Acupuncture

[DogwoodTree]

Anyone here tried acupuncture?

One of my therapists highly recommended it, even though I'm terrified of needles. I put it off for a long time, but finally was feeling so horribly depressed that I decided to give it a try. Been twice now.

The first time was really hard. I had a cold, and my sinuses got really stuffy while I was on the table. The acupuncturist places all of the needles, then I have to lie there for 25 minutes without moving. If I move, I can feel the needles poking and shifting--it hurts! But mostly, I can visualize all of the needles sticking out, even though I can't see them, and I'm fighting off the panic the whole time. But--I've been feeling much more stable since that first appt, so if this keeps working, I'm thinking it might be worth it. The 2nd appt was easier, though still painful.

The acupuncturist said that the depression and anxiety symptoms should mostly disappear within a few weeks. He said many of the aspie-related symptoms won't go away, since that's part of who I am, but that this can help me feel more comfortable with who I am. He also said that autism creates an energetic separation between inner and outer worlds, and acupuncture can help break through that barrier a little bit so that there's some flow between the two. It actually sounded like a really good explanation of my experience of autism--that barrier.

I'm curious if anyone else has tried it, and what results you experienced, if any?

 

[On the Inside]

I have used acupuncture treatments, but only for over use strain, tendonitis, and back pain. I have been interested to try it for anxiety/depression, but it is no longer covered by my health insurance. Very interested in your results. I have found a great deal of benefit from acupuncture.

 

[Tom]

Although many patients experience some temporary relief from pain (myself included) and certain forms of nausea, accupuncture has not shown consistant effectiveness in clinical tests. So essentially the many claims made by practictioners lack scientific support.

There is also a tendency by some practictioners to create elaborate theories about how it works and what it can do. Mostly without evidence. So its best to take such claims with a fairly large grain of salt. The scientific community still considers it mostly psuedoscience and its effects placebo.

 

[DogwoodTree]

So essentially the many claims made by practictioners lack scