5 Top Reasons Why Acupuncture Helps To Reduce Stress

“I’m so stressed out!”

“I’m under a deadline at work all the time, and I can’t shut off at the end of the day.”

“I feel anxious all the time and can’t relax.”

“My doctor warned me to reduce stress–she’s worried about my heart.”

These statements are all too common in today’s frenetic culture.

With so much mental strain and pressure in our daily lives, using acupuncture for stress and anxiety relief is the foundation for emotional balance and physical health.

At the Great Turning Acupuncture clinic we help you with stress!

You may stop into The Great Turning Acupuncture to treat your stress symptoms, but our treatment approach extends so much further than symptom relief.

We care deeply about your healing story and dedicate ourselves to building holistic health and balance in every patient we treat.

Book today for an appointment to reduce the effects of stress and anxiety, and to build balance, relaxation, and peace of mind in your busy life.

Stress: A fine line between motivation and overload

Stress is a normal part of “human-ing.” Our innate stress responses like increased heart rate and blood pressure, mental acuity, and heightened focus help us respond in emergencies and deliver results quickly in a time of high demand.

Stress can make us feel “alive” and engaged, essential, and accomplished in small doses. However, when stress is a constant companion, the stress chemicals our bodies release (cortisol, adrenaline, norepinephrine) can cause harm over time.

Common effects of chronic stress could include the following. Can you spot any of your mental or physical symptoms in the list below?

• Upset stomach, diarrhea, nausea, constipation, heartburn, or other gut issues
• Rapid heart rate or chest pain
• Trouble sleeping
• Loss of sexual desire or reduced sexual function
• More colds or seasonal illness than usual
• Clenched jaw or teeth grinding
• Sore, tense muscles, especially in the neck and shoulders
• Constant worry
• Always seeing the “worst case scenario”
• Racing thoughts
• Feeling frazzled and unfocused
• Disorganization and forgetfulness

When stress is chronic, your risk increases for depression and anxiety, heart attack and heart disease, obesity, and eating disorders, and more severe gut problems like GERD, colitis, and IBS.

Acupuncture proactively reduces stress. Here’s how.

Acupuncture is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine and has helped countless persons reduce stress and improve overall well being for centuries. Below are five of many reasons to try acupuncture for stress and anxiety relief.

1. Yes, there are needles, and they don’t hurt. To restore the body’s stress equilibrium, we use very fine needles inserted just under the skin to stimulate our body’s acupressure points and meridians and improve the flow of Qi (pronounced “chee”), or vital energy in our systems. After an extensive evaluation, your practitioner will determine the best points to place the needles on your body. You’ll lay on a padded table, and your acupuncturist will begin placing needles with a light tap at each site. The needles are so fine that you’ll barely feel it. There may be one that feels “strong” or like a mosquito bite.
2. Acupuncture sessions provide relaxation time. In addition to the healing effects the needles offer, the session itself calms and relaxes you. After placing the needles, you’ll rest for about 30 minutes and allow the treatment to unfold. During this time, you can listen to soft music, rest your eyes, or even fall lightly asleep. 
3. There are no side-effects with acupuncture. Since acupuncture is a drug-free treatment modality, you won’t have to worry about the side effects that many drugs carry. Further, you can also rest assured there will not be any adverse drug interactions with your current medications. Your acupuncturist will recommend a treatment frequency to help you achieve your desired stress-reduction objectives. 
4. Acupuncture uses your body’s internal mechanisms to bring relief. When the fine needles stimulate nerves under the skin, the nerve sends a message to the brain, telling it to release our natural pain killers, called endorphins. These natural brain chemicals cause us to relax and feel euphoric or happy. Acupuncture also helps our bodies naturally reduce inflammation and pain as well, which can both increase with chronic stress.
5. Going to your appointment means taking much needed time for self-care. Unlike popping a pill and soldiering on, scheduling and attending an acupuncture appointment adjusts your focus back on yourself. Part of reducing stress is changing our mindsets and habits. Not only is acupuncture effective in changing your internal stress-induced chemistry but maintaining a consistent treatment schedule helps you make time for yourself and re-prioritize your stressful habits.

You are unique–your treatment should be too

Trying something new can feel a little daunting at first. At The Great Turning Acupuncture, we take that to the heart. Your first appointment includes an extensive evaluation and Q and A session.

You can share with us a detailed history of your symptoms and lifestyle, and we’ll discover where and how to conduct treatment based on your precise needs and concerns.

We’ll also make a recommendation for follow-up care with your best interests, budget, and whole-person wellness in mind.

Book today to set up your first appointment, and make chronic stress and anxiety a dim and distant memory as you embrace a new life with vitality, resilience and strength.