>> Diseases
and Conditions Treated by Chinese Medicine
and Acupuncture
Anxiety and Panic Attacks
Everyone experiences stress and fear. In a fast-paced city like New York, these feelings are almost impossible to avoid. When everyday stress isn’t processed and released, stress hormones and tension can build up in the body. It may become difficult to relax or feel calm even in non-threatening situations. Your nervous system may begin to overreact to small stressors, causing you to feel chronic tension or panic in everyday situations. A body that is not allowed to rest or relax becomes frazzled and exhausted. When a person’s nervous system is out of balance like this, he or she can develop chronic anxiety and/or panic disorders.
If you have a panic or anxiety disorders, you may suffer from a range of symptoms. Emotionally, you may feel tense, irritable, worried or frustrated. You might be jittery and easily startled. Physically you may experience sleep upsets, general muscle tension, digestive problems, jaw tension or tooth grinding, and a chronic lump in your throat. During a panic attack, you may experience heart palpitations, tightness in your chest, difficulty breathing, dizziness, sweating, shaking, dry mouth, feelings of overwhelming fear, and a fear of “going crazy.” Often times, patients say that when they have a panic attack it feels like they’re having a heart attack.
If you are experiencing an anxiety disorder, you are not alone. Approximately 40 million Americans, ages 18 and older, have an anxiety disorder. The disorder affects twice as many women as men. Anxiety conditions can range from mild to debilitating.
Western medicine typically treats anxiety problems with talk therapy in combination with drugs like antidepressants, SSRIs, and MAO inhibitors. The side effects of these drugs, however, can be extreme or unpleasant. Drugs also can mask the problem by addressing only symptoms, and not addressing the root of the disorder.
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) —both acupuncture and herbs—can help you reclaim your health and normalize your life. TCM deals with anxiety in a holistic way. The acupuncturist begins by conducting a thorough intake exam. During this exam, the patient is asked to describe his/her specific anxiety symptoms. Since no one experiences anxiety in exactly the same way, a detailed intake helps the acupuncturist create a treatment plan based on the individual’s needs. Acupuncture treatments for anxiety involve needling specific points that have a regulatory effect on the nervous system. This needling “resets” the nervous system so you can better process stress. Immediately you may feel more relaxed, experience a slowing of the heart rate, calmer breath, and muscular relaxation. Your endocrine systems will be called back into balance, so that you are no longer over-producing stress hormones.
If you experience panic attacks and anxiety, acupuncture can naturally and effectively help you overcome these problems. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
