Stress & Anxiety

Stress

Stress is a mental and physical state that you feel, it can come from many different sources, mental, physical, and emotional. Your body doesn’t know the difference between the kinds of stressors, it just knows that it is under stress.

Stress affects all systems of the body including the muscular, respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine, gastrointestinal, nervous and reproductive systems. Our bodies are well equipped to handle stress in small doses, but when that stress becomes long-term or chronic, it can have serious effects on your body.

During a stressful period, acupuncture and herbal medicine can help to alleviate stress, calm the nervous system, balance the endocrine system, and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Anxiety

Anxiety, depression, and mental health issues, can stem from an imbalance in the body, both internal and environmental factors may affect this balance, and can cause a cascade of events that lead to feelings of:

anger & restlessness
being overwhelmed
difficulty concentrating
excessive worry
fatigue

fear & sense of doom
gastrointestinal issues
increased breathing & heart rate
insomnia

Anxiety is a normal and natural reaction to different types of events or circumstances we might encounter. However, when anxiety occurs in the absence of an identifiable event, seems disproportional to the actual situation, does not go away once the situation has resolved, or affects one’s ability to work or perform daily functions, seeking help can improve the quality of life and the ability to manage the stress more effectively.

Treatment Detail

Research has shown that acupuncture can stimulate the release of endorphins, and balance the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems activities to reduce stress and anxiety, increase energy and motivation, and improve your overall sense of well-being and happiness.

Treatment Frequency

Acupuncture is a process, not a procedure. We do not know how your body will respond until we try a few sessions. Most people will require a series of at least 10 treatments at a frequency of 1 – 2 times per week to help resolve acute issues. Chronic issues may take longer, often 20 – 30 treatments over the course of 3 – 6 months.

Many patients have found relief using acupuncture for:

Feelings of anxiousness
Feelings of depression
Feelings of stress
Fertility related stress
Fatigue & lack of motivation

Insomnia
PMS: including feelings of irritability, sadness, and anxiety
Menopausal mood shifts
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

If you have more severe symptoms or a mental health disorder, seeking the help of a professional psychotherapist is a good idea. Acupuncture is a great compliment to, and has been shown to enhance the effects of traditional therapy and pharmaceutical treatments.