When someone comes to me for the treatment of emotional disturbances. No matter if it is acupuncture for anxiety, PTSD, depression, panic attacks or mania I look at more than just this diagnosis. I talk to the patient about the exact symptoms that are going on emotionally as well as physically. I will ask about irritability, nervousness, worry, fear, fright and sadness, but that is just the beginning of the diagnostic process. As far as I am concerned when someone comes in and says I need acupuncture for anxiety or that they are depressed that is not even close to specific enough to start to help them.
Healthcare as it is currently practiced needs to change. Every Human being is unique and every health issue we face is also unique. Acupuncture the way I practice it reflects this.
Once we start to talk about the specifics of what emotions are out of balance, then I ask about sleep, digestion, elimination and physical complaints. Any substantial sudden or long term (habitual) emotional upheaval may start as purely emotional (this is debatable) but quickly transition to the rest of the body.
A classic of chinese medicine called the Suwen written over 1000 years ago states: “Anger makes the energy ascend. Joy slows it. Sadness disperses it. Fear makes it descent. Fright disturbs it. Worry perturbs it.”
Put into even greater detail:
Too much joy harms the [functions of the] heart; ailments cause patients to be fearful. Too much anger harms the [functions of the] liver; ailments cause the patient to be very irritable and can cause rage. Too much reflection harms the [functions of the] spleen; ailments cause the patient to be pensive. Too much sadness harms the [functions of the] lungs; ailments make the patient anguished and cause melancholy. Too much fear harms the [functions of the] kidneys; ailments make the patient loose hope, willpower and cause panic.
This is not to say that during our normal day of ups and downs that we will injure our internal organs. When we experience a very large and traumatic event (especially during our youth) or when we fall into habitual patterns a groove is worn the body and mind. Imagine water running continuously over a rock, over time it’s path starts to wear a path into the rock. The longer this water flows, the deeper its path becomes, this is the same thing that happens in the body.
When coming in for treatment for acupuncture for anxiety it is important to get treated for all of our aches, pains and emotional upheavals as soon as they happen, before the habitual patterns wear a path in our bodies. Our bodies tend to send us small messages asking for help at first, say neck or shoulder pain from tension. If these messages do not trigger us to find some resolution, the message tends to get louder maybe a headache or migraine. This progression will ultimately continue until a resolution happens.
At Acupuncture Pain and Stress Center you will get more than a typical acupuncture treatment. Our style of acupuncture enhances the effects of needling by combining it with tuina massage, stretching and orthopedic movements to give you quicker and more effective results.
Our goal since 2010 has been to provide Raleigh, NC and its surrounding areas with the highest quality healthcare and compassionate patient-focused services. In addition to completion of a 4 year graduate program, we maintain a strong commitment to continuing education and ongoing research which ensures that we have the resources to provide you with exceptional, results-oriented acupuncture treatments.
If you keep doing exactly what you’ve been doing is your issue going to stay the same or worsen? Do something different and schedule your first appointment to determine if you are a good candidate for treatment. We pride ourselves on personalized treatments to get you results quickly so you can get back to enjoying life and doing the things you love.
Call (919) 260-4104 now, and I will be happy to answer any of your questions and get you booked for an appointment.
