Reducing Anxiety

Do you worry about everything? Are you continuously anxious? Well, you are not alone with those feelings. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders are the most common mental illnesses in today’s society. About 40 million adults are affected annually by anxiety disorders, such as General Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). We are all looking for ways to reduce our anxiety and help us manage our daily stressesnaturally and with less pharmaceuticals.

Acupuncture is a great, natural option for reducing anxiety. Studies have shown that acupuncture releases endorphins and activates natural pain killers. According to a comprehensive literature review that appeared in CNS Neuroscience and Therapeutics, acupuncture is comparable to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), a commonly used treatment foranxiety (Errington-Evans, 2011). In 2013, another study published in the Journal of Endocrinology stated that stress hormones were lower in rats after receiving electric acupuncture (Eshkevari, Permaul and Mulroney, 2013). The researchers found that acupuncture provided a protective effect in response to the stress hormones.

At Points of Wellness, our patients notice a subtle change in how their mind and body react to stress and anxiety after going through an acupuncture treatment. One patient stated that she did not feel like “bursting into tears” when someone simply asked how she’s doing. Most patients find the experience of acupuncture pleasant and relaxing. The patient lies quietly on the table with low lighting and relaxing music playing. Someeven fall asleep during the session.

Please note that all your anxiety will NOT go away in one treatment, especially if you’ve had anxiety for a long time. Your body will feel the positive effects relatively quickly, however, to maintain the positive effect, a longer game plan is needed. Typically, a course of treatment in acupuncture is about 10 sessions. If you do not like needles, no worries. We have other options that do not involve needles and are just as effective.