Although distinct from each other, these two conditions are remarkably common. Definitions are broad, but on the whole, we might say stress is perceived when we feel under an unwelcome amount of pressure (time, commitments, work, money etc), and it may cause symptoms ranging from brooding resentment to irritability, or headaches to indigestion. Anxiety on the other hand, is an emotion often physically experienced in the region of the heart: it may be accompanied by an awareness of the heart beating, a rapid or pounding heart, a vague unease in the chest, or shallow, rapid breathing. Anxiety can undermine self-confidence, and people can be left feeling it is holding them back in their lives (career progression, travel, meeting new friends etc). Both conditions are usually responsive to acupuncture, and so I start by finding out all about how you are feeling.

Taking stress firstly, I find it actually plays a role in quite a few of the conditions I treat: it may have been a causal component in the development of a problem eg. chronic headaches which started during a particularly stressful year, or it may noticeably aggravate pre-existing conditions as diverse as back pain, irritable bowel syndrome, psoriasis or depression. It helps if when you come, you are able to share as much as you can about the causes of your stress, whether it be work, caring for relatives, or any other experience you are going through. I will be interested to learn how it is affecting you in all its manifestations eg. irritability, poor sleep, digestive disturbances, headaches, raised blood pressure. As usual, we will cover your health in the wider sense too, and take account of any other concerns or conditions. I will formulate a treatment plan, and together we will discuss some coping strategies appropriate to your circumstances; these may involve exercise, relaxation, delegation of some responsibilities etc, and we will monitor their success. My aim overall though, is that you shouldn’t just feel less stressed whilst you are having a course of treatment, but that you should actually carry away with you, new ways of living your life, which lead to a permanent change in the way you feel.

Moving on to anxiety next, you may well have identified particular situations which arouse it eg. knowing you are going to have to speak in a meeting at work. Anxiety, like stress, also has the capacity to affect sleep, and so this aspect of your life may need some help too. I shall ask all about how the anxiety began, and by combining this information with your answers to my questions about your general health, I can devise a treatment plan. Sometimes this might include some dietary advice, emphasising particular foods to include in your daily menu. Additionally, since our ears have many useful acupuncture points on them, I might if you wish, affix a tiny seed over an appropriate point; it will often go unnoticed by others, or be covered by your hair, but when you locate it with your finger and squeeze it against the ear, you may find it quite calming. I often give these to people who have a fear of flying, to aid them at the airport and on board the plane.

Anxiety is frequently a fairly long-term pattern in people I see, and it ranges from mild to severe. On the whole though, I expect to have to treat for two to three months, on a weekly basis. An exception would be the fear of flying example above, where if you have got as far as already booking a trip, then a few treatments beforehand might suffice to give you a holiday, as opposed to an ordeal.

A systematic review of the evidence for the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of anxiety, has been published by London’s University of Westminster. In all, twelve controlled trials were found, and all had positive findings. The authors conclude the results are promising, and recommend further research. (Acupuncture in Medicine June 2007)