There are many reasons why someone may want to seek out acupuncture. It is a form of complementary medicine that can positively impact a range of physical and mental conditions. Of these, acupuncture for anxiety and stress may be one of the most common. To know when you need acupuncture in Markham, first, you need to identify the signs of stress.
Signs that you may need acupuncture for anxiety and stress
1. Aches and pains
Headaches. Muscle twinges. Everything becomes tensed when you are stressed and that can lead to acute or even chronic pain. It can affect any part of the body, but it may not have an obvious cause.
2. Trouble sleeping
We all have had some experience of tossing and turning at night, unable to sleep. It is a lot more common when we are stressed and unable to reach the state of relaxation we need to rest. Instead, we dwell on our problems mentally and feel our physical troubles more acutely.
3. Digestive issues
These can take many forms, with heartburn and indigestion among the most common. You probably know that when you are stressed or anxious, your appetite suffers (whether over- or under eating), you may not appreciate food in the same way and sometimes even the thought of eating is painful. Sometimes the pain becomes a physical, literal thing.
4. Cognitive problems
When you are stressed, it is harder to concentrate. You may not remember things properly. Simple reasoning and problem-solving skills go out of the window. Of course, this makes it harder to tackle the source of your stress. You may also overthink things, become irritable and be in a constant low or anxious mood that clouds your mind and judgement.
5. Fight or flight mode
One of the most ancient and fundamental human instincts, when confronting a stressful situation is – to enter a so-called “fight or flight mode.” Essentially, you get ready for action. Your heart rate and blood pressure increase, your breathing becomes more rapid, your pupils dilate and you experience various other physical and mental effects. This can be helpful in the short-term for dealing with an immediate threat, but it’s not sustainable over a long period of time, as sometimes happens with chronic stress.
How acupuncture in Markham may help
Acupuncture is often used as a way to alleviate stress and its symptoms. It encourages your body to abandon fight or flight mode, switching back from the sympathetic nervous system to the parasympathetic nervous system that controls our state of rest. You should feel calmer, clear-headed and more relaxed. Acupuncture may also have pain-relieving properties to treat the physical aches and pains of stress.
Stress can be complicated in its impact on the body. There are a wide range of physical and mental symptoms that could signal that you are too stressed, but they can also vary from person to person. The symptoms above are some of the most common, and most likely to be treatable with acupuncture.