Can Acupuncture Help with Chronic Stress?
Stress is your body’s response to an apparent danger. It is caused by the release and flow of chemicals and hormones in your body.
Everyone feels stressed at times. That said, stress is meant to be a temporary condition. After the perceived threat subsides, your heart rate and breathing are expected to decrease, and your muscles should unwind. Within a short period, your body is supposed to return to its normal state. Prolonged stress can be debilitating and interfere with daily life.
How Does Stress Affect Us?
Stress is a silent killer and can affect the quality of life in several ways. Chronic stress can interfere with normal body functions, causing digestion and sleep problems. Unchecked stress can contribute to a new health problem or exacerbate the symptoms of an existing disease.
Stress may also lead to unhealthy habits that can adversely affect a person’s physical and mental health. For example, many people struggling to cope with stress start using substances, smoking, or drinking alcohol in a desperate effort to manage their condition. These unhealthy habits can harm the body and mind and lead to more serious issues over time.
It’s not uncommon for a stressed person to lose the motivation to exercise and lead a healthy lifestyle. They may also stop going out and meeting people. Physical inactivity and social isolation can lead to a whole host of physical and mental health problems.
Causes of Stress
If you feel overwhelmed by your personal and professional responsibilities, constantly overthink and worry about something, or often feel frustrated, you may experience the symptoms of stress. Some life events that can trigger stress include the death of a loved one, moving home, and a difficult divorce or marriage. Other commonly reported causes of stress are family problems, abortion or pregnancy loss, and relationship problems.
How Can Acupuncture Help?
Acupuncture in Santa Rosa is an integral part of TCM. It involves inserting paper-thin needles strategically at different points on the body to balance the flow of energy or life force.
Studies show that acupuncture stimulates specific points in the body, encouraging the release of “happy hormones” including endorphins and oxytocin, and can also lower your stress hormone levels.
Happy hormones or feel-good hormones signal the body to unwind and relax, and instill a sense of safety and security, allowing the stress response to be switched off. Happy hormones can also help reduce pain and inflammation caused by stress.
Acupuncture is drug-free and can hence reduce dependence on stress medications which can have several side effects. It does not have any major side effects and is 100 percent safe when performed by an expert. Many people feel relaxed, while others feel energized after an acupuncture session.
We, at Acupuncture Mama, take a holistic treatment approach to acupuncture and health overall. Our acupuncturists use a variety of TCM techniques to treat the root causes of acute and chronic conditions. To schedule your first appointment at our Santa Rosa clinic, call 707-303-7200.
