Acupuncture is one of the holistic treatments that people have been curious about for decades. It is primarily an Asian technique that requires a lot of professional skill on the side of the practitioner, and a lot of trust on the side of the patient. But still, the practice of acupuncture and its resounding success in helping people with depressive disorders has been its claim to fame. Whether you’re using it just to relax your muscles or you desperately need something other than drugs to help you conquer your panic attacks, acupuncture for anxiety symptoms is worth checking out.
How can acupuncture be a valid treatment for depression and anxiety?
The validity of acupuncture as an anxiety cure depends on the efficacy of this treatment on the patient doing the review. Some would answer with a “yes”, while others would say “maybe”. The middle ground would be that acupuncture plays a big role in relieving stress, which in turn has a big part to play in conquering anxiety. Acupuncture was primarily a relaxation tool, until many enthusiasts started raving about how this treatment helped them relieve their other pains, including psychological imbalances. The testimonials are too many to ignore, and soon, many anxiety patients are going for this option.
Why does this work for some patients, and not for others?
Not all users that have tried acupuncture can vouch for its effectiveness. One reason may be the underlying fear that sticking needles all over the body could lead to long term effects. Anxiety patients on rehabilitation from heroin dependence, in particular, may find the treatment unnerving because it reminds them of the time when they were shooting up heroine. Even when a user was never a heroin addict, the thought of sticking needles just below the skin surface may be alarming and bring about a whole new set of fears. The treatment itself may not be painful, but many users can imagine all sorts of pains related with needles while they are going through or considering this type of treatment.
On the other hand, acupuncture becomes a better alternative to massage therapy for most users because there is little direct contact with the practitioner. A socially anxious person may appreciate the thought of not having skin to skin contact with a practitioner, even in a professional setting.
Alternative to Medication
Many users frequently show dependence to pharmaceuticals that can combat anxiety. What happens is that these users don’t know how to find a replacement for the drug when they are finally at the last leg of psychiatric treatment. Instead of increasing the dose of the drugs, which would lead to more problems related with dependence, the patients would try holistic practices like acupuncture.
Acupuncture has always been seen as one of the cure-alls for many disorders, even those serious diseases that could otherwise become deadly. But the primary reason why acupuncture for anxiety would work is its effect on the emotions and confidence. People that go through the treatment feel relaxed and rejuvenated. These feelings are instrumental in treating anxiety problems.
