Do you find yourself feeling “stressed out,” “burnt out,” or just finding it hard to cope with what life throws at you? Are you dreading the stress of the upcoming holiday season? According to Merriam-Webster, stress is “a physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension and may be a factor in disease causation.” You can’t avoid stress; it’s part of what keeps us active and healthy, but stress can be “good” or “bad”. Some examples of good (beneficial) stress: exercise, eating, thinking, resting, or responding to an actual emergency situation. Too often though, we are bombarded with “bad” stress, such as: negative emotions, overthinking, over exertion, poor eating habits, poor sleep, and chemical or environmental pollution.
Stress becomes a problem when the normal stress response is triggered too often by the “bad” stressors. This can lead to:
- High levels of cortisol
- Adrenal exhaustion
- Depleted body energy.
Acupuncture can’t take your stress away, but it can change how your body reacts, or over-reacts, to the stressors in your life. Stressors over time can disrupt the smooth flow of Qi and Energy throughout the body, creating disharmony. Qi provides nourishment for every cell, tissue, muscle, gland, and organ in your body. So when Qi is blocked it can lead to illness, pain, mental problems, and disease. By removing these blockages, Qi can flow properly again to help you regain balance. By regaining balance, acupuncture can:
- Relax the body
- Calm and clear the mind
- Reduces anxiety
- Support digestive functions
- Eliminate headaches
- Help with pain, stiffness. and body aches
- Lower blood pressure
- Increase your energy.
What else can you do to help with stress (holiday or otherwise)?
- Acknowledge that it exist; don’t deny your stress!
- Reframe negative thoughts into positive ones.
- Exercise, even a 30-minute walk will get your Qi moving.
- Rest and eat well. Don’t overindulge!
- Meditation and/or yoga
- Book regular acupuncture appointments to keep you feeling your best.
So manage your stress and enjoy life more!