Anxiety is one of the most common complaints I see in my practice. The Chinese believed it is due to an unrested Spirit or Shen disturbance due to a possible variety of conditions in the body. Do you find yourself losing sleep because you wake up with a racing mind? Are you unable to initially fall asleep because your anxious thoughts keep you from relaxing? Perhaps you actually do fall asleep but wake feeling tired and unrested and your anxiety seems to have doubled two-fold overnight? Is the anxiety interrupting your work capabilities? Difficulty feeling like you are “on top of your game”? Feel like your shoulders are permanently attached to your earlobes from the stress the anxiety is causing? You are not alone!
Acupuncture and Herbs can help! Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners focus on calming the spirit and treating the true root of the problem. It is believed that if we treat the root, the branches will fall into their correct place in the tree. The symptoms that are experienced will fall away and the anxiety will become controlled once more. This process does take time and can be complicated by life and hormonal shifts so be ready for possible ups-and-downs during your treatment duration. If you have any questions, please feel free to comment on this blog or ask your Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner. And of course, if you feel you need immediate Western medical attention for your anxiety, please contact your primary care physician.