2020 has been a year full of uncertainty, fear and STRESS!
So what is stress? Stress is a feeling of emotional or physical tension. Stress can stem from external stimuli such as from the environment or from psychological or social situations, or internal stimulus such as illness or a medical procedure. It can come from any event or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry or nervous. In short bursts, stress can be positive, such as when it helps you avoid danger or meet a deadline. However, prolonged exposure to stressors can have devastating and long-lasting effects on both your health and interpersonal relationships.
Are there different types of stress?
In fact there are two: “positive” and “negative” stress. Positive stress can motivate you to get that promotion at work or run the last mile of a marathon. Negative stress, however, can seriously interfere with your job, family life or health. More than half of Americans say they fight with friends and loved ones because of stress, and more than 70% say they experience real physical and emotional symptoms from it. In fact 50% of U.S. workers admit to experiencing office stress and 25% say work is the biggest source of stress in their lives.
So what causes stress?
The cause of stress is different for everyone. The most common stressors people experience, especially during the COVID 19 pandemic, are:
Death of a loved one
Divorce
Loss of a job
Increase in financial obligations
Getting married
Moving to a new home
Chronic illness or injury
Emotional problems (depression, anxiety, anger, grief, guilt, low self-esteem)
Taking care of an elderly or sick family member
Traumatic event, such as a natural disaster, theft, rape or violence against you or a loved one
Home schooling your children
Perhaps less thought-of stressors that negatively affect your health include:
Being unhappy at your job
Having a heavy workload or too much responsibility
Working long hours
Having poor management, unclear expectations of your work or no say in decision-making
Working under dangerous conditions
Being insecure about your chance for advancement or risk of termination
Having to give speeches in front of colleagues
Facing discrimination or harassment at work, especially if your company isn't supportive
What are the symptoms to look for if you think you might be suffering from stress?
Stress disturbs the body's internal balance or equilibrium, leading to both physical and emotional symptoms. Physical symptoms most commonly present in the body as:
Headaches
Upset stomach
Elevated blood pressure
Chest pain
Sexual dysfunction
Problems sleeping
Dizziness or a general feeling of "being out of it"
General aches and pains
Teeth grinding, jaw clenching
Indigestion or acid reflux
Increase in or loss of appetite
Muscle tension in neck, face and/or shoulders
Racing heart
Cold and sweaty palms
Tiredness, exhaustion
Trembling, shaking
Weight gain or loss
Emotional symptoms include but are not limited to:
Depression
Panic attacks
Anxiety
Worry
What does research say about the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating stress?
According to Effectiveness of Acupuncture Therapy on Stress in a Large Urban College Population, a clinical trial was conducted on 62 participants
to study the effectiveness of acupuncture on the perception of stress in patients who study or work on a large, urban college campus. The participants were randomly placed into two groups: verum (traditional) acupuncture group and a sham acupuncture group. Both the groups received treatments once a week for 12 weeks. After the 12 weeks, the group that received verum acupuncture showed a significantly greater treatment effect than the sham acupuncture group. This study indicates that acupuncture is successful in decreasing the perception of stress in students and staff at a large urban university, and this effect persists for at least three months after the completion of treatment.
So how can The Point of Health Wellness Center help?
We are so happy you asked! Together we discover the root cause of your stress utilizing a specific stress detection technique performed during your initial exam that allows the body to alert us to the areas of the body that are stressed. The body always lets us know what's going on internally. Because we treat based on the root cause and the symptoms you are experiencing we’re able to offer a holistic approach to wellness. During the second visit we discuss nutrition and how you can use food as medicine, and on the third visit we discuss herbs. The whole experience is geared towards treating your body's specific needs from several different vantage points. We know the road to stress management can be a long and hard one, but be encouraged you’re not on this journey alone.
The Point of Health and Wellness Center is here for you!