Stress and anxiety can have a negative impact on the health of the entire body; Acupuncture is a drug-free, safe method of dealing with both serious anxiety disorders and everyday, harmful stress.
At our pain management facility, we understand stress and anxiety and the unhealthy role it might be playing in your life right now. We are well aware of the debilitating nature of anxiety, and just how much you might be suffering.
It is a constant amazement to me, then, that so much pain and suffering can be eased so easily and quickly with holistic practices such as acupuncture. How can it be that so many people are suffering with stress, anxiety, and even panic attacks when we know that this healthy, drug-free option exists and it works?
We are living in stressful times. All you need to do is turn on the nightly news and you can see that. On a more personal level, I think that worrying about the fundamental things that sustain us—our families, our jobs, and our health—is a universal theme among people. When worrying becomes chronic anxiety or stress, however, serious health problems may follow.
Approximately 6.8 million adult Americans suffer from medically recognized Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)*, which has a number of symptoms including panic attacks. I’m sure that there are millions more undiagnosed people dealing with serious stress and anxiety issues. What’s worse is that it’s a medically known fact that stress causes illness. (What this means is that all of that stressing about your health isn’t doing your body any favors.) Let’s take a look at how this works.
Your body is in a constant state of growth and repair. Unfortunately, stress diverts attention away from these processes in order to flood the body with stress hormones. You see, a long time ago humans were regularly subjected to serious dangers (such as being attacked by wild animals). While this is no longer the case for most of us (at least, not here in Monmouth County), your body is still reacting as if it were.
Have you ever noticed that you become sick during particularly stressful events? This is because your body’s attention has been pulled away from the important functions of the immune system in order to deal with the fight-or-flight response provoked by anxiety.
Have prolonged periods of tension left you looking older? On a basic level, all of the cells of your body are being deprived of what they need in order to repair. Aging is one side effect of this deprivation.
What’s worse is that all of this stress can lead to a chain of events that may cause cancer, heart disease, and other serious conditions. It makes sense to look for ways to reduce stress and anxiety. Acupuncture is a drug-free, safe method of handling these powerful emotions.
Acupuncture for Anxiety
Chinese medical practitioners believe that intense emotions such as anxiety block the free flow of life energy (or ‘Qi), which can lead to the many physical symptoms of stress and anxiety. These energy blockages can be addressed through acupuncture. Once Qi is able to flow freely throughout the body, the symptoms of anxiety and stress can be alleviated.
Western medical studies have proven the efficacy of acupuncture. It is known that acupuncture prompts the release of endorphins, natural painkilling neurotransmitters that produce feelings of well-being and contentment similar to that of opiates. Serotonin, a neurotransmitter that affects both physical and emotional functions, is also given a boost through acupuncture.
It’s important to note that the most common anti-depressants (which are often prescribed for anxiety patients) are a class of drugs known as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Essentially, these drugs help serotonin move freely throughout the body. Acupuncture has a similar effect without the notorious side effects of anti-depressants, which might include sleep and sexual disturbances, nausea, weight loss/gain, and an increased tendency toward suicidal ideation.
Additionally, acupuncture improves circulation of blood throughout the body, oxygenating tissues and cycling out cortisol and other waste chemicals. More generally, the actual experience of acupuncture forces you to slow down and take time to address what is happening with your body during stressful times.
Anxiety Solutions at Monmouth Pain and Rehabilitation Center
The New Jersey Certified Acupuncturists at our facility have years of experience in treating the debilitating symptoms of anxiety. Please contact our office in Monmouth County to learn more about how our Red Bank, NJ acupuncturist can help with your anxiety. Our office was built on the principle that all of our practitioners are not only the best at what they do, but are also the most compassionate.
*Kessler RC, Chiu WT, Demler O, Walters EE. Prevalence, severity, and comorbidity of twelve-month DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R). Archives of General Psychiatry, 2005 Jun;62(6):617-27.
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