Anxiety and Depression
Anxiety and Depression in Chinese Medicine: Depression and anxiety are the two most common mental health disorders, affecting about 16% of the adult population at some point during their lives. Today, more than 121 million people worldwide suffer from depression, and only 10-20 percent of them receive medication treatment. It is reasonable to assume that […]
Anxiety and Depression in Chinese Medicine:
Depression and anxiety are the two most common mental health disorders, affecting about 16% of the adult population at some point during their lives.
Today, more than 121 million people worldwide suffer from depression, and only 10-20 percent of them receive medication treatment. It is reasonable to assume that these numbers have grown and will continue to grow.
The Western medications currently offered against depression and anxiety can only treat the signs and symptoms of the condition, and can cause a huge number of side effects. Insomnia, anxiety, apathy, fatigue, loss of appetite, and sexual dysfunction.
For a person to be diagnosed with depression, four or five of the following symptoms must persist for two weeks, and must not be due to another physical condition such as medication, alcohol, drugs, or sudden bereavement:
- Persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, low self-worth
- Weight loss or persistent weight gain
- Loss of interest in enjoyable activities, including sex
- Fatigue
- Sleep disturbances
- Irritability
- Feelings of guilt
- Poor concentration or indecisiveness
- Unusual thoughts about death and suicide
Symptoms and diagnosis of anxiety
- Persistent worry
- Muscle tension, aches, muscle spasms
- Sleep disturbances
- Rapid and/or irregular heartbeat
- Frequent urination
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue, nausea, dizziness
- Restlessness
- Poor concentration
- Nervousness, irritability; excessive panic
Every healthy person experiences some form of depression in their life. This is a healthy response to events that surprise us with their intensity and suddenness in our lives.
When we are healthy, physically and mentally, we can usually recover from a depressed state within a few weeks and go on with our normal lives. But when feelings become persistent and occur without a triggering cause, without a “trigger” – this is true depression.
Coping with anxiety
Every healthy person also experiences anxiety in their life. We all know what it feels like to be anxious. “Butterflies” in the stomach when we prepare for a job interview, when meeting new people, or speaking in public, in front of an audience; all of these are fairly common, normal signs, and can even be positive. Anxiety can be a positive response that helps prepare us for uncertain situations. But when anxiety is persistent, and appears in unwarranted situations, this feeling disrupts and limits our daily activities.
Many people may feel a combination of anxiety and depression. They tend to be depressed, tired, and have difficulty making decisions or focusing during the day. They often feel anxious, restless, and fearful, mainly at night.
Chinese medicine recognizes a strong interrelationship between the body and emotions
As the two are, in fact, inseparable. Shai Davids has extensive experience treating low mood and anxiety. Body and mind are intertwined, and thanks to a structured intake, an organized diagnosis, and treatment derived from it, we see relief of symptoms and an improvement in quality of life.
According to Chinese medicine, depression and anxiety are often the result of an imbalance or blockage in the body’s energetic organ systems or meridians. If Qi (energy) becomes blocked or its quality becomes insufficient, emotional turmoil can arise, anxiety/depression can appear, and illness may occur
In Arizona, in the United States, a study was conducted treating people with depression using acupuncture.
12 treatments over 8 weeks.
64 percent reported significant improvement in the symptoms they experienced and remission of the condition.
At “Machat Ruach”, the complementary medicine clinic, Shai Davids treats exactly these issues. Effective, professional acupuncture. Sometimes Tuina massage and cupping therapy will also be given to improve treatment outcomes.