Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) can be a debilitating condition that can affect your social and emotional health. People with GAD may also experience distressing physical symptoms, such as sweating, fatigue, increased heart rate, insomnia, etc. If you are struggling with anxiety, you should reach out to your doctor for help. He or she may recommend medications, dietary changes, etc. He or she might recommend adjunctive treatments to help you manage symptoms, such as massage therapy or acupuncture. Take a look at how acupuncture could help.
How Does Acupuncture Help Patients with Anxiety?
Traditional acupuncture focuses on improving the body's energy by stimulating various pressure points throughout the body. When needles are inserted at certain pressure points, neurotransmitters that are involved in emotional regulation, such as endorphins and serotonin, are activated while stress-related hormones, like cortisol, are suppressed. However, more research needs to be conducted to fully understand how acupuncture improves anxiety.
Some researchers suspect that this treatment affects the nervous system and immune function, while others have argued that it relies on the placebo effect. However, psychology Today reported a few studies that support the positive effects of acupuncture. For example, one study found that people who used acupuncture tended to have lower heart rate variability and reduced overall anxiety levels. Another study found that acupuncture could help women reduce physiological cravings for additions and reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms.
How Often Do You Need to Attend Sessions?
If you are interested in trying acupuncture, you should talk with your doctor and an acupuncturist to see what they recommend. Again, acupuncture should be used as an adjunctive treatment to your main treatment. Some people may benefit from one or two sessions per week, while other people may be able to space those appointments much further out if they are managing their symptoms better.
What Should You Expect at an Appointment?
Your acupuncture appointment may be very similar to other massage therapy services; your therapist may dim the lights and put on quiet music to help you relax. The therapist will place the needles in various pressure point locations and then leave them in for about half an hour before removing them. Some people are nervous about the needle insertion, but the needles are incredibly thin so while you may feel a tiny pinch, they shouldn't hurt.
The placement of the needles also depends on the practitioner and which type of health goals you have in mind. For instance, some people with anxiety may have needles placed around their ears to not only address anxiety, but to address allergies, endocrine disorders, and/or headaches. Acupressure points around the temple, the feet, and the wrist may also be used for anxiety-related symptoms.
Reach out to an acupuncture therapist today for more details.
Share19 October 2022
Going for a first-time massage can be a little intimidating. With so many types of massages available, how do you know what kind you would enjoy the most and what would be most beneficial to you? I can remember my first massage and how I felt walking into the spa for it. I was worried that I was going to do something inappropriate or not get the type of massage that I pictured myself getting. Since then, I have gone for weekly massages and have had every type of massage available to me at the spa that I visit. Read on to learn all about what to expect during your first massage and a short description of each type of massage.