Acupuncture for Anxiety
How to calm the nervous system to reduce anxiety
Anxiety is an emotional response to stress where you may feel fearful, worried or apprehensive about something such as starting a new job or doing public speaking.
Feelings of dread or panic, and irrational or racing thoughts are common for those with anxiety. Quite often, anxiety sufferers will avoid certain situations or people to prevent an anxiety episode.
Anxiety can also manifest as physical changes in the body such as muscle tension, shallow breathing, increased heart rate, sweating and shaking.
Learn what causes anxiety, common triggers and how acupuncture for anxiety can be incredibly effective at relieving anxiety symptoms.
Types of anxiety
In the US, 18.1% of the adult population and 25.1% of children aged between thirteen and eighteen suffer with anxiety disorders.
Most people will experience occasional anxiety at some point in their life during stressful periods; however, ongoing anxiety is not normal and should be addressed.
An anxiety disorder is characterized as persistent worry and overwhelming fear about everyday situations. Anxiety episodes are often intense and come on rapidly; they can also quickly escalate to a panic attack where you might feel complete terror and also experience physical symptoms such as a rapid heartbeat, dizziness, dry mouth shaking and nausea.
There are five types of anxiety disorders:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): chronic anxiety where you feel dread or worried most of the time; often this can be unprovoked and for no apparent reason.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): anxiety that is accompanied by obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours such as hand washing, counting or cleaning.
Panic Disorder: intense anxiety and fear where a panic attack always ensues.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): anxiety that develops after a traumatic event such as a physical or sexual assault, an accident or military combat.
Social Anxiety Disorder (also known as social phobia): overwhelming anxiety and self-consciousness that is brought on by social situations like public speaking, eating or drinking in front of others or meeting new people.
What causes anxiety?
The exact cause of anxiety is unknown; however, life experiences and traumatic events are said to be the main driving factors. It is thought that inherited traits (carrying particular genes) and certain personalities (such as perfectionist or timid/ shy personalities) can make some people more prone to anxiety.
Some medications, compromised health and medical conditions such as diabetes, an overactive thyroid, heart disease, lung diseases (asthma, COPD) and chronic pain can also cause anxiety.
Anxiety triggers
Childhood or adult trauma and abuse
A death in the family
Financial or work worries
A relationship breakdown or being in a toxic relationship
Fear of getting ill or a family member becoming sick
Hormonal imbalances (low estrogen and serotonin levels)
Being bullied or socially excluded
Chronic stress
Recreational drugs and alcohol (including withdrawal from these substances)
Caffeine (coffee and energy drinks)
Does acupuncture work for anxiety?
Here at Morningside Acupuncture, we successfully use acupuncture for anxiety and it is very effective for negating the stress response and aiding relaxation. An acupuncturist will insert the acupuncture needles along specific acupuncture points to elicit a physiological response in the body.
Acupuncture for anxiety works by:
Downregulating the body’s stress response by balancing neurotransmitters and hormones. Stress triggers the production of certain hormones (cortisol and adrenaline) to enable the body to deal with stress accordingly. Chronic stress can reduce your serotonin levels which is the hormone associated with happiness and feelings of wellbeing. Acupuncture can help balance these hormones and reduce anxiety symptoms.
Deactivating the “analytical” brain which is responsible for anxiety and worries, and acting on the primary somatosensory cortex which is the area in the middle of the brain which is known to reduce sensitivity to stress and pain.
Stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system to initiate the relaxation response. When we get stressed, our sympathetic nervous system gets switched on which triggers physiological and emotional changes within the body including anxiety. The parasympathetic nervous system acts like a brake and when stimulated, will calm your nervous system down to help you relax.
Regulate the release of inflammatory markers and chemicals which are associated with anxiety. Emotional disturbances and anxiety can lead to lowered immune system function and increased inflammation in the body. Acupuncture has shown to restore immune function when anxiety is present.
Reverse the effects of stress-induced behavioral and biochemical changes that are triggered when someone experiences anxiety.
How often should you get acupuncture for anxiety?
Most anxiety-sufferers respond quickly to acupuncture and find it a very effective modality to use as part of their treatment plan. The number of acupuncture sessions you’ll require depends on your personal constitution, medical history, the severity and occurrence of your anxiety and how quickly your body responds to the acupuncture treatment. We generally recommend acupuncture visits one to two times a week for anxiety issues and the duration of treatment depends on how chronic the anxiety is, lifestyle factors, and whether you can reduce exposure to stressors that may be contributing to your stress and anxiety.
Manage anxiety naturally
Anxiety is a debilitating condition that can significantly affect someone’s life, preventing them from doing everyday tasks and interacting with others. Chronic stress, trauma, life pressures such as work or finances and hormonal imbalances are known triggers for anxiety. Acupuncture is an effective modality for treating anxiety as it helps to reduce stress levels, balance hormones and regulate the part of the brain that is responsible for certain emotions and behavioral traits. To learn more about how acupuncture can help you manage your anxiety naturally, speak to our experienced acupuncturists today.
Over to you
If you liked this article, please share with anxiety-suffering friends and family.
