashes. When the brain is processing grief or intense feelings, it reduces its ability to perform complex tasks like driving (Pintas & Mullins, n.d.). Even positive emotions can be harmful, as they create over-stimulation that clouds judgment.

Why Emotional Driving Is Dangerous

Driving already requires balancing multiple tasks—steering, braking, monitoring mirrors, and watching traffic. Emotional distraction adds another layer of risk.

1. Slower reaction times – A sad or stressed driver may react seconds later than a calm driver, making the difference between avoiding and causing a crash (Lawyer Don, n.d.).

2. Impulsive decisions – Anger often fuels road rage behaviors, such as cutting off others or ignoring traffic signals.

3. Tunnel vision – Emotional stress narrows focus, causing drivers to miss hazards in their peripheral vision (Dermer Law Firm, n.d.).

4. Physical effects – Emotions can cause muscle tension, shallow breathing, and increased heart rates, all of which can interfere with smooth driving (Denver Chiropractic, n.d.).

In fact, emotional driving is often grouped with other dangerous behaviors like distracted driving and impaired driving because the results are similar—loss of control, poor awareness, and preventable collisions (Car Accident Help, n.d.).

The Physical Toll of Emotional Stress

The body reacts strongly to emotions. When stress hormones like cortisol flood the system, they trigger:

• Tight neck and shoulder muscles

• Back stiffness and spinal misalignment

• Headaches and migraines

• Digestive changes

If these effects build up, they make emotional regulation even harder. A tense body sends signals to the brain that reinforce feelings of unease or agitation. This cycle of stress and physical pain keeps drivers in a distracted state (Genesis Medical, n.d.).

Dr. Jimenez notes in his clinic that many patients who experience car accidents already had stress-related muscle tension before the crash. This not only makes them more vulnerable to injury but also complicates recovery. For this reason, his team addresses both the mental and physical sides of stress when treating patients.

Chiropractic Care and Stress Relief

Chiropractic care is often thought of as treatment for back pain, but its role in stress management is increasingly recognized. Adjustments help restore alignment to the spine and improve nervous system function. This reduces the body’s stress load, making it easier to stay calm and focused (Spine Clinic Salem, n.d.).

Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Emotional Drivers

• Muscle relaxation – Adjustments and soft tissue therapies relieve tension caused by stress (MyEvolve Chiropractor, n.d.).

• Better sleep – Chiropractic treatment has been linked to improved sleep, which restores mental clarity and emotional balance (HelloNote, n.d.).

• Nervous system regulation – A healthy spine supports optimal communication between the brain and body, improving resilience to stress (RTOR, 2019).

Patients at Dr. Jimenez’s El Paso clinic often report feeling calmer and more balanced after chiropractic care. He explains that by reducing physical pain and restoring spinal alignment, the body is better equipped to handle emotional challenges—whether at work, at home, or on the road.

Integrative Medicine for Emotional Balance

Integrative health combines conventional medicine with complementary practices, such as mindfulness, massage, acupuncture, and nutrition. This approach targets both body and mind, offering tools to regulate emotions more effectively.

Key Integrative Strategies

1. Mindfulness and meditation – Shown to improve self-awareness and reduce impulsive emotional reactions (Integrative Health Miami, n.d.).

2. Massage therapy – Helps release stored muscle tension and improves circulation.

3. Acupuncture – Restores energy flow, reduces stress hormones, and supports emotional regulation (Hopkins Medicine, n.d.).

4. Nutrition and supplements – Functional medicine strategies that address inflammation and support mental health (Willows Healthcare, n.d.).

Research shows integrative care strengthens mental wellness and reduces the likelihood of stress impairing daily functions like driving (Indiana Wesleyan University, 2025; Assured Hope Health, n.d.).

Dr. Jimenez’s Clinical Perspective

As both a chiropractor and nurse practitioner, Dr. Alexander Jimenez, DC, APRN, FNP-BC, offers a unique dual-scope approach in El Paso. His clinic specializes in injury recovery for patients from work, sports, personal injuries, and motor vehicle accidents (MVAs).

How His Team Addresses Stress and Emotional Driving

• Diagnostic assessments and advanced imaging – Used to identify how stress and trauma impact the spine and nervous system.

• Chiropractic adjustments – Target spinal misalignments that heighten stress responses.

• Functional medicine protocols – Including nutrition, supplements, and detox support to regulate cortisol levels.

• Acupuncture and massage – Applied to reduce tension and support emotional regulation.

• Exercise prescriptions – Tailored to release endorphins and restore mind-body balance.

• Legal-medical integration – The clinic also documents injuries for personal injury cases, ensuring patients receive proper care and legal protection.

Dr. Jimenez emphasizes that recovery is not just about fixing physical injuries but about building resilience in body and mind. Addressing emotional stress through chiropractic and integrative medicine reduces the risks of impaired driving and improves long-term wellness.

