Wellington Acupuncture for Anxiety and Stress

What is Anxiety?

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Anxiety is commonly described as a feeling of fear, apprehension, worry or nervousness and is a natural response to stress.  Anxiety can become a concern if these feelings begin to interfere with your every day life and ability to participate in certain activities.  Anxiety disorders often involve persistence of these feelings and the feelings may be intense or debilitating, stopping you from doing things you enjoy.  Anxiety disorders are the most common emotional disorders and 1 in 4 New Zealanders are affected by anxiety at some point in their life.  Everyone experiences anxiety slightly differently but symptoms may include flutters or butterflies in the stomach, palpitations, rapid breathing or heart-beat, a sensation in the chest, nightmares, panic attacks, anxiety attacks, a feeling the mind and body are disconnected, inability to control painful thoughts or memories, feeling fearful, unsettled or worrying, restlessness, difficulty sleeping or concentrating.

Many people experience anxiety attacks which involves feeling overwhelming worry, distress, fear or apprehension.  Attacks may build slowly or worsen when a stressful event nears.  Some symptoms of anxiety attacks may include dizziness or feeling faint, shortness of breath, sweating, feeling hot or cold, dry mouth numbness or tingling.

Anxiety is a main aspect of many disorders including Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Panic Disorder, Specific Phobias, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Illness Anxiety Disorder, Separation Anxiety Disorder and more.

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What is Stress?

Stress is a physical, mental or emotional factor that causes mental or physical tension.  This tension is the body's natural response to stress and can be helpful if short-lived.  What is considered stressful varies greatly with each individual and involves an aspect of how we perceive circumstances.  Stress can be defined as the degree to which we feel overwhelmed or unable to cope due to external pressures that can't be managed.  Stress becomes concerning if it becomes excessive or long-lasting and if it leads to feeling that we can't cope. 

When we become stressed, our immune system and Sympathetic Nervous System (fight or flight) is activated.  Stress can lead to emotional, behavioural or bodily changes.  Examples include depression, indecisiveness, trouble sleeping, appetite and digestion changes or irritability.

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What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?

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PTSD is a form of anxiety experienced after a traumatic event (may be a physical attack, rape, car accident, witnessing violence etc).

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Anxiety and Stress According to Chinese Medicine​

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Chinese Medicine recognizes a number of different causes of anxiety and stress.  An acupuncturist would work to identify the root cause of this based on what you personally experience, and treat you according to your presentation and individual needs as seen within the Chinese Medicine framework. 

The mental or physical tension that occurs in response to stress creates a blockage or form of stagnation in Chinese Medicine that affects particular areas of the body and often leads to frequent sighing.  Often the neck, shoulders and jaw muscles physically become tense, feeling tight.  The stagnation resulting from stress can also lead to a form of heat in the body and excess energy that rises to the upper body, similiar to the concept of pressure building up inside a corked bottle.  Central to emotional well-being are the seven emotions in Chinese Medicine which are anger, joy, fear, worry, grief, fright and sadness.  These emotions impact on our physical well-being and vice-verse.  If we 'bottle' emotions this heat and stagnation can worsen, while at the other end of the scale is the person who bursts into anger, 'seeing red' with heat in the face, like the cork popping off suddenly.  Depending on the individual state of balance someone under stress may have additional symptoms the acupuncturist will identify, such as temple or vertex headaches, eye or tendon problems.  Exercise is often considered helpful for 'stress' or what Chinese Medicine terms 'Liver Qi Stagnation' as it helps to move the stagnation.

Anxiety often involves some excess energy in the body (Qi) or heat, in particular in the upper body and head.  Difficulty expressing emotions may be related to your anxiety, or there may have been a history of digestive issues with your body struggling to build energy and Blood, leaving you feeling unsettled, anxious and unable to sleep.  This is referred to as the ‘Shen’ or Mind/Spirit not being ‘housed’ or ‘anchored’ properly in the physical body. 

When energy (or Qi) doesn’t flow properly through the body a type of heat can be created.  This heat is related to symptoms like restlessness, overthinking, inability to relax, feeling on edge, a fast heart rate and insomnia.  Anxiety also often involves excessive energy or Qi in the upper body and head.  This may be felt as excessive thinking or worrying, inability to slow the mind, sensations in the chest or related to breathing.  The kind of anxiety that involves excessive worry is also often linked to digestive complaints in Chinese Medicine such as food sensitivities, changes in the bowel motions or tiredness and bloating after eating. 

Sometimes a sudden traumatic event can create a disconnection recognized by Chinese Medicine that results in anxiety.  Acupuncture treatment commonly helps you identify and understand factors that may be contributing to your anxiety.  It may provide diet and lifestyle advise to empower you and enable you to help self-manage your condition.