Can Needles Make You Less Anxious? They Sure Can

Most would agree that we live in crazy times. Major shifts in global economic trends, social and political upheaval, and the ever-looming specter of a pandemic are realities we have been struggling to cope with. It’s no surprise, then, that the constellation of anxiety disorders effect over 40 million Americans. And that number is from 2018.

What is Anxiety?

When people talk about anxiety they are describing several possible clinical diagnoses. These are:

·         Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) – defined as ‘a persistent and excessive worry about a number of different things.’

·         Panic Disorder (PD) – sudden onset of panic attacks and the persistent fear of recurrent attacks.

·         Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) – described as the fear of being negatively judged and or rejected in social situations.

In addition some symptoms of anxiety occur in combination with depressive disorders, phobias and other mental challenges. For this reason nailing down a specific definition of ‘anxiety’ can be tricky. Sometimes people may be suffering from the physical symptoms of anxiety and don’t even recognize it as the cause. Some of the ways anxiety can manifest are:

·         Restlessness or fatigue

·         Irritability, or excessive worry

·         Trembling, sweating, increased heart rate

·         Chest pains, shortness of breath

·         Headaches, migraines

·         Unexplained muscular pain

·         Sense of impending doom or things being out of control

·         Stomach pain, nausea, vomiting

·         Blurry vision, fainting

The list is exhaustive, sometimes contradictory and often mimics other serious concerns like heart disease. To make matters worse there are cultures which place a heavy stigma on anxiety and so it just isn’t considered. As with any challenge it is important to first clearly define what is happening and, if possible, the underlying cause.

How Is It Treated?

Anxiety in all its forms can be a debilitating and difficult illness. Treatments are as varied as its causes and manifestations, and it doesn’t appear that there is one fix that fits every situation. Medication and cognitive behavioral therapy are common treatments that can be effective, though sometimes are only marginally better than placebo.

Acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and other treatments under the umbrella of Traditional Chinese Medicine are very effective tools in the management of anxiety, especially in combination with conventional therapies. This has the backing of modern research and greater scholarly interest in being taken in TCM as a standard treatment model.

Why Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine takes a holistic view of recovery. Rather than compartmentalize a disease, practitioners are trained to examine the ‘whole picture’ and make adjustments to effect foundational change. Often this is a crucial piece that is missed by conventional therapies. One of the great benefits of this medicine is that treatments are specifically tailored to the individual, according to their specific case.

For patients who are not getting adequate results it may be beneficial to approach their struggles from a holistic point of view. This takes a greater level of commitment, for traditional medicine utilizes the patient’s body to do the work. Patients and their practitioners are a team, and much like behavioral therapy there is a process.

TCM is best suited for people who would like to avoid conventional therapy for whatever reason or have not seen the results they expect, and are willing to take a more active role in their recovery. If you are struggling with mental health challenges please seek help, there are many resources available.