Obsessive Tendencies
- Dr. Joshua Beaudry
- Nov 4
- 2 min read
We all know someone who double-checks the door, replays conversations in their mind, or can’t relax until everything is just right. These behaviors might seem small, but they can reveal deeper obsessive tendencies rooted in brain chemistry and neurological imbalances.
The Gas and the Brake System of the Brain
Your brain runs on balance—between “gas” and “brake.”
The gas pedal of the brain includes stimulants like glutamate and dopamine. These keep you alert, motivated, and driven.
The brake pedal includes serotonin and GABA, which calm your system, regulate emotions, and help you rest.
When you have too much gas or not enough brake, your mind starts to race, and obsessive patterns can appear.
The Gut-Brain Connection
The vagus nerve plays a major role in balancing these neurotransmitters. If your vagus nerve is fatigued or inflamed, the communication between the gut and brain weakens.
This means:
Serotonin and GABA production (your brakes) decrease.
Glutamate (your gas) stays elevated.
Over time, this imbalance can make it hard to calm your thoughts, stop ruminating, or release control.
The Neurological Root
From a neurological perspective:
The frontal lobe controls logic, focus, and inhibition. When weak, it can’t quiet repetitive thoughts.
The limbic system, located near the brainstem, manages fear, survival, and emotion. When overactive, it drives hypervigilance, anxiety, and compulsive patterns.
When the limbic system overpowers the frontal lobe, the result is a mind that can’t rest and a body that can’t relax.
What Causes the Imbalance?
Many factors can deactivate the frontal lobe or overstimulate the limbic system:
Blood sugar instability (especially below 85)
Low oxygen levels (below 97%)
Chronic stress or trauma (HPA/stress axis overload)
Leaky gut and gut inflammation
Mold, viral, or bacterial exposure
Thyroid and sex hormone imbalances
Sleep disruptions or emotional stress
To name a few, these stressors all drive neuroinflammation, creating the perfect storm for obsessive tendencies to appear or intensify.
Healing the Brain
You can restore balance and help the brain “hit the brakes” again. We do this by supporting both neurological and biochemical balance:
Laser Therapy: Stimulates mitochondria, increases energy, and reduces neuroinflammation.
Brain-Based Chiropractic Adjustments: Activate the frontal lobe and cerebellum, improving control and calm and breaking the stress pattern.
Vagal Nerve Stimulation: Helps regulate the gut-brain pathway.
Breathwork & Biofeedback: Calm the nervous system and support GABA and serotonin activity.
Nutritional Support: Stabilize blood sugar and increase neurotransmitter precursors.
These small, consistent steps help restore communication between the brain and body—bringing back clarity, peace, and balance.
The Takeaway
Obsessive tendencies are not signs of weakness or flaw. They are protection mechanisms developed by a brain doing its best under stress. When we restore neurological balance, the brain can finally relax and stop overcorrecting.
If you’re ready to take the next step, contact us today to set up your initial examination or join us at an upcoming workshop.
Life Springs Family Chiropractic – Denver, CO
Call/Text: (303) 770-0605
