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DALL·E 2024-06-24 11.06.57 - A gentle and calming background image for an acupuncture clin

Welcoming Calmness Into Your Life

Writer's picture: Paul GaucherPaul Gaucher

Having mild stress in our lives is beneficial towards positive life growth and achieving our goals.  However, when stress and anxiety are prolonged and more severe, our health can start to deteriorate. Being in health care, it’s hard for me to think of a health complaint that isn’t worsened by excessive stress.  Stress induces your body’s fight or flight reaction. A hormone called cortisol is produced and released in the blood stream and this causes the person to become fatigued, depressed and frustrated. It also causes sleeping problems, tightness in the shoulder and neck muscles, anxiety and pain in various parts of the body, including digestive problems, premenstrual symptoms in women, migraines and headaches among many others. These problems raise blood pressure and lead to a weaker immune system. 

Some of the more common signs of stress include: 


  • Easily frustrated, agitated, or moody

  • Nervousness and social anxiety

  • Depression

  • Muscle tension

  • Insomnia

  • Difficulty relaxing or quieting the mind

  • Low energy

  • Trouble focusing

  • Feeling overwhelmed and pessimistic

  • Digestive complaints


There are many ways to counteract the negative effects of stress.  Firstly, to minimize the buildup of stress, it’s important to set reasonable goals so that we don’t exhaust ourselves in our day to day living. If stress and anxiety become overwhelming, getting moderate exercise helps to release tension and improve sleep quality. Relaxation music in the morning and before bedtime can also help to soothe the nervous system after a busy day. Breathing exercises and yoga are also known to have similar calming effects. Spending time in nature is also very beneficial and grounding in regulating our nervous systems.



Any effective treatment for a busy lifestyle almost always involves treating the adrenal glands.  These small glands are important in regulating metabolism and initiating the stress response in our bodies, and when they become overused they have to be nourished in order to feel energized and balanced again.  Acupuncture works by moving and tonifying energy, whereas stress stops the flow of energy, which impairs our ability to address other health problems.  Acupuncture provides excellent stress reduction, and when combined with lifestyle and dietary recommendations, as well as appropriate herbal remedies, you can more effectively meet the demands in your life. 


Acupuncture stimulates the muscles and tissues in a person with extreme stress and this helps with the movement of blood and Qi. Acupuncture activates the brain to produce and release stress-suppressing hormones like serotonin and endorphins that leads to a deep relaxing sensation in the mind that relieves stress. It also balances cortisol levels in the blood and washes away toxins by enhancing blood flow.


For those interested in deeper emotional and spiritual transformation, treatment sessions are a place for you to talk through what’s happening in your life. To gain a better understanding of how to process difficult emotions and thoughts, it’s also important to learn about self-regulation techniques such meditation or mindfulness practices, and developing a spiritual approach that is best suited to you. These things are often some of the most powerful ways to get to the root cause of stress in your life.

When my patients receive acupuncture, they enjoy laying on a massage table in one of the most relaxed states they’ve been in for a long time. Sometimes they fall asleep, and sometimes they allow themselves to use the hour for quiet time to process some of the things that have been running through their minds, and to take a minute and breathe. 

Patients often report feeling more calm and serene for a few days after their treatment, and tend to sleep well for the next week or so. This is something that needs upkeep, as it’s not a one-time cure-all. It’s beneficial to schedule monthly sessions to combat the stresses and anxieties of everyday life in a natural, affordable way. 


Wishing you well,

Paul


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