Chinese medicine isn’t just for physical health: it can support our emotional health as well. 

 In today’s world, chronic stress, worry, anxiety, and depression can be such constant companions that we don’t always notice they’re present. It’s easy to become used to something that never goes away.

But that doesn’t mean it’s not there. These days, the majority of people who walk through my clinic door are experiencing some form of ongoing stress or emotional difficulty. It’s a hard world we live in, and many of us don’t get the time or resources we need to nourish ourselves emotionally.

This can be especially true if you’re someone who’s experienced any form of trauma. (Trauma can be big or little. It can be something you experienced once or over a long period of time. Anything that overwhelms your nervous system can leave a mark.)

Sometimes stress is a temporary spike, a particularly rough day or week. But what happens when the things that are stressful don’t stop, so you’re always in a state of reacting to them? Or when you’ve gone through a stressful phase and even though it’s over, you still feel bad?

This is chronic stress, and it’s more and more common. It can lead to, or be mixed with, anxiety, depression, or trauma responses. (So if this is you, you’re not alone, and it’s not your fault.)

Our nervous systems are always scanning for things that feel threatening. If your body perceives threat on a regular basis, or when it doesn’t understand that a previous threat is over, your stress hormones may be at a constantly high level. This can make you feel rotten, physically and emotionally.

You might be able to recognize that you’re worried, anxious, or depressed. Sometimes people say to me “I feel all of this in my head.”

Other times, emotions find a home in your body. Maybe mentally you feel calm, but you’re having trouble sleeping, or your hormones feel “off,” your digestion is super funky, or maybe your neck and back always hurt. 

In Chinese medicine, mind and body are not seen as separate. So any time chronic physical symptoms are present, it’s worth checking to see if there’s an emotional component.

If you’re struggling, I see you and I’m sorry for the hard things you’re experiencing. I can also offer help. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine work to gently regulate your nervous system so your body and mind can cope with whatever is present. You can experience greater emotional resilience, more calm and happiness, and more mental and physical vitality.