My Experiences with Acupuncture
It is no secret now that I am a sufferer of anxiety and other mental blocks, something of which I am not ashamed of, but would like to reduce the affects it has on me. Thus, the acupuncture. My uncle happened to be working on a garden next door to an acupuncturist. He is aware of some of my hindrances and so he asked the doctor if she thinks she could help me. She said yes and that I should contact her.
When he told me about it, I was a bit sceptical at first to be honest. I mean it’s needles, weird tiny needles, how can they help me?
But I’m also very interested in that kind of stuff and how it works. Asian cultures are fascinating to me, and, well, let’s think about them for a minute. Asian cultures typically report feelings of depression and anxiety one of the least in the world. Arguably, this is because they find it a sign of weakness and therefore wouldn’t admit to it. (But by the way, it is NOT a weakness)
But maybe it is because of the treatments they use and their livelihood. Maybe they’re just doing something right. Westerners like myself are known for thinking too much, wanting too much and generally finding new ways each day to feel that bit more crap about ourselves. However, generally, Asian cultures don’t tend to do this as much, and rightly so.
Therefore I went with an open-mind. I mean I’ve been for therapy and spoken to doctors who haven’t really stopped me from getting down. So, what’s the worst that could happen? When I got there, I was impressed by the furnishings of her home. Her space was very spiritual. She had a Buddha statue, a therapeutic oil humidifier, a Chinese calendar and just a calming ambience that settled me right away.
We sat down and spoke through my problems. She asked general questions then went in deeper. I found myself trusting her very quickly, as I opened up in many ways, more than I realised until I had stopped talking. She then worked out when my birthday fell and what that meant in terms of spiritual energies and elemental signs. What she worked out apparently fitted the problems that I had and she worked out what acupuncture and Reiki she needed to do on me.
She believes that my water energy was lacking. This is the energy which deals with depression, sleep, reproduction, bones and other things that I have problems with. Because mine is out of whack and not flowing properly, I’m suffering. She said that my fire energy is erratic which can cause anxiety, but if my water flows better, it should balance my fire energy too. Lastly, my earth needs strengthening. This is located in the stomach and causes appetite and dietary issues. She said that if my earth strengthens, then it would help balance the others and I’d be stronger and more resilient to adversity. Which sounds great!
I then lay down on the couch, where she stuck the acupuncture needles into me. It wasn’t all over the back like I expected, instead there are certain places where they are necessary in order to heal us. Mine were needed in my foot and wrist. There was three altogether. They were tiny and didn’t hurt at all, but again it was my trust in the doctor that made me feel 100% comfortable with it anyway. From there, she had me visualise a “happy place”. To picture a tranquil scene where I would feel calm, no stress and could truly be there. And I was there, really there. Just as advised, I could feel the grass beneath my feet. I could feel the heat of the sun. I could hear the wind and taste the water. I actually licked my lips after drinking the water in my mind!
And I was floating. I felt kind of numb, but not completely because I could feel the doctor touching my feet and head but I felt outside of myself. Even so, my mind would drift from that safe realm to the colour purple to my thoughts and back again, but I still felt calm. Only when it was over did I truly realise how deeply calm I was. Only when she told me to wake up, and I couldn’t open my eyes, did I realise how far under I had been. It was amazing, I really struggled with coming back to reality which was a great feeling. As someone who is scarily stuck in a horrible reality a lot of the time, it was amazing to slip out of that reality for some time.
When I was aware of myself and my surroundings again, I felt drowsy and lightheaded and empty. It was like all the negativity that usually bogs me down had seeped out of me. My head still thought of all the crap I usually do, but it was from a new perspective and new emotional state. I could look at things with a clearer head. And that, if nothing else, was worth my time. I know there is a place that I can go to let out the negativity and start anew. A place where I can let go of reality for a bit and just feel calm. Even if it doesn’t change all the things that the doctor said it could, I still recommend it to my fellow sufferers.
What I’ve took from this experience is that I’m not incapable of relaxing and shutting off. That my mind can be cleared. That western medicine doesn’t have all the answers. That something, if not the things the doctor said, is off-balance within me. That if I can fix the weaker areas, then everything will flow more smoothly. I will be able to handle difficulties with more strength instead of being dragged under by it.
If you suffer from anxiety, depression or any stress etc., I do suggest you try acupuncture. It isn’t as scary as it may seem. And it’s fascinating if nothing else! Seriously, go with an open mind and you shall feel refreshed. I do suggest that you go home and relax by yourself afterwards though, instead of seeing anyone like I did. Sometimes they can affect the positive feeling that you leave with without meaning to.
We all have minds that are full of awful gunk, but that gunk can be cleaned out if you let it. Trust me, I had a messy mind!
~ Damsel
