In our daily life; We call stress the collection of negative and distressing emotions created in our inner world by all kinds of difficulties and inhibitions we encounter in interpersonal relations and social events. Stress factors include major disasters, daily challenges, environmental factors, and significant life changes.
According to modern medicine, the human organism is under the influence of two opposing systems. One of these systems is the sympathetic system and the other is the parasympathetic system. The sympathetic system prepares the person for struggle. It becomes active in the face of a threat and activates the necessary actions of fighting or fleeing in the person. During this period, there is a strong release of adrenaline.
Under the influence of adrenaline, the heart accelerates, the rate of breathing increases, blood sugar increases, blood pressure rises, the blood volume going to the arms and legs increases, the metabolism accelerates, the muscles become ready for the fight. The parasympathetic system directs the person to relax, relax and replace the energy stores that he has consumed. For this purpose, the heart and respiration slows down, the blood is drawn from the arms and legs into the abdomen, and the digestive activity is accelerated. The person becomes ready to sleep and rest. It is a necessary and life-saving feature that the sympathetic system activates in times of obvious threat or danger. However, the fact that this system continues to operate outside of a clear threat creates tension in the person. One cannot relax, he is always ready to fight. Muscles are tense and cannot relax. The brain is alert and cannot relax. Cardiac and respiratory system is impaired. This corrupt order keeps all systems on alert. This can last for months or even years.
According to the science of acupuncture, these two systems are called yin and yang. Yin represents the parasympathetic system and yang represents the sympathetic system. These two systems are in balance and both must be strong enough. Stress; The increase in yang energy in the meridians means that the yin energy decreases over time. Acupuncture balances yin and yang.
Stress creates a predisposition to anger (fight response of sympathetic system), anxiety (how many response of sympathetic system), depression and addictions. Symptoms of stress are divided into physical and psychological.
Psychological manifestations of stress:
Forgetfulness
Being easily irritable and moody
Losing control and feeling suffocated
Difficulty in resting the mind
Feeling lonely, worthless and depressed Unstable mood
Depression
Restlessness,
Sleep disorder,
Lack of mental performance,
Difficulty concentrating
Anxiety
Forgetfulness and disorganization
Competitive thinking
Concentration problems
Indecision
Being pessimistic
Changes in appetite
Avoiding responsibility
Increased alcohol or cigarette use
Nail biting
Foot or shaking legs
Physical signs of stress: (
Low energy
Headache
Stomach ailments (reflux, upper stomach pain)
Muscle pain
Chest pains, fast heart beats
Frequent colds, infections
Insomnia, interrupted sleep
Loss of sexual interest or dysfunction
Cold or sweaty hands-feet, ringing in the ears , tremor
Dry mouth, difficulty swallowing
Teeth grinding
Decreased appetite or overeating,
Altered bowel habits, episodes of diarrhea or constipation , irritable colon,
Thyroid problems,
menstrual irregularities,
Infertility,
Stress-induced obesity
Breathing problems
Asthma,
Palpitations,
Migraine, headache heat
Sweating
Urticaria,
Pain,
Panic attack,
Weight gain,
Constipation
If you have one or more of these symptoms, you should first eliminate the stress factors in your life.
In some cases, it is not possible to escape from that stress factor. At this stage, it may not be possible to minimize the effects of this alone.
Effects of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Stress:
Acupuncture ensures the balanced functioning of the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous Systems.
Acupuncture; It makes the region of the human brain called the limbic system, which struggles with stress and manages our organ functions through the autonomic nervous system, stronger.
Also; It overcomes the state of being stressed and makes the person feel calmer, more peaceful and comfortable.
Acupuncture eliminates these negativities by affecting the neuroendocrine (nerve-hormone) system.
Acupuncture increases the levels of serotonin and endorphins in the circulation, giving the person peace and pleasure, reducing anxiety and providing sedation.
Acupuncture raises the patient’s pain threshold and eliminates stress-related pain.
Stress treatment with acupuncture should be planned as at least 20 sessions.
Sessions last between 20-30 minutes.
The frequency of application is determined by the clinical intensity of the stress.
It is helpful to apply three sessions of reminder therapy once a year.
Acupuncture has no known side effects.
