The holidays are a time when we're able to celebrate with family and friends.
However, they often take their toll on our physical, mental and emotional well-being. Between travel, parties, family reunions, gift-buying frenzies, and additional pressures along with normal everyday life, the holidays are a particularly stressful time of year.
Yet, due to what we believe are our obligations, we continue to push through the stress and busyness of the holidays - leaving us wiped come the New Year!
Fortunately, acupuncture can help us recover from the all-too-common holiday burnout - safely and naturally.
How?
One way is by mood enhancement. Between everyday worries and holiday stressors, it’s no wonder that we suffer from a variety of moods and emotions, such as anxiety, worry and depression - sometimes even irritability. Acupuncture can offer significant relief with mood regulation. When acupuncture needles are inserted in specific points, your central nervous system becomes stimulated and releases endorphins and other chemicals that will lift your mood. This will lead to less anxiety and a more positive outlook.
In addition to mood regulation and enhancement, acupuncture can also improve sleep quality and quantity. Sleepless nights are often an unfortunate side effect of holiday stress. Acupuncture will help by increasing your body’s natural ability to produce melatonin – the hormone that regulates your sleep-wake cycles. It will help restore your natural ability to fall AND remain asleep. (This in turn helps with mood regulation as well!)
Acupuncture can also help relieve us of holiday burnout by helping with our energy levels. With all the holiday parties, events, and family get-togethers, it’s easy to feel sluggish and fatigued. This can often lead to feeling stressed and burnt out. Acupuncture can provide the energy boost you need as it fights off exhaustion, aids in balancing the body’s energetic field, and gets rid of “brain fog”. As a result, it leads to a state of ease, increased physical stamina, and mental clarity.
Finally, acupuncture can help with some of the 'leftover' symptoms of holiday burnout, such as upset stomachs and headaches. For upset stomachs or irritable bowels, points can be utilized to help soothe inflammation and bring back normal digestive functioning. For headaches, needles can be placed near certain nerves that offer a pain-reducing effect. Endorphins that relieve pressure are released and help with discomfort of recurring headaches and migraines.
Again, this article is not meant to make one resent the holiday season or place guilt for the self-care that is often tossed out the window this time of year! Rather, this article is meant to say that there is an easy, effective and natural way to help you bounce back from the effects of the often stressful holiday season.
Book your appointment today!
