Acupuncture Relief Stress, Anxiety and Depression
Normal anxiety tends to be limited in time and connected with some stressful situation or event, such as a job interview. The type of anxiety experienced by people with an anxiety condition is more frequent or persistent, not always connected to an obvious challenge, and impacts on their quality of life and day-to-day functioning. While each anxiety condition has its own unique features, there are some common symptoms including:
- Physical: panic attacks, hot and cold flushes, racing heart, tightening of the chest, quick breathing, restlessness, or feeling tense, wound up and edgy
- Psychological: excessive fear, worry, catastrophizing, or obsessive thinking
- Behavioral: avoidance of situations that make you feel anxious which can impact on study, work or social life
Depression and anxiety are two of the most common mental health disorders in Australia today. Alarming rates of depression affect approximately 20-25% of Australians at some time in their life. Underlying low levels of anxiety within our society are rising as our stressful lives create an obstacle to balance, within our lives and ourselves.
How Acupuncture Helps With Anxiety Problems?
It is evident that acupuncture helps manage anxiety and depression signs and symptoms. researchers at Georgetown University used lab studies to demonstrate that acupuncture slows the body’s production of stress hormones in sympathetic nervous system.
A study from the University of York in the UK concluded that both acupuncture and counseling (or both) had a strongly positive effect on depression, lowering the depression scale. The benefits lasted 3 months after treatment had concluded.
Acupuncture has also been known to balance serotonin and endorphins to encourage mental health.
Fine needles will be inserted into certain identified acupuncture points on “meridians” which run throughout the body and correspond to certain organs. Meridians can be thought of as a highway of energy, or “Qi” in traditional Chinese medicine. Acupuncture works by getting rid of the roadblocks on this energy superhighway.
Am I suitable to do acupuncture?
Unlike with counseling or prescribed medication, people treated with acupuncture often see results after one session, and the results improve with continued treatment. When it comes to trying acupuncture, you have nothing to lose, With a certified acupuncturist, the risks are almost nonexistent and are far outweighed by the potential benefits.Acupuncture is particularly helpful for people who want to limit or stop drug use — prescription or otherwise. Because it regulates the body’s chemical balance naturally, acupuncture can even prevent people from needing medication at all.
How Many treatments do I need to see result?
The majority of patients in our clinic have reported they have better sleep and a stronger sense of general well-being after just a few sessions. However, the realities of treating anxiety are that different people require different treatments, even when suffering from the same type of anxiety. That’s because different people have different personalities, different needs, and of course, different symptoms. That’s why to get a personalized treatment.
If you’re already receiving treatment for anxiety, Dr Kimberley Zhang suggests adding acupuncture to your current regimen. If you decide it works for you, you can work with your doctor to wean off anxiety medication. First, though, contact your insurance provider to find out whether it covers acupuncture treatment. Then talk with a practitioner — ask questions and openly discuss a potential treatment plan.
