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Acupuncture for Anxiety & Stress

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Can acupuncture help with anxiety and stress?

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Looking for an all-natural solution for stress management in San Francisco, CA?
 
Stress is a very real and all too familiar part of our daily lives. It is the body’s natural reaction to any difficulties or changes we face in life, whether it be physical, mental, or emotional. 
 
Stress is a completely normal reaction. In fact, a little short-term stress is actually good, as it gives the body a chance to practice protecting itself. Small doses of low stress can help to keep you alert and motivated and increase your ability to cope with challenging situations. 
 
When faced with stressful conditions, your body reacts via the “fight or flight” response of the sympathetic nervous system. This response puts you in a heightened state of vigilance. You’re essentially in survival mode; all of your bodily systems are revved up, working to keep you alive in what your body perceives is a dangerous situation.
 

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Built up, prolonged exposure to stress, however, can cause the sympathetic nervous system to go into overdrive. This can eventually lead to a host of health problems and can detrimentally impact your mood, relationships, and quality of life. According to the American Psychological Association, at least one-third of Americans are living with extreme stress, and nearly half of all Americans report that stress has a negative impact on both their personal and professional lives.

 

Common symptoms related to stress and anxiety include

 

  • Restlessness, agitation, and irritability

  • Constant worrying or feelings of fear

  • Difficulty falling or staying asleep

  • Not able to relax and take a break

  • Racing thoughts

  • Difficulty concentrating and keeping focused 

  • Fuzziness and foggy-mindedness

  • Teeth grinding

  • Fatigue and exhaustion

  • Tight and achy muscles (especially of the back and neck)

  • Headaches

  • Stomach cramps

  • Abdominal bloating

  • Constipation and diarrhea

  • Chest pain

  • Shortness of breath or shallow breathing

  • Heart palpitations

  • Rapid heart beat

  • Loss of sexual desire

 

Acupuncture for stress and anxiety can balance the nervous system, down-regulating the sympathetic nervous system while activating the parasympathetic nervous system. This allows you to enter a state of calm and relaxation, which will improve digestion and promote more restful sleep. Acupuncture for stress management can also improve circulation, soothe away muscle tension and aches, as well as release neurotransmitters and endorphins to relieve pain.

 

As with any condition, acupuncture and Chinese medicine for stress relief emphasizes the importance of understanding the root cause of the stress. As such, lifestyle adjustments are an essential part of our stress management treatment plans. Here at Optim Health and Acupuncture, we also often integrate other modalities such as Qigong, Tai Chi, movement therapy, Chinese herbal medicine, cupping therapy, and nutritional counseling into our acupuncture for anxiety and stress relief treatments.

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