Autumn Anxiety is real, and you can treat it

New England is a spectacular place in the fall. The crisp air is clear and the forests burst into vibrant color that sometimes takes the breath away.

Fall in New England – and anywhere else north or south of the equator – for many people also triggers a sense of unease. They start to think of the reduced hours of daylight, the cold, the piles of snow, and the inevitability that Aunt Marguerite will talk about politics at Thanksgiving dinner.

On top of that, it feels like summer just rushed by in a blink, with the first days of school and renewed bustle at work replacing the languid days.

Autumn Anxiety is the relatively new term for this age-old condition. Happily, along with the name also comes recognition that it can be treated.

Studies now show that acupuncture can be an effective treatment for anxiety and other states of mind.

The National Center for Biotechnology Information, a division of the National Institutes of Health, surveyed six research papers and that acupuncture does result in positive outcomes for anxiety and depression. (The studies concentrated on pregnant women, but the results can reasonably apply to any anxiety-causing condition.)

A licensed acupuncturist will ask you questions about your anxiety and treatments you already receive to arrive at a diagnosis specific to you. The diagnosis will guide the choice of acupoints that will help release the flow of Qi, or life energy, within your body.

Acupuncture releases blockages of Qi and allows hormones, endorphins and other chemicals to move freely throughout your body, resulting in more energy and less anxiety.

Your practitioner will discuss complimentary ways to reduce anxiety, too. Concentrating on steady and deep breathing helps to cleanse your lungs. Exercise, including walking, improves blood flow and increases endorphins as well. You may also discuss diet, herbal therapy, and meditation to “stay in the moment” (instead of planning too far in the future for Aunt Marguerite’s visit).

The combination of acupuncture with a healthy, active lifestyle is documented to result in effective anxiety reduction, even weeks after the last acupuncture treatment.

Are you ready to treat your Autumn Anxiety? Contact us at info@mayfloweracupuncture.com or (860) 413-2118 to set up an appointment.