Stressed? Could acupuncture be the answer?
Are you stressed? If the answer is yes, you’re not alone.
According to a recent 2020 survey, 17.9 million working days are lost each year in the UK due to work-related stress, depression or anxiety.
Defining stress
But stress doesn’t just stem from work-related problems, it can be caused by many different factors. Stress is defined as the degree to which you feel overwhelmed or unable to cope as a result of pressures that are unmanageable.
Unfortunately, at some point in our lives, all of us are likely to encounter some form of stress. This year especially! But when this stress occurs over a long period of time, it can lead to various long-term problems.
Problems caused by stress
Chronic or long-term stress can contribute to a range of physical and mental problems.
As well as causing us to feel as though we are in a permanent state of ‘fight or flight’ mode, it can also lead to:
- Increased blood pressure
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Digestive problems
- Headaches
- Heart disease
- Sleep problems
- Weight gain
- Weight loss
- Memory and concentration impairment
How to get rid of stress
If you are amongst the many people that suffer from chronic and prolonged periods of stress, it is important to consider some form of treatment.
Whilst many people try practicing relaxation techniques such as yoga or deep breathing, I would consider adding acupuncture to your list.
How acupuncture can alleviate stress
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese technique that has been used for thousands of years to help maintain the body’s overall balance.
Clinical studies have shown that this form of alternative medicine may specifically benefit stress/anxiety disorders. That’s because acupuncture is believed to stimulate the nervous system and cause the release of neurochemical messenger molecules.
The resulting biochemical changes influence the body’s homeostatic mechanisms, and in turn, reduce sensitivity to pain and stress and promote relaxation.
The calming nature of this alternative treatment is therefore believed to decrease the heart rate, lower blood pressure and relax the muscles.
Expert in acupuncture
I have more than 20 years’ experience in acupuncture and I am a member of the British Acupuncture Council and The British Medical Acupuncture Council.
I’ve trained in both Medical and Traditional Chinese Medical Acupuncture and I’ve also travelled to China – the birthplace of this alternative medicine practice – to study this technique. I now use acupuncture in combination with osteopathy and have treated patients suffering chronic stress.
Here’s what one patient had to say: “When I first visited Denise I was suffering from anxiety, stress and feelings of exhaustion. I imagined that I was dying from cancer or heart disease. I had lots of medical tests, which showed that I was fine but I could not believe it.
“Denise spent time listening to me explaining that I was suffering from anxiety. After a few acupuncture treatments I realised that my work in the city was the problem. I was a square peg in a round hole and I was unhappy.
“Acupuncture allowed me to see the wood through the trees. I left my work and trained as a paramedic. I no longer suffer from those terrible symptoms. I am relaxed and happy. And by the way – I love my job!”
If you are troubled by any of these symptoms, please don’t suffer in silence. Book in for a treatment today or drop me an email to find out more how acupuncture could help you.
