Anxiety can cause many different symptoms like worry, fear, or tension. It might affect how you feel physically, mentally and how you behave.
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a feeling of discomfort, worry, fear, or dread about what might happen. It is the body’s natural response to a potentially dangerous or difficult situation. Occasional feelings of anxiety are perfectly normal and can even be beneficial. Anxiety can help us prepare for certain situations by motivating us to focus our attention and be alert to potential dangers.
However, some people have difficulty controlling their anxiety. When a person’s anxiety remains at high levels for a long time, affecting their normal, daily activities, they may have an anxiety disorder.
It’s not always easy to recognise when anxiety is the reason you’re feeling or acting differently.
For people struggling with anxiety, acupuncture can be a game-changer.
In one study, researchers found that just eight weeks of acupuncture treatments significantly reduced symptoms of a generalized anxiety disorder.
Acupuncture can help relieve anxiety symptoms by:
- Reducing stress hormones like cortisol
- Increasing levels of serotonin (the happy hormone)
- Regulating the autonomic nervous system
- Calming the mind and promoting relaxation
Acupuncture has become an excellent alternative for people dealing with anxiety and depression. It has been used for centuries as a traditional Chinese medicine to treat various ailments.
Treat Anxiety with acupuncture
Holistic therapy with acupuncture is not a cure-all, but when it’s part of an integrative approach to making the entire body well, it can help alleviate the symptoms of anxiety.
References
- Sniezek DP, Siddiqui IJ. Acupuncture for Treating Anxiety and Depression in Women: A Clinical Systematic Review. Med Acupunct. 2013 Jun;25(3):164-172.
- Amorim D, Amado J, Brito I, Fiuza SM, Amorim N, Costeira C, Machado J. Acupuncture and electroacupuncture for anxiety disorders: A systematic review of the clinical research. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2018 May;31:31-37.
- Pilkington K, Kirkwood G, Rampes H, Cummings M, Richardson J. Acupuncture for anxiety and anxiety disorders–a systematic literature review. Acupunct Med. 2007 Jun;25(1-2):1-10.