Anxiety Attacks

 

I have read that emotional or mental problems can often be more painful and difficult to cope with than many physical problems.  I’m sure that anyone who has suffered severe anxiety attacks and/or depression would agree with this.  Emotional pain cannot be ‘seen’.  Often the sufferer does not look ill.  Yet we are affected at a deep level, and sometimes for no apparent reason.  Anxiety attacks are emotional problems, yet some people also suffer physical symptoms during an attack.

What is an Anxiety Attack?

 

An anxiety or panic attack is an overwhelming episode when a person can experience heart palpitations, chest pain, sweating and shaking. These symptoms can often be mistaken for a heart attack.  Other symptoms can include nausea, dry mouth, dizziness and increased heart and breathing rates.

 

What Causes Anxiety Attacks?

 

An emotionally stressful event or an illness can trigger anxiety attacks.  They can also occur quite unexpectedly. One of the main problems with these occurrences is that once a person experiences an attack, there is a constant dread of another one.  Just the anticipation of an attack can be enough to cause yet another episode, and this is where the vicious cycle begins.

 

Many sufferers of anxiety attacks are prescribed anti-depressant drugs.  Although sufferers are often not depressed, these are taken to prevent the physical symptoms that cause further attacks. 

 

How can acupuncture help?

Acupuncture can provide a gentle, safe and effective tool to relieve anxiety attacks and stress. An acupuncturist can help restore balance and thus protect health by identifying each individual’s unique energy profile to see where the weak spots are and where support is needed to restore balance. This way the recurrent pattern of anxiety attacks can be stopped, not just at the physical level, but at a much deeper emotional level where the root of the imbalance lies. As the heavy feelings of stress are relieved, this is usually accompanied with a feeling of overall well being.  This helps a person feel more confident in his or her ability to cope with the stresses and strains of life.

 

An acupuncturist will begin a course of treatment by taking a full medical history.  This helps to form a holistic diagnosis, and also rule out more serious conditions. We then take a number of pulses on each wrist, as this can give us further information about the balance of energy within the body.  The emotional and physical appearance of a person is also taken into account in forming an overall picture.  No two people are treated in exactly the same way.

 

Acupuncture works by inserting very fine needles into the skin.  This affects the body’s life energy called Qi (pronounced ‘chi’).  It is the careful balancing of this Qi energy that encourages the body to heal and re-balance itself.

 

If you would like to make an appointment, or book a free consultation,with Linda Colclasure, one of the Earlsdon Practice's acupuncturists, please contact us here at the Earlsdon Practice by completing the form on our contact page or call us on 02476 691100.