Does anyone use Acupuncture to relieve anxiety?
 

I'm going to try Acupuncture and am not sure quite what I am getting into. As some of you know, I recently went off Effexor after a 6-7 month slow withdrawal period. Now I'm having anxiety and IBS-D again. I don't want to go back on meds, so am trying alternative remedies. Can anyone give me positive reassurance about acupuncture?

Unfortunately, no, I cannot give you the positive reassurance that you have asked for. I can at least say I felt no ill effects from it...

Sparkidiot is currently doing that. You might PM him for some feedback because he might not see this thread. :)

busterb, that is, not sparkidiot. :)

I went yesterday for my first acupuncture session yesterday. I was nervous, upset, crying at first when the acupuncturist was asking me questions. I felt like a bawling idiot. I felt weak for letting my emotions get the best of me again. But, he (the acupuncturist) was very comforting and understanding. He reassured me that I was in a safe place and that he "treats this all the time". I was somewhat calmer after the session, but then I got home and I felt like a "disappointment". I told my husband that I was trying acupuncture and I was expecting him to react with sarcasm and laughter, so I told him not to laugh, then I showed him the brochure. He said "well, if it works, great!" I was relieved at his reaction, so with my relief, I started crying and we had a little discussion where I was explaining to him how I felt like a disappointment because I'm not feeling well now that I'm off of Effexor. He didn't say much...just kept his eyes on the TV. So that made me even more upset. He wouldn't even give me a comforting hug or react when I'd try to cuddle with him in bed. I mentioned this to him and he (I felt) just kind of ignored me. I'm probably making something out of nothing. But, I'm just frustrated with his reaction. I told him that lately he doesn't show much affection towards me unless it is going to involve sex. He just rolled his eyes...which made things worse. I just feel like a big idiot...a disappointment.
I have another acupuncture session today.:sniff: :sniff:

Duh.... you're right, I'm sorry. :redface:

I know a number of peole who have reported success with acupuncture for various conditions.

An acupuncturist I know said sometimes you don't feel anything for a while, someties you may feel worse. I think it depends on the problem.

There is also a great range of talent and experience when I comes to this like any other practice. Shop around, look for results, get references.

One thing that has worked wonders for my anxiety and IBS is massage therapy every 2 to 3 weeks.
Thought about acupuncture, but haven't got around to it yet.
Your man needs to put the remote down for 60 seconds to give you the attention you deserve in your time of need. There's the pot calling the kettle black - my wife would smack me hard if she saw me typing this. :oops:

I make my second trip tomorrow for Auricular "EAR" Acupuncture. Put anxiety on my list and anything I could think of, because they told me first visit was $100 bucks if you put 1 or 20.
Does it work? Maybe, but I'm still drinking. Didn't think this would be a one shot wonder. For my anxiety Lorazepam 0.05 MG works wonders. But the small town Drs. are tight w/them.

Goldencomfort
I have just read what you wrote about your husband's unfeeling reactions . When you next go to see the acupuncturist , steal one of the needles , and then poke it firmly into your husband's flesh when you get home ( somewhere like the inner thigh for example))

ouch, buddug's got a nasty streak!

same boat
 

pleas let me know if acupuncture works , i been trying to find something to battle anxiety also

I have never tried it for anxiety, but I can say it's worked wonders for me with regard to migraine and headaches. I'm just about due for another course actually. I find a series of treatments usually last me somewhere in the range of 5 to ten years in which I remain virtually free of head pain.

You should give it a go. It's not likely to do any damage, and it just might help.

If you do it at home, is it OK to use knitting needles?

I had acupuncture a number of times in alcohol counselling. Hey, it was free and worth trying.

The first time I had it, it was outstanding.
I went from a situation of high anxiety (my first visit to alcohol counselling, in a grim building in Woolwich, surrounded by other addicts of various flavours) ro being so relaxed I fell asleep on the office chairs provided in the acupuncture room.

However it was a case of diminishing returns after that.
I was so aggravated by the sniffing and coughing of other people in the last session I attended (back in Aylesbury) that when I left I was in a white hot state of fury and swore never to subject myself to other people's intimate noises for 40 minutes ever again.

If I was offered it free of charge in a tranquil environment - ideally lying down and in silence - then I'd take it up like a shot. I don't think it "took" enough with me to want to pay for it. And if it's free you don't get to dictate terms.

I tried acupuncture, but I couldn't stick with it.

Don't believe him - he's just needling you.

that was groan worthy. I've never tried it for stress but I had great success after a knee injury. My knee was completely healed and rehabbed properly but the pain just wouldn't stop even 8 months after it was deemed to be good by the docs. an hour after my first acupuncture session there was almost no pain. I kept going for a month and it has been more than a year since I felt even a twinge in that knee.

I have also had at least two friends use it quite successfully for pain. Meanwhile, my mom made me do a session for allergies when I was a teenager, and it did nothing that I could tell.

Well sure it did. It gave the snot a couple extra escape routes. Lil Lookout tried it for allergies to no avail, as well.

That's interesting, thanks. I've never even considered it, but my knee is still painful and the PT says it's almost as good as he can get it. (meniscal tear, not going to be helped by surgery)

Mine was a partially ruptured LCL. chose not to have the surgery just the rest and rehab. the pain stayed though until the needles went in. I've probably played 100-120 soccer games since then with no pain.

My pain has changed to a much more bearable state with the PT, but is still there

I once had acupuncture for a dislocated thumb. It worked well for me.

Weird hippies keep recommending that I try acupuncture for the back injury I sustained a month and a half ago. I don't know how I feel about it, entirely, but I'm almost willing to give it a try (if it's not horrifically expensive) just for the experience. particularly if i can get someone to take pictures of me all pincushioned - I would enjoy the hell out of that :D

I've been jabbing myself in the eye with a needle for this particular anxiety attack, but to no avail.

.25mg Xanax™, every four hours as needed

All I gets is a generic Ativan. ;)

well, you're both missing out - since i got injured i've had a nice supply of valium. not only is it a great muscle relaxant, but suddenly i'm not grinding my teeth anymore and i'm actually kind of talkative and friendly, go figure.

Wow, sad...I grind my teeth too, and I have serious muscle spasms, incapacitating sometimes.

I think the reason I broke my 1800 dollar(out of pocket with insurance) new bridge in my teeth, for which I have had to go back 3 times to have the section glued back in until the new one is made, is teeth grinding. My ex would tell me I ground (?) my teeth so loud in my sleep, if I tried to duplicate it while awake I would stop before it was even close to what I did in my sleep (as he told me) because I was afraid to break my teeth!

It's been a rough week. :blush:

Miller Lite isn't the worst medication. ;)

Ouch, good grief. Considered sleeping with a mouthguard in? I'd be really surprised if that dentist hasn't recommended one by now - they can custom mold one that fits or they might let you use one of those far cheaper home mold kits. ask your dentist about it, cause that is some crazy bad tooth grinding! Bruxation is the fancy word for it, I think.

Hah, yesss, booze my old friend. I have a very well-stocked liquor cabinet - that hasn't been touched since I got tanked on Zwack (some hungarian herbal liquor) on new year's. No longer is *that* a cure for anxiety - in fact my stomach STILL quivers a little in dread at the idea of alcohol after that night.

Course the downside to valium is gradual tolerance, the potential for addiction, and the chance of going through withdrawal. Best way(and most difficult) to deal with anxiety is probably to find the root cause of stress in life and resolve them. No pills, booze, or stabbing can do that for anyone, sadly.

Yes, but my boss doesn't trust me with skewers anymore.