What can
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Grief
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Schizophrenic disorders
- Bipolar disorders
- Eating disorders
Mostly we find that by treating anxiety and depression, the severity of other symptoms will be reduced. This is how acupuncture can significantly improve the lives of people with more complicated mental illnesses.
How does acupuncture work for mental illness?
Acupuncture can provide the patient with a profound experience of relaxation. For people suffering mental illness, this initially can last only a short time (1-24 hours) but over a course of treatment, it gradually lasts longer and longer.
Emotionally, acupuncture has been reported to:
- Reduce the frequency and/or severity of panic attacks
- Increase the time of ‘connectedness’ or ‘being back in the world’
- Reduce irritability, frustration, outbursts of anger
- Reduce sadness, grief and hopelessness
- Reduce hyperactivity and enhance concentration
Physically, acupuncture treatment can:
- Improve sleep (which does so much)
- Regulate appetite, digestion and bowel motions
- Reduce urinary frequency
We work towards getting our patients back to the condition where they can implement a healthy and appropriate diet and exercise plan.
How many treatments will I need?
Most of patients can have significant improvement in one month, but this changes from person to person. It depends on the person’s:
- Severity of mental illness
- History (and family history of mental illness)
- Personal overall health
- Personal circumstances and lifestyle
- Personal goals in treatment
Clinically, we tend to find that people with more severe symptoms tend to have more dramatic responses. However, it can take more sessions overall for changes to settle in.
Overall health, lifestyle and circumstances have a big impact on each person’s ability to sustain changes. We will discuss plans that can help make the most of getting acupuncture.