Anxiety, Depression and Acupuncture 

Anxiety and depression are very common in our communities, but people do not share their experiences very often. As an acupuncturist, I see stress, at the very least, as one of the common causative factors in many health concerns. Some of us experience anxiety and depression as our stress builds and we either don’t have the tools or are not using the tools to manage it. Others seem hardwired from birth to tend toward anxiety and depression and have lived our lives attempting to manage it.

Community acupuncture is an interesting tool for our wellness. Before finding acupuncture, I had never experienced something that allowed me to feel so very relaxed and at peace in my body and heart in such a passive manner. Maybe after a week in the woods or long festival surrounded by inspired, kind people I would feel something a kin to the peace, but most don’t have weeks to spend in the woods (or reliably perfect weather for camping trips). Most days, when I receive acupuncture, I doze off into some in-between place where my body feels heavy and cozy and my mind gets a much needed break from thought. I awake feeling the jaw muscles in my face finally relaxed and my heart feels open and secure. It’s a beautiful space to face the world.

I am often asked if acupuncture can cure X or Y or Z. There is never a straight answer to these questions. Acupuncture is funny like that. I’ll have Person A come in that I am sure I can help in just a few treatments and Person B with more life challenges that I worry may take a long time to create change. Sometimes after a few treatments, it’s Person B who tells me they’ve never felt so free in the bodies and it’s Person A who has noticed very little change.

Through my clinical practice, folks experiencing anxiety seem to respond very well to acupuncture. Acupuncture does a great job at calming the mind. I’ve had folks with life long anxiety feel huge reductions in their anxiety and be able to approach life in ways they hadn’t before. They find freedom.

Clinically, I’ve found depression to be more challenging. Again, some folks get a five or six treatments and they feel like an improved version of themselves with more energy and more interest in life. Other folks may get regular treatments for months and feel like they are just getting by. As a culture, it’s important that folks with depression, anxiety and other mental health concerns have a place to share their experience and that we, as a culture, don’t stigmatize the things we don’t personally understand. Acupuncture is a gentle tool to bring balance into our lives. Sometimes that balance is shifted too much and we need more support from pharmaceuticals or intensive therapy. It’s important for us to see when we ourselves, or someone we know needs more help.

If I could order the world in the way I see fit, I would have all non-emergent health concerns go through the path of gentle medicine first. Tummy pain? Can’t sleep? Knee hurts? Head aches? Sinus congestion? Go get some acupuncture. If you are not seeing positive results after 2 weeks of treatments and you really want quick relief, kick it up a notch and try western medicine. But try the gentle medicine first. This also applies to anxiety and depression (when it is not life threatening or extreme). Get six treatments in a 2-3 week period of time. See how you feel. If you are noticing progress, great. Let community acupuncture and gentle medicine guide your body back to balance, with out side effects or having to deal with excessive testing or doctors bills.

If you ever have questions about acupuncture, herbal medicine or natural approaches to healing, please email me at jerseyacu@gmail.com. If you would like to try acupuncture for treating depression or anxiety, click this link to visit our booking site & make an appointment today!