Stress and tension can cause a lot of disruption in both your body and mind over the long term. Think of irritability, neck and shoulder pain, headaches, gastrointestinal complaints, mood swings, and eye pain. Excessive and prolonged stress can ultimately lead to severe strain and burnout. Acupuncture is a natural and effective way to find relief from stress-related complaints.
Are you experiencing high work pressure, a difficult home situation, or relationship problems? Then you will notice that this has a direct effect on your well-being and your mood. You feel as if you are constantly ‘on’ and tense. All of this ensures that the stress is not just in your head, but also physically lodges itself in your body.
What exactly is stress?
Stress is a form of tension that arises in your body when situations require extra effort. It is a normal, physical, and psychological reaction to the challenges in life. A little bit of stress is functional; it helps you stay sharp and meet deadlines. The problem only arises when the stress becomes chronic and relaxation is absent.
When this happens, your active (sympathetic) nervous system works overtime. Meanwhile, you actually need balance to activate your parasympathetic nervous system—the system that provides rest and physical recovery. From my background as a psychologist in the corporate world and HR, I have often seen up close how high work pressure or chronic tension ultimately breaks people down. To regain that balance, an approach is needed that restores the calm in your body.
At Acupuncture by Kim in Amsterdam East, I use acupuncture combined with mindfulness and meditation techniques to help you de-stress and give your nervous system a much-needed reset.
What happens in your body during stress and burnout
When you are stressed, your body activates the “fight-or-flight” response. Hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline flood your system. With the chronic stress that our modern lives often entail, your body eventually fails to return to the rest-and-digest mode on its own.
Over time, physical and mental complaints arise, such as:
Physical exhaustion, a lack of energy, and ultimately a burnout.
Difficulty falling or staying asleep (insomnia).
Digestive problems, stomach complaints, and intestinal cramps.
Muscle tension, particularly around the neck, shoulders, and jaws.
Feelings of anxiety, excessive worrying, and depressive symptoms.
How acupuncture helps with stress
Acupuncture acts as a reset for an overloaded system. This is what the treatment does when you are stressed or burnt out:
Takes you out of the “fight-or-flight” mode: The most direct effect of acupuncture is that it brings your body into the “rest-and-digest” state. Even as the first needles are placed, you often feel a sense of calm wash over you, or you might notice your digestion starting to rumble (a sign that your body is relaxing). We send a signal to your brain to lower the heart rate and release muscle tension.
Stimulates the release of endorphins: Acupuncture stimulates the central nervous system, causing your brain to produce chemicals like endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine. This provides a gentle, natural boost that helps lift that heavy fog in your head and improve your mood.
Lowers cortisol levels: Regular treatments help regulate the stress axis in your brain (the HPA axis). This effectively halts the constant production of the stress hormone cortisol and tackles the burnout cycle at its source.
Improves sleep quality: You cannot recover from a burnout without deep, restorative sleep. Acupuncture calms the mind and helps regulate your biological clock, making it easier for you to fall asleep and stay asleep.
Try this at home: Breathing exercise for stress
Because I consider mindfulness an important part of the treatment, I often provide exercises to take home. Are you feeling very stressed right now? Try the 4-7-8 breathing technique (also known as the ‘relaxing breath’). This technique forces your heart rate to drop.
Inhale quietly through your nose for 4 seconds.
Hold your breath for 7 seconds.
Exhale slowly and audibly through your mouth for 8 seconds (as if you are blowing through a straw).
Repeat this four times. You will notice your shoulders drop almost immediately.
What to expect during your session in Amsterdam
Acupunctuur is a holistic therapy with virtually no side effects. During a session focused on mental health and stress relief in my clinic, you can expect the following:
A quiet, safe space to completely disconnect from the hustle and bustle of the city.
A short, guided mindfulness exercise to help you bring your attention out of your head and into your body.
A deeply relaxing experience—many clients fall asleep on the treatment table and wake up with a so-called “acu-high,” which is characterized by a clear mind and a relaxed, light feeling in your body.
Start your recovery today
Recovering from a burnout and calming your nervous system is a process. Acupuncture is a powerful tool to rebuild your resilience from the inside out. If you are ready to release stuck energy and find peace again, I am here for you.
In my practice, I believe that good care should be accessible to everyone. Therefore, I offer reduced rates (around €65 per session instead of the standard rate) for students, Stadspas holders, or people on social assistance.
Are you ready to take the step towards more peace and balance?
If you are curious about how this holistic combination of acupuncture and mindfulness can calm your nervous system and bring you back into balance Book your consult at the clinic today
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X Kim