Depression, Mood and Acupuncture
Darker longer days…. cooler, wetter weather:
It doesn’t have to mean depressed thoughts
OR Seasonal Affect Disorder.
EVER AGAIN
Misty cold mornings and dreary skies don’t have to mean your moods are the same!
This autumn turn your expected gloomy and glum mood into lifted spirits, beautiful appreciation, and unexpected joy over the marvel that is the official change of season.
As someone who spent half her life in very sunny, very hot climates in America, I came to England with the expectation of enjoying some sorely missed rain. It turns out I lacked an appreciation for the sunshine I had for so many years, but now that Ive been in England for so long, I learned I relish more than anything not the cold, not the hot, but the actual CHANGE itself. Seasonal change. Always brings the good with the bad, but more so it brings renewed LIFE.
Every seasonal change is a new opportunity to embrace positive actions and release negative stagnation.
Who doesn’t want that?
But….instead what I see year after year in clinic is the onset of colder weather making people frown, worry about shorter days, get anxious over expecting to feel sad and lonely and cold.
It so does NOT have to be that way. EVER. The eternal YIN/Yang symbol, that black and white circle every one is kind of familiar with, dictates the laws that life is ever-changing, ever-flowing, and circular within itself because that is how our energy flows to create good health.
Meaning when we resist change and flow and progress it goes against nature. And when we try to fight the natural state of things, so often we find that we become unhappy.
In more clinical terms we gradually lose our level of endorphins- those feel-good chemicals our bodies produce to keep our moods happy. And once that happens in the ever-flowing, circular systems, our mind and body begins to fold in on itself as one chemical after another becomes imbalanced due to knock on effects.
Result: Imbalanced Hormones leading to depression, anxiety, stress, worry, fear, sadness, lethargy
So, whats the answer? Acupuncture can play a huge role in taking action.
walking is as great way to prevent depression from taking hold, bundle up and be brisk!
How does acupuncture treat depression?
Depression is a very different experience for each individual and diagnosing the unique pattern of disharmony is at the heart of traditional acupuncture’s approach to treatment.
In order to arrive at the appropriate diagnosis the acupuncturist will usually take a full case history and discuss symptoms and physical information through minor examination.
Each diagnosis is bespoke and point selection is based on the individual’s needs and may vary from person to person and week to week. Example, one week we might do a session on the back and the next week we do a session with needles on the front of the body.
Don’t let seasonal cooler weather and darker days get you down, acupuncture can lift spirits!
Usually a standard course is about 6 sessions, some chronic conditions take longer.
Is there Anything I Can Do?
Being treated with Acupuncture is not just about having something “done to” you. It is also about taking steps to actively manage your own health and wellbeing and treatment is a partnership between patient and practitioner. At this clinic we will guide you through your entire journey, always address your concerns or questions. and really listen to what’s going on with you, because that is the only way we can really treat the core of the issue, not just mask symptoms like so many drugs do.
Diet has a major impact on our health and there are many studies confirming the dramatic effect that nutrition has on our mental/emotional wellbeing. If you don’t know where to start or feel to unmotivated to eat properly or at all, talk to us in the clinic we can get you started and there is the option of introducing some vitamin supplements and education on necessities like fish oils and other essential fatty acids, for example.
Exercise and movement. The more the better but even a short walk everyday starts the healing. Movement choices and exercise programmes are usually discussed as options in session.
And volunteering, any activity you take initiative to begin sets you on a path to pride and boosted endorphin activity!
Combine those with a course of acupuncture and you are on your way to super star healing and feeling joy in the movement, the CHANGE, of life around you, whatever the weather might bring!!!
Call today and see how we at Thames Acupuncture could boost your mood, your outlook and your healthy happiness this coming winter! Bbrbrrr!!