Practical Tips to Avoid Emotional Driving

While care in a clinic is vital, individuals can also take steps to manage emotions before getting behind the wheel:

• Pause before driving – Take a few minutes to breathe or stretch before starting the car.

• Recognize triggers – Know which emotions cause you to lose focus and develop coping strategies.

• Use integrative stress management – Practices like meditation or yoga can calm the body and mind before driving.

• Seek care when needed – If emotional stress is overwhelming, chiropractic and integrative care can provide tools for balance.

Conclusion

Emotional driving is a serious but often overlooked danger. Strong emotions, such as anger, sadness, stress, or excitement, can impair reaction times, cloud judgment, and increase the risk of accidents. Because emotions also create physical tension in the body, drivers who regularly experience stress are more vulnerable to distracted or impaired driving.

Chiropractic and integrative care provide a solution. By reducing muscle tension, balancing the nervous system, and supporting emotional regulation through therapies like acupuncture, massage, mindfulness, and nutrition, individuals can build resilience against emotional stress.

As Dr. Alexander Jimenez’s clinic in El Paso demonstrates, treating both the physical and emotional aspects of stress not only improves recovery after injuries but also enhances daily performance, safety, and overall well-being. For those struggling with stress, integrating these practices can mean safer roads, stronger health, and a more balanced life.

Personal Injury Rehabilitation | El Paso, Tx

References

• Assured Hope Health. (n.d.). The power of integration: How a holistic approach can enhance your mental health. Assured Hope Health.

• Car Accident Help. (n.d.). Dangers of emotional driving. Car Accident Help.

• Denver Colorado Chiropractic. (n.d.). The role of chiropractic care in managing stress and anxiety: Insights from Denver Chiropractic. Denver Colorado Chiropractic.

• Dermer Law Firm. (n.d.). Distracted driving accidents. Dermer Law Firm.

• Genesis Medical. (n.d.). How chiropractic care can help you manage your stress. Genesis Medical.

• HelloNote. (n.d.). Chiropractic for stress and sleep. HelloNote.

• Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). Stress busters: 4 integrative treatments. Johns Hopkins Medicine.

• Indiana Wesleyan University. (2025, May). The role of integrative health in mental wellness. Indiana Wesleyan University.

• Integrative Health Miami. (n.d.). What are stress management techniques in functional medicine?. Integrative Health Miami.

• Lawyer Don. (n.d.). Emotional driving: What it is and why it is dangerous. Lawyer Don.

• MyEvolve Chiropractor. (n.d.). How chiropractic adjustments influence your body’s natural healing processes. MyEvolve Chiropractor.

• Pintas & Mullins. (n.d.). Emotional driving increases crash risk in South Bend. Pintas & Mullins Law Firm.

• RTOR. (2019, February 21). Mental health and chiropractic care. Resources to Recover.

• Spine Clinic Salem. (n.d.). How chiropractic care can help relieve stress and contribute to mental and physical health. Spine Clinic of Salem.

• Willows Healthcare. (n.d.). How to develop healthy coping mechanisms for stress. Willows Healthcare.

Clinical Insights:

• Jimenez, A. (n.d.). Dr. Alexander Jimenez: Chiropractic, integrative medicine, and functional health insights. Dr. Alex Jimenez.

• Jimenez, A. (n.d.). Dr. Alexander Jimenez, DC, APRN, FNP-BC – LinkedIn. LinkedIn.

General Disclaimer *

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, and physical medicine, as well as wellness, sensitive health issues, and functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and the jurisdiction in which they are licensed to practice. We utilize functional health and wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders affecting the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters and issues that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice. Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and identified relevant research studies that support our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies upon request to regulatory boards and the public.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how they may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol. To discuss the subject matter above further, please contact Dr. Alex Jimenez or us at 915-50-0900.

Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

Email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*

If you’ve experienced a headache, you’re not alone. Approximately 9 out of 10 individuals in the United States suffer from headaches. While some are intermittent, some frequent, some are dull and throbbing, and some cause debilitating pain and nausea, getting rid of the head pain is an immediate response for many. But, how can you most effectively relieve a headache?

Research studies have demonstrated that chiropractic care is an effective alternative treatment option for many types of headaches. A 2014 report in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT) discovered that spinal adjustments and manual manipulations used in chiropractic care improved outcome measures for the treatment of chronic and acute neck pain as well as improved the benefits of a variety of treatment approaches for neck pain. Furthermore, a 2011 JMPT study found that chiropractic care can improve and reduce the frequency of migraine and cervicogenic headaches.

Being involved in an automobile accident is an undesirable situation which can result in a variety of physical trauma or injury as well as lead to the development of a number of aggravating conditions. Auto accident injuries, such as whiplash, can be characterized by painful symptoms, including chronic neck pain, however, recent research studies have found that emotional distress resulting from an auto collision could manifest into physical symptoms. Stress, anxiety, depression and post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, are common psychological issues which may occur as a result of an automobile accident.

The researchers of the research studies also determined that cognitive-behavioral therapy may be an effective treatment for emotional distress and psychological issues which may have developed as a result of the auto accident injuries. Additionally, auto accident injuries may also cause stress, anxiety, depression and even PTSD if left untreated for an extended amount of time. The purpose of the article below is to demonstrate the effects of cognitive-behavioral therapy, together with alternative treatment options like chiropractic care and physical therapy. for auto accident injuries, such as whiplash.

Mindfulness is the most common treatment with the best supporting evidence towards improving and managing chronic pain. A recent study demonstrated that mindfulness-based stress reduction, or MBSR, including mindfulness meditation and other mindfulness interventions, can help reduce back pain and enhance psychological control by increasing brain blood flow to the frontal lobe. Practicing mindfulness involves activating a brain relaxation pathway by intentionally ignoring mental “chatter” and focusing on your breathing. Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT can also be helpful for chronic low back pain. Cognitive behavioral therapy can prevent an acute injury from progressing to chronic low back pain. Hypnosis may also help relieve chronic low back pain. However, CBT and hypnosis have weaker evidence to support their effectiveness on back pain.

Stress has become a new standard in today’s society, however, a huge proportion of the United States population has experienced a significant impact on their health due to the stress in their lives. Approximately 77 percent of Americans claim they suffer stress related physical ailments on a regular basis. Also, 73 percent report experiencing stress related emotional symptoms, such as anxiety and depression. Stress management methods and techniques, including chiropractic and mindfulness interventions, are a valuable treatment option for a variety of diseases. Before addressing the symptoms associated with stress, its essential to first understand what stress is, what are the signs and symptoms of stress, and how can stress impact health.

Many people utilize chiropractic treatment for stress management. If you haven’t already considered chiropractic to help reduce your stress, then it might still be in your best interest to know if it actually can help manage stress. If that’s the case, how exactly can chiropractic treatment help reduce stress levels? Every individual experiences stress. If chiropractic is so effective for stress management, why isn’t it more well-known? Although the answer to that is complex, the popularity of chiropractic treatment for stress management is growing. The article below discusses how chiropractic can help reduce your stress.

People experience stress on a regular basis. From worries about finances or employment to problems with your kids or significant other, even concerns about the condition of the world, can register as stressors for many individuals. Stress causes both acute (immediate) and chronic (long-term) health issues, including low back pain, a common symptom frequently reported by many patients who suffer from constant stress. Fortunately, several holistic treatment approaches, including chiropractic care, can help alleviate both the feelings and effect of stress, ultimately guiding people through proper stress management methods.

Stress is the body’s response to any kind of demand or threat that disturbs a person’s physical and/or mental balance. When you feel endangered, the nervous system reacts by releasing a large quantity of stress hormones including adrenaline and cortisol which prepare the body for emergency action. Because of this, an individual’s heart rate increases, muscles tighten, blood pressure rises, breath quickens, and the senses ultimately become sharper.

Healthy levels of stress can help us defend ourselves at a time of danger and boost our reaction time to avoid danger when needed but when stress accumulates and reaches levels beyond the normal comfort zone, stress can stop being helpful and begin to cause major complications to both an individual’s mind and body.

Unhealthy levels of stress commonly cause pain and aches of various types, digestive problems, sleep problems, weight problems, depression, and in more serious cases, heart disease, auto-immune diseases, and skin conditions such as eczema. Eliminating stress entirely is the best solution for avoiding these types of complications but while the process of doing so can occur gradually and take time, reducing the amounts of stress in the body can help decrease its effects on the body.

First, closing your eyes, take 10 deep breaths while focusing on inhaling and exhaling. This process can help slowly relax the body. Then, when there’s a high concentration of stress, it’s essential to avoid consuming sugars altogether as it can create mood swings. Then, it’s often recommended to take part in some form of physical activity every day. From taking a walk to participating in an exercise class, staying active can also help reduce the levels of stress in your body. And finally, take some time for yourself to stop using your media devices and social media to enjoy some quiet time with your loved ones, focusing on what you’ve achieved and setting up new goals for the future.

Psychological therapy, also known as psychotherapy, refers to the use of psychological methods to help change an individual’s way of thinking as well as improve their coping skills in order for them to learn how to best deal with stress. Psychological therapies have widely been utilized as a part of the multidisciplinary management of chronic pain. Common psychotherapies include, cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based stress reduction and even chiropractic care. The connection between the mind and the body in relation to disease and illness have long been discussed in many research studies.

Evidence-based research studies have demonstrated that proper stress management through the use of psychological therapy as well as mindfulness interventions can effectively benefit patients with chronic pain. By way of instance, chiropractic care can safely and effectively help reduce stress, anxiety and depression by correcting spinal misalignments, or subluxation. A balanced spine can improve mood and mental health. Chiropractic care can include lifestyle modifications, such as nutritional advice, physical activity and exercise recommendations, and promote better sleeping habits, to further enhance the benefits of the treatment. The purpose of the following article is to demonstrate how psychological therapies impact the management of chronic pain.

Stress is a result of the human body’s “fight or flight” response, a prehistoric defense mechanism triggered by the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). Stress is an essential component of survival. When stressors activate the fight or flight response, a mixture of chemicals and hormones are secreted into the blood flow, which prepare the body for perceived danger. Although short-term stress is helpful, however, long-term stress can lead to a variety of health issues. Furthermore, stressors in modern society have changed and it’s become more difficult for people to manage their stress and maintain mindfulness.

When you’ve been involved in a car crash, the auto accident injuries resulting from the incident may not always have a physical cause. The emotional distress due to trauma or injury from the impact of an automobile accident may often be so immense, it can lead to a variety of painful symptoms. If such stress is not treated immediately, it could result in the development of psychological conditions. Stress, anxiety, depression and in severe cases, PTSD, or post traumatic stress disorder, are some of the most common psychological issues you may end up encountering after a traumatic auto accident.

Chiropractic care is a well-known alternative treatment option commonly used for a variety of injuries and/or conditions, including low back pain and sciatica. Of course, not all pain is physical nor does it always have a physical cause. Stress, anxiety and depression affects millions of people each year. While many patients require prescription drug therapy to treat their mental health issues, others may be able to control and treat they symptoms with a holistic approach. Chiropractic care is an effective stress management treatment which can help reduce symptoms associated with stress, such as low back pain and sciatica.

Most chiropractors will utilize other treatment methods and techniques, such as physical therapy, exercise, and nutrition advice, to further increase the stress management effects of chiropractic care. These lifestyle changes affect every area of your well-being. Furthermore, the purpose of the article below is to demonstrate the effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction compared to cognitive-behavioral therapy and usual care on stress with associated symptoms of chronic low back pain and sciatica.

In the modern world, it’s easy to find circumstances to stress about. Whether it involves work, financial issues, health emergencies, relationship problems, media stimulation and/or other factors, stress can begin to weigh in on our overall health and wellness if not managed properly. Also, we often tend to create stress ourselves through poor nutrition and a lack of sleep.

In fact, more than three-fourths of the population in the United States experiences stress on a regular basis, where one-third of those individuals characterize their stress levels as “extreme”. Although short-term stress can be helpful, long-term stress can lead to a variety of health issues. Stress has been considered the cause of so many diseases, healthcare professionals estimate it accounts for half of the country’s healthcare-related expenses, according to the U.S. News & World Report.

Stress is a reality of contemporary living. In a society where work hours are increasing and the media is constantly overloading our senses with the most regent tragedy, it’s no wonder why so many people experience higher levels of stress on a regular basis. Fortunately, more healthcare professionals are implementing stress management methods and techniques as a part of a patient’s treatment. While stress is a natural response which helps prepare the body for danger, constant stress can have negative effects on the body, causing symptoms of back pain and sciatica. But, why does too much stress negatively affect the human body?

Back pain is among the most common physical complication affecting a majority of educators. Whether you’re a preschool teacher or a college professor, injuries or conditions that affect your natural well-being can be prevented or reduced, principally by improving posture and then following through with a variety of health tips to avoid and improve further complications.

Teachers frequently stand for an extended period of time for lectures which can place an additional amount of pressure on the lower back, pelvis, and thighs, often leading to the development of an incorrect posture. Also, prolonged standing on hard surfaces can cause sore feet, swollen legs, and aggravate back pain. Furthermore, sitting down for long periods of time, stooping over children at their desks, and even carrying small children, heavy objects, or paperwork, could cause damage or injury to the muscles and tissues surrounding the spine. Stress can be a huge factor towards a teacher developing mental and physical complications and symptoms, including back pain. Increased levels of stress in teachers can prevent them from getting a good night’s rest, resulting in insomnia that can eventually lead to fatigue due to lack of sleep, triggering physical complications. 

Chiropractic treatment can be utilized by teachers to both treat and prevent spinal complications as well as help decrease levels of stress. Chiropractic care is not frequently used to directly treat stress but a careful realignment of the spine can provide relief and relaxation from many complications and symptoms that can help reduce stress. A chiropractor will also determine the source of the back pain and follow up with a specialized treatment plan to gradually restore an individual’s health. Chiropractic treatment can include spinal adjustments, manual manipulation, and several stretches and exercises to speed up the healing process and promote wellness.