 I recently returned to acupuncture after an accidental eight month hiatus and was instantly enveloped by its healing powers. Before falling into the zone of the treatment which can be best described as a deep and juicy nap, my mind started wandering to what it is, specifically, that I find helpful about this treatment modality (aside from the fact that my recurrent bronchitis never reoccurred after I started receiving it a few years ago).
You see, I've recommended acupuncture to many and a lot of the time people try it and love it. But understandably there are still people who are reticent to try something so different than their usual healthcare. Because the energetic ins and outs of this component of traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are someone else's field of expertise, I wanted to offer up three aspects of the work that I find deeply therapeutic, both as consumer and as a therapist : 1. You can talk to your acupuncturist about your symptom(s) without anticipating judgment. Let's face it: We don't address half the things we don't address because we are scared that our issues are too big, too complicated, or too shameful to say aloud (sometimes they are too something even to let into our awareness). But much like with psychotherapy, there is not much you can tell acupuncturists that they haven't heard before. Their education exposes them to every system of the body and their extensive hours of training allow them to witness what it is like for people to experience various issues. So whereas you may not always feel comfortable telling your friends or partner about some itchy aspect of your life, the regularity of your bowel movements, or even how often you feel weepy or anxious, your acupuncturist is ready to receive such information with an openness and readiness to alleviate your discomfort. 2. Each treatment session induces a state of sustained relaxation. Here's the world's quickest physiology lesson. Two main components of your autonomic (involuntary) nervous system are the sympathetic and the parasympathetic systems. The former is in charge of the “fight or flight” response, which is triggered by the perception of danger. Think increased heart rate, adrenaline rush, tensed muscles, and anything else that would help you gear up to fight for your life. The latter is the ruler of the “rest and digest” response, which involves the slowing down of your heart rate, the relaxing of muscles, and other physical indications that you are safe, that you can let go. With our fast-paced world and big fat brains we spend a lot of time in the “fight or flight” zone even when we are not in actual danger (just imagining past dangers or anticipating new ones gets us going). Anything you can do to lure your parasympathetic system into action is a gift that keeps on giving (seriously, once you feel a truly relaxed state you will be very aware of what you've been missing) and easing into an acupuncture session, where you will be reclining in a comfortable position in a warm room for at least 45 minutes...well, I'm getting relaxed just thinking about it. 3.You can expect to be treated as a whole person, not just a walking symptom. I don't know about you, but when I go to the doctor, I am often surprised by how quick they are to offer a prescription without asking a lot of questions. Furthermore, the side effects of said prescription (which we all know tend to take up half the air time in commercials) first come to your attention in 16 font print at the pharmacy. Not so with acupuncture. When you engage with treatment they take a good history, and while your life context may not be the subject of conversation at your follow up visits, you know that they are keeping your story in mind (another commonality with many forms of psychotherapy). You can also describe your mental and physical experiences in whatever terms make sense to you. Maybe you feel “ungrounded” or “meh” or you stomach doesn't hurt, but feels “hot.” There's room to describe your experiences without trying to wedge them into a limited check box and you will be met with curiosity and, again, the readiness to treat. The side effects? Well, let's just say your are more likely to need an extra five minutes to wake up before you drive home than you are to have temporary hair loss, incontinence, or trouble breathing. So if fear of the unknown has kept you from this particular healing system, consider whether any of the above considerations could be of services to your health. Don't your mind and body deserve it? PS: One more thing to put your mind at ease: Acupuncture is very affordable. Many practitioners now take insurance and there are tons of community clinics popping up all over the country. Check out some local suggestions here!  I wouldn't recommend becoming a certified nerd in the nutrition domain, because there is too much information out there to keep up with, much of which is contradictory - even when it is often supposedly science-based! In my (nerdy)family there's a paleo-versus-low-animal-protein-high-plant-based diet dispute that simply can't be settled because no one is actually a dietitian.
But I find being an explorer of the nutrition world to be endlessly interesting, even if I can't always find firm conclusions. The composition of what we ingest as well as our habits around eating are too linked to mood and well-being to not stay curious about. Here are two easy ways you can learn more about food and your mood.* 1. PAY ATTENTION to what you put in your mouth and how you feel. Sounds easy, I know, but we do A LOT of mindless eating. Plus, since the food scientists can't agree, this is a great way to gather some empirical evidence - that which is collected by your direct experience. Take a week and experiment with eating in certain ways and measuring things like energy and mood. Try bigger and smaller meals and ones at different times of day; those with carbs and those more filled with protein. Notice your cravings. Notice your compulsions. Write. it. all. down. [If your initial response to this is that you don't have enough time to pay attention to your food, I invite you to carve out said time. This. is. your. health.] A few years ago I switched from eating dense sandwiches to hearty salads for lunch and my afternoon fatigue lifted. Occasionally I'll cut out desserts because I am feeling sugar addicted and after the withdrawal symptoms disappear (I'm talking headachy, flu-like symptoms. Anyone who argues that sugar isn't a drug has never tried getting off the stuff), I notice a lot more energy and alertness as well. See what is true for you. No one knows you better. 2. Once you notice what foods are linked with feeling more like you want to feel, learn more about them and find ways to incorporate them into your daily diet. My absolute favorite food website is The World's Healthiest Foods, which is filled to the brim (I mean packed) with nutrition information and recipes (and incidentally does cite tons of scientific information). I like that they aren't commercially driven, and that they "respect individuality and provide a wide variety of healthy food options. That way each individual can discover the personalized information, recipes, cooking methods and menu plans to meet his or her needs." Whether you search by food (bell pepper), vitamin (vitamin B), or feeling (fatigue), up comes a world of information that you can incorporate into your culinary and dietary worlds. They even have foods indexed based on nutritional value. I have found that there is so much info that even if I'm not grabbed by a concept or piece of advice, there is enough other content to keep my attention. See what draws you in. If you are someone who gets dizzy trying to stay caught up on the million food trends, I strongly encourage you to be your own research tool. And let's not forget this research project involves e.a.t.i.n.g. *It's hard to advocate listening to your own body and experience and in the same sentence remind you that consulting a doctor is always recommended when talking about health, but I'm going to do it anyway. They aren't mutually exclusive. I would encourage you more strongly to seek medical attention if you have ongoing issues that may be food related - allergic reactions, digestive problems, chronic fatigue, etc.  I think we all have a season that suits us best. Some feel content with the moderate fall, some happily enveloped by the winter darkness, others cheerful as spring arrives. I always feel my best as these summer days stretch their arms wide. No matter how sunny or overcast, the day light feeds me.
That said, I'm off on a brief stint to the East Coast for family time and to celebrate the union of a wonderful couple. While my trip will be pretty short, I'm going to be taking a vacation from most of the cyberworld for a bit longer. I want to soak in as much of these days as possible. For those staying local and looking to try something new and/or stimulating-in-a-different-way, I leave you with five varying Wellness happenings that won't stretch your wallet:
Enjoy your summer and I'll see you real soon! Yours in wellness, self-care, and compassion, Shana Averbach, LMFT 919 Irving Street, Suite 104 San Francisco, CA 94122 Tel/Fax 415.963.3546 www.shanaaverbach.com PS Here's a new bonus option: July 29, August 26, 7:30 - 9 PM Self-Compassion Circle, Monthly Meditation Group, SUGGESTED DONATION $10, 2650 Fulton Street, San Francisco, CA. At this monthly meditation group, you'll sit in a safe, nurturing space with like-minded people who want to awaken and cultivate self-compassion. After a period of meditating in silence together, there will be a talk on self-compassion, followed by questions and group discussion. |
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