Anxiety is the most common mental health condition in Australia, affecting around 1 in 4 people. Living with an anxiety condition can feel crippling at times, and affect your quality of life.

Anxiety can exist by itself or in combination with other conditions such as depression, stress, insomnia, peri-menopause and other chronic conditions such as endometriosis and irritable bowel syndrome.

Studies show that acupuncture is an effective therapy for anxiety disorders, with less side effects than conventional therapies. Whilst more research is needed, it is thought that acupuncture helps to lower cortisol (‘the stress hormone’) as well as release endorphins.

Acupuncture also helps you to switch off the sympathetic nervous system (fight/flight/freeze) and switch on the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest), which helps to create a feeling of relaxation after an acupuncture session.