Depression & Anxiety
In many cases, anxiety and depression aren’t standalone conditions but rather symptoms of other problems in the body.
What are anxiety & depression
Anxiety is characterized by ongoing worry, often disproportionate to the relevant circumstances. Sometimes anxious feelings arise even when there’s no cause for concern, and you may have a difficult time controlling them.
Depression is a condition that causes persistent sadness, hopelessness, or disinterest. Unlike the occasional lows that everyone experiences, depression continues for longer than two weeks, often with more severity.
What are the effects of untreated anxiety & depression
Anxiety and depression are both highly treatable conditions, and the best time to reach out is when you first notice symptoms. Left untreated, anxiety and depression can lead to:
- Extreme mood changes and irritability
- Anger problems
- Sleep issues
- Changes in eating patterns, overeating, or loss of appetite
- Substance abuse and illicit drug use
- Relationship, work, and school problems
- Physical symptoms (i.e. stomach ache, headache, etc.)
What are the underlying causes of anxiety & depression
The medical community still has a lot to learn about the causes of anxiety and depression, but they do know that complex chemical, hormonal, psychological, emotional, and environmental factors play a role.
The specialists at Family Acupuncture & Wellness utilize a holistic approach to mood disorders and work to identify their causes in each patient. The following physical factors may influence anxiety and depression:
- Hormone levels
- Low thyroid hormones
- Menstrual cycles
- Vitamin deficiency
- Inflammation
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Chronic pain
- Cushing’s syndrome
How do you treat anxiety & depression?
The experts here at Family Acupuncture & Wellness will often use laboratory testing to identify the cause of your anxiety or depression. We then construct your mood disorder treatment plan, which will likely include procedures like acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, as well as several different natural lifestyle-based therapies.
Acupuncture
This treatment involves using tiny needles to activate “feel good” chemicals and help you achieve relaxation. Acupuncture also helps heal some of the underlying causes of mood disorders, such as chronic pain and endocrine imbalances.
Chinese herbal medicine
Unlike drug therapy, which may simply suppress symptoms, Chinese herbal medicine encourages the body’s healing response and restores proper function. These herbal medicines can also help address digestive troubles or hormone changes that contribute to mood disorders.
If you’d like to try our alternative approach to mood disorders, contact the office by calling or using the online scheduler.
