Treating Stress with Acupuncture
Stress is often caused by prolonged stress, major changes or emotional events. With the help of acupuncture, coaching and practical steps, the body is helped to relax, recover and rebuild energy. This creates more resilience, insight and ultimately self-reliance.
Stress, recovery and self-reliance
At the time I started writing this article, I was learning for my last exam after six years of study. After so many steps, this was the last and therefore also an important milestone for now. At the same time, we moved from Amsterdam to Purmerend, started the practice there and family life continued as usual. So there was more than enough inspiration for this article.
Major changes, an unexpected amount of work, loss of a loved one or a long-term illness: sources of stress abound. Almost everyone has to deal with it sooner or later. We often recover on our own, by taking a rest or doing something that gives us energy. Sometimes that does not work and more structure, guidance or support is needed.
Thoughts and emotions play a central role in this. They can themselves be a source of stress, but they also largely determine how we deal with difficult situations.
RAIN: dealing with stress and emotions
Buddhism often uses the Rain model, a practical step-by-step plan for dealing with stress and emotions:
Recognize
Noticing that something bothers you. This can be an irritation, tension, an emotion or a physical feeling. Also, stop to breathe.
Accept
Accept the experience as it is, pleasant or unpleasant, without judgment. You don't have to change or push anything away. You are good the way you are.
Investigate (investigate)
Explore with curiosity and gentleness what lies beneath the emotion. What exactly do you feel? What does it evoke? What does this do to your body and mind?
Not-identify
You have a thought, but you are not. This includes emotions, memories, and even illness. Try to distance yourself and see the situation in the bigger picture. Thoughts and feelings are temporary and changeable.
Treating stress: five phases
The treatment of stress with acupuncture and coaching usually takes place in five phases:
- relaxing
- Clean up
- Building energy
- Planning and giving direction
- Self-reliance
Accumulated tension often causes blockages and pain in the body. The first phase focuses on loosening what is stuck. Movement and flexibility are important here. You can support this by walking or cycling regularly and drinking warm water.
In this phase, you may feel temporarily more tired after a treatment, similar to a balloon that releases tension. This is normal and often shows how tired the body had been for a long time.
Clean up and repair
When movement occurs again, the body begins to repair itself. This second phase releases waste that previously could not be properly disposed of. This increases the need for nutrients such as vitamins and minerals.
That is why supplements are sometimes recommended. Magnesium is a well-known example because it helps with muscle relaxation and is used intensively in stress and recovery processes.
Energy structure
In the third phase, attention shifts to structure. Exhausted energetic systems are supported and the body regains coherence and resilience. Acupuncture helps with this, often supplemented with home exercises.
These exercises increase the effect of the treatment and help you recognize the body's signals earlier. This provides more control over complaints and makes prevention possible.
Direction and self-reliance
In the fourth and fifth phases, mental and practical aspects come to the fore. The central question becomes: what can I do myself to prevent stress and illness?
Self-reliance means learning how to deal with thoughts, tension and boundaries. This usually involves trial and error. Important themes here are:
— learn to recognize stress in yourself
— make a distinction between what you can and cannot influence
— create a distance between experience and response
— assertiveness and setting limits
— stay true to who you are
It's important to realize that you don't have to solve anything in the beginning. Overview, trust and decisiveness will only come back when you have enough energy again. As you get stronger, you will naturally take better care of yourself. If you know where your energy is leaking out and your reserves are increasing, it becomes almost impossible to structurally ignore yourself.
Three practical tips
Finally, three simple but important points of attention:
— Make sure you release tension regularly, for example by walking, exercising, meditating or a hobby
— Create moments where you really don't need anything
— Do something that touches or inspires you
Do what is within your means, but do something. One minute of relaxation a day is valuable, as long as it is regular. Daily, weekly, or even seasonally. What comes back lasts and can become a personal ritual.
In practice, we are happy to help you get started in this search. As a helping hand and to get back to moving in your life together.
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Tibetan prayer flags: the colors symbolize the five elements. In Tibetan medicine, too, health is seen as harmony between these elements. The flags also stand for spreading peace, compassion, strength and wisdom.
