ANXIETY is just part of being human.
If you’re going somewhere new, taking a job interview or giving a speech, it’s normal to feel anxious. It’s a natural response to stress, a feeling of fear or apprehension about what is to come.
It’s only when that gets out of control that it becomes a problem. If these feelings are extreme, don’t go away after the stressor has finished or are interfering with your life, that is when anxiety becomes a real problem. And let’s face it, the events of the 2020 have made the most mellow and laid-back amongst us at least a little troubled.
Anxiety disorders include generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) .As well as emotional symptoms such as worry, disturbed sleep, irritability and poor concentration, anxiety can cause physical symptoms such as sweating, nausea, diarrhoea, dry mouth, palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, cold hands, muscle tension and aches, trembling and twitching. Also, the symptoms of many physical conditions can become worse with stress, for example, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), migraines and tension headaches, and back pain.
Acupuncture is a safe and often effective treatment for anxiety and doesn’t have the side-effects associated with medications. Research has shown that acupuncture treatment may specifically benefit symptoms of anxiety as it acts on areas of the brain known to reduce sensitivity to pain and stress, as well as promoting relaxation and deactivating the ‘analytical’ brain, which is responsible for anxiety and worry (Hui 2010).
In general, acupuncture is believed to stimulate the nervous system and cause the release of neurochemical messenger molecules, thus promoting physical and emotional well-being.
If you’d like to know more about how acupuncture can help with anxiety, please do get in touch.
☎️ 0161 440 0298
Take care x
Fiona Bullock – Acupuncturist
