Newbie with Acupuncture Experience

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2005
Newbie with Acupuncture Experience
1
Tue, 03-22-2005 - 1:22pm

I'm looking forward to chatting with many of you and talking. I have suffered from severe anxiety, panic and PTSD for almost 10 years. I remember what life was like when my life was without this "condition" and yearn to find the joy in living a panic-free life where I have control and not the panic.

I recently chatted with Jan (CL) and she mentioned to me that many of you are interested in hearing from those with acupuncture experience. I have recently begun acupuncture treatment through my MD who has an Eastern Medicine background and gratefully understands panic disorder and is sensitve and understanding. She suggested the acupuncture when I came to her early last week and told her that I was suffering so much that I needed something stronger than a pill to get me through this spot. I started acupuncture on Thursday last week and was more relaxed than I had been in years. Is a cure? NO. But it can help you stabilize and clear your mind.

Acupuncture works best in series. You can't take any type of pain or anti-inflamatory meds a few days prior b/c it thins your blood. You can't do it every day but you can do it every other day. The regimien I'm on is twice a week for the first few weeks then once a week for the next several weeks as long as I think I need it.

The cost is $110 per session (I'm in New Englad so pricing will differ from region to region).

The needles don't hurt - the most I've felt is little tiny pinch. It is NOT like getting a shot. My MD had me start with me laying face up and putting in 12-18 needles all over including my scalp. I lay for 15 minutes after she placed one of those super light weight foil rescue blankets over me with a heater on my feet. Then she removed the needles and I turned over and she repeated the process and I lay again for 15-20 minutes.

During this time I did a lot of visualization, I let my body relax and the acupuncture work. I felt sleepy and light but not lightheaded which as we all know will trigger the panic or is a symptom of panic. I had my second session today and felt more anxious becuase of an event coming up at the end of the week that is yielding me a lot of anxious thoughts (traveling to the carribbean for a "vacation" but dreading the trip for reasons many of you can understand - being in a plane, a long layover, then being in a place that is unfamiliar = i.e. not home, not my safe place). I did breathing and the acupuncture seemed to facilitate the effects of the breathing. By the end I was relaxed and sleepy.

I hope this helps some of you and I would encourage it as a technique or tool to deal with symptom management.

Warmly,
Dawn

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Tue, 03-22-2005 - 4:28pm
Thx so much for sharing your experience, Dawn. This is very helpful to many in our community searching for alternatives. It was a pleasure to meet you in chat. Nice to have you on board! (((hugs))) jan