Will More People Look to Acupuncture to Cope with Anxiety?

Many are understandably concerned about the rising levels of anxiety in the UK since the pandemic started. Recent figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show us that the equivalent of 19 million adults in Great Britain report high levels of anxiety.

With this growing threat, it’s natural that many individuals and families are looking for ways to improve well-being and strengthen their ability to cope with the significant amount of disruption they face all too often these days

Exercise, creative activities, meaningful social interaction (when possible) and more have been promoted as vital components in reducing anxiety and depression, however, we’ve also witnessed others looking to treatments such as acupuncture as a way to deal with things.

How Bad is It?

We now know that anxiety and depression have become even more prevalent in the UK, affecting millions of people and individuals in all social demographic groups. 

For instance, it was reported that 39% of people who are married or in a civil partnership experience high levels of anxiety, compared to 19% pre-pandemic. Also, those aged 75 years and over are twice as likely as those aged 16 to 24 years to report high anxiety during lockdown. 

What Are the Causes? 

Today, families are more likely to be working from home in small spaces that are not optimal for productivity, leading to additional work stress as well as a greater strain on family relationships. Over 1 in 5 said that their work had been affected because they were finding working from home difficult, according to ONS. 

For those who live alone, one of the biggest contributors to anxiety has been loneliness. Periods of lockdown or increased awareness of the dangers of going out have forced some to reduce their time around others significantly, leading to isolation and loneliness. 

Of course, the general anxiety of catching or infecting others with COVID-19 has been enough to impact the thoughts and behaviours of many people, directly or indirectly contributing to feelings of sadness, anxiety and frustration. 

How Does Acupuncture Help? 

Acupuncture is known to alleviate stress and anxiety in several ways. Also, there are number of studies that have shown the positive effects of acupuncture on state anxiety.

For some industry professionals, the most logical reason is that acupuncture creates changes in the body and mood, giving people back control over their bodies and a sense of power that may have lost. 

Others who subscribe to traditional Chinese beliefs in acupuncture believe that this treatment helps to regulate an energy force called Qi within the body, contributing to better overall balance and health. 

Ultimately, inserting needles into the body in targeted areas with acupuncture techniques has been shown to affect an individual’s emotions, including reducing levels of anxiety. 

If you’re looking for a specialist of acupuncture for anxiety in London, or more information about this topic, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at Acubody.