The feeling of anxiety and depression is overwhelming and all consuming. These emotions can be triggered by a situation or a circumstance or in some cases with no cause at all.
Anxiety
Most of the time, a little anxiety helps us deal with dangerous situations. When anxiety becomes maladaptive and a hindrance in our life it may be time to speak with someone who can help. Feeling anxious is an unpleasant sensation of uncertainty regarding a future threat. It can make us feel unsure, insecure and scared. Dread and other unpleasant feelings can infiltrate our thoughts and cause sensations of panic, stomach ache and fatigue.
Anxiety is one of the most common mental health issues and many lifestyle and biological factors can contribute to it. Withdrawal from certain medications can also cause feelings of panic and alarm. Experiencing too much anxiety can be like having an alarm that never goes off. You may feel your heart beating faster, your chest muscles getting tighter and have a sensation of tingling or numbness in your fingers and toes.
Psychologically, anxiety can impact how we think, feel and act, thus preventing us from doing things we would normally do. It may be that our way of looking at things (i.e. wanting things to be perfect) or other unhelpful coping strategies are getting in the way of enjoying life.
Every individual is unique and therefore the cause and treatment of these feelings also unique. These are some suggested treatment options that may work on their own or in conjuction with one another.
Talking to a therapist can help you recognize patterns of thinking or behaviours that are creating obstacles in your life. Learning helpful coping strategies can start to replace old tactics that are unsupportive.
Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine the heart holds the mind. Treatment of anxiety and depression is often centered around healing the theoretical heart meridian (energy pathway) to aid in resolving feelings of sadness, worry, anxiety, insomnia, palpitation and chest constriction.
Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs can be a safe, effective option in treating mild to moderate cases of anxiety and depression. Please call to speak to one of our practitioners to see if this is the right option for you.
Depression
We all have bouts of unhappiness in our lives from time to time; however, sometimes the feeling of unhappiness does not go away. Depression can feel like there is no light at the end of the tunnel and hope cannot be found. When someone feels this way it can be a serious medical condition that requires professional help.
Depression can have many causes including suffering a loss, experiencing stressful life events, certain effects of medication and so on. Sometimes symptoms of depression can be obvious like feeling very sad, crying, and feeling helpless. Other times, symptoms of depression are less obvious like fatigue, anger, difficulties at work and aches or pains in our body that have no physiological cause.
Managing depression may involve the cooperation of several health care providers who work together to help you get through this difficult time in your life. The important thing is to find a health care provider that you trust and can speak openly with about your feelings.
Postpartum Depression
Bringing a new baby into the world can have an effect on new parents that they were unprepared for. Postpartum depression can affect male and female parents and create an emotional struggle during pregnancy or after the birth of a baby. Some common signs of postpartum depression can include feeling sad, anxious, guilty or angry. Parents with postpartum depression can have feelings of either not looking forward to the birth of the baby or not enjoying their baby after the birth. These feelings can be weighted with judgement and guilt that can prevent someone from seeking care. Speaking with an understanding and empathic therapist can help in lifting feelings of shame and stigma.
Suggested Treatment Options:
Counselling and Psychotherapy
Mental health counselling can be an effective way to identify the problems and provide tools to manage these feelings.
Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine the heart holds the mind. Treatment of anxiety and depression is often centered around healing the theoretical heart meridian (energy pathway) to aid in resolving feelings of sadness, worry, anxiety, insomnia, palpitation and chest constriction.
Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs can be a safe, effective option in treating mild to moderate cases of anxiety and depression. Please call to speak to one of our practitioners to see if this is the right option for you.