Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress, and generally this helps us to cope with trying situations.   Most of us at some point in our lives will experience stress and anxiety, but for some it can become a debilitating disorder over time, particularly if you start to dread everyday situations.

Anxiety shows itself in many forms, from excessive worrying, panic attacks or mild paranoia, to obsessive compulsive disorders (OCD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

It can manifest in symptoms such as sweating, nausea, disturbed sleep, diarrhoea, heart palpitations, dizziness, tension and aches in muscles, tiredness, insomnia, or painful or irregular periods.  You may find your mind is racing from one thing to another, you may be dealing with difficult and traumatic family issues or you might start to worry constantly about everyday things, such as work and finances.

Anxiety can also make other existing health issues worse, such as irritable bowel syndrome, tension headaches and migranes, back pain, dizziness, tingling sensations, a fear of losing control, and a fear of dying.

In Chinese Medicine the mind and digestive system are closely linked, and any trauma or situation we find difficulty resolving mentally can cause damage to the digestive system and the mind.

Acupuncture treatments work to help relieve anxiety and stress by regulating levels of neurotransmitters and hormones such as serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine and helping to alter the brain’s mood chemistry to combat negative feelings.

Helen Were is an acupuncturist and yoga teacher and also works with essential oils.  Each treatment is tailored to you, the patient, and may include practical and achievable lifestyle suggestions to help you on your healing journey.  All treatments are fully confidential, and are held in a safe and relaxing environment.