Calm the chaos
STRESS
How acupuncture helps you unwind.
Stress is a daily epidemic for most people—especially New Yorkers! It can manifest in many different ways, depending on the individual. Some common symptoms of stress include anxiety, depression, panic attacks, racing thoughts, rapid heartbeat, irritability, tight muscles, and pain in the neck, shoulders, jaw, and back, as well as an inability to take a deep breath.
The Science Behind Acupuncture and Stress
From a scientific perspective, acupuncture helps regulate the body's response to stress by down-regulating the sympathetic nervous system (also known as the fight or flight response) and stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system (the rest and digest mode). This shift in nervous system activity helps patients feel calmer and more balanced after treatment. Research even shows that acupuncture reduces the stress response over time, promoting long-term emotional regulation and nervous system resilience.
Traditional Chinese Medicine Perspective
From a Chinese Medicine perspective, acupuncture is uniquely suited to address how each person manifests stress. For example, someone who experiences shoulder tension and headaches due to stress may receive a different treatment than someone who struggles with insomnia or digestive issues when under pressure. As always in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), treatment is individualized, taking a holistic approach that addresses the root imbalances causing symptoms.
Practitioners carefully assess the patient’s current state and design a customized acupuncture treatment to both manage present stress symptoms and help the individual build better resilience to future stressful situations.
What to Expect from Acupuncture for Stress
Patients often leave an acupuncture session feeling deeply relaxed, centered, and de-stressed. Over time, regular acupuncture treatments can improve how the body responds to stress, support better sleep, improve mental clarity, and reduce physical tension associated with chronic stress.
