For anyone who has experienced depression, the symptoms can be debilitating. Having a lack of enjoyment in activities, isolation, and feeling hopeless are just a few characteristics of depression and can make a person feel defeated. Luckily, there are so many successful tools that can be used to assist with the devastating effects of depression, with acupuncture being one of them.
Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine that involves a doctor placing small needles into the body to alleviate pain. Acupuncture is ideally supposed to help balance the energy pathways throughout the body – a process that has been known to help alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression. This technique is said to increase function and evoke the body’s natural healing responses through physiological systems. Acupuncture could be a wonderful way for a person with depression to relieve some of their stress and pain.
Here is what one can expect after scheduling an appointment for acupuncture:
- A doctor will ask questions regarding one’s health, history, sleeping patterns, stress levels, emotional quality, and more. This time is crucial for the person to be as honest as possible so that the doctor can determine exactly which pathways need opened the most.
- The doctor will then check the person’s pulse and tongue. In Chinese medicinal practices, checking the pulse provides the doctor with a lot of valuable information about the body. Additionally, checking the tongue is said to correspond to many other areas of the body for an acupuncturist.
- The doctor will place needles along certain points of the body. Acupuncture theory holds that when someone’s life is unbalanced, this can be found in the body’s meridians, or invisible paths of action in the body. When a doctor inserts needles into that path, it assists the body with healing itself and rejuvenating that person’s chi, or life force that flows between organs.
Some individuals indicate minor uncomfortable feelings when the needles are inserted, but most do not indicate any major pain experienced. Acupuncture is a holistic method that has been said to provide several benefits to individuals suffering from pain, anxiety, and depression. If someone is considering acupuncture, they should first consult a doctor to ensure this method is most appropriate for them.
Millions of people have suffered from depression and acupuncture is one of many resources available for someone who suffers from this. A person should try several different tools to see what works best for them – acupuncture, therapy, treatment, support groups, meditation, and self-care activities are just a few other ways in which someone can take steps closer towards their mental health and well-being.
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