In my previous five blogs I have made you aware of how each person relates to an element whether that is Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood in the Acupuncture Five Element system, which in turn relates to the emotions of Joy, Worry/Sympathy, Loss/Grief, Fear and Anger and how you react to the world and people around you.

With constant alarming news about COVID 19, many people have become acutely aware of their emotional sensitivities which can cause anxiety. The thoughts of feeling trapped, isolated and overwhelmed during this pandemic and emerging apprehensively into the world again make it challenging to maintain a healthy mental wellbeing. These struggles are even harder for people who are already suffering from anxiety disorders.

Coping with anxiety is paramount during this health crisis, so this is where Traditional Five Element Acupuncture can help. Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medicine that uses the insertion of very thin needles through the skin at specific points of the body, treating each person’s individual needs with the result the life force Qi in your Body, Mind and Spirit will become more balanced, which can improve your Physical, Mental and Emotional wellbeing. In many people Acupuncture can relieve the negative tensions that can appear in different emotions for example, Joy or lack of, worry, loss or grief, fear, anger or frustration, and a feeling of being out of control with the overwhelming uncertainty in the COVID-19 situation.

Acupuncture could help you get through daily life in these unprecedented times. Here are some of the reasons why acupuncture is helpful in treating anxiety, stress and mental health disorders which may have surfaced in this COVID time.

• It reduces stress – this pandemic has altered lives, changes to our usual routines, having to adapt to new normal habits such as practicing intensive hygiene, observing social and physical distancing, wearing masks, avoiding mass gatherings, changing working practice, extra childcare responsibilities and many more. While these changes and demands can cause significant stress to many of us, acupuncture is a great tool to help us regulate our mood by lowering stress hormones that can cause anxiety. 

• It enhances mental clarity – without a clear mind, cloudy thinking, poor memory and confusion can happen. It can be hard to carry out simple tasks and make decisions if we do not take care of our mental health. Acupuncture may boost your mental clarity, which can result from increases in energy and ability to cope with difficult situations. Also, people who suffer from insomnia report improvement in the quality of their sleep. 

• It can help to boost immunity – strengthening our immune system is the key to protect ourselves from the virus once it enters our bodies. Looking after Mental, Physical and Emotional health can improve your immune system, acupuncture treats your whole system therefore is a good healer. Individual care are given with acupuncture treatment making sure you receive the attention you need. 

For more information and treatment contact Hannah on – https://www.southwellacupuncture.co.uk/contact/

Tips to Help your Mental Health 

We often do not even get time to take care of the basics like eating and sleeping properly. Neglecting ourselves and racing around living frantic, exhausting lives will take its toll. It is important to take stock and focus on what’s important to you.

• Protect Yourself – choose carefully the information you are consuming. Instead of watching and reading overwhelming news about COVID-19, go straight to the official sources and follow the recommendations to fight against the virus. 
• Meditation – helps our mind to focus on a particular thing to achieve inner peace and harmony. It helps in reducing stress and overflow of thoughts. Take out 15-20 minutes in a day to meditate so that you can slow down and quieten your mind. Meditation can help in treating mental health disorders. There are lots of meditation tutorials that you can check online.
• Keep moving – be sure to do physical exercises outside and at home. You can do yoga or any other exercise that you are comfortable in doing. It is important to get fresh air and move, go out and get some sunlight, as this helps the body produce vitamin D, nature is one of the best stressbusters.
• Sleep properly – sleep and mental health are directly related. Remember, if you are not getting proper sleep then it can affect your psychological state and mental health. Getting eight hours sleep helps your mind to stay fresh and energised
• Eat plenty of fruit and veg – eat fresh fruit and green vegetables and you may be less prone to mental health issues. Keep your diet and appetite in check to maintain a healthy mind and body.
• Be positive about yourself – the way you think about yourself directly impacts your feelings. When you see yourself and your life negatively, your experiences will likely confirm that. Instead, try to boost your feeling of self-worth and focus on the positives, write down each day three things you are grateful for.
• Express yourself – whenever you feel troubled or stressed, talk about your feelings with someone. Sometimes it can be hard but talking things over can help you see the problem in a different light.
• Monitor your alcohol consumption – to deal with loneliness and to reduce stress, people often drink alcohol but its effects are temporary. Therefore it is not an effective way to manage your stress and feelings. To keep your mental health stable, opt for occasional light drinking and stay within the recommended alcohol limits or none at all.
• Take a break – always give yourself some ‘me time’ as sometimes a change is good for your mental health and wellbeing. Take a deep breath and set yourself free from all the tensions and stress. Listen to your body and mind. If you are feeling tired, then take a nap. Sound sleep and rest is very important for mental health.

I hope this is a useful reminder to help you care for yourself, to help you make headway with your mental and emotional health. You are important!

For more information and treatment contact Hannah on – https://www.southwellacupuncture.co.uk/contact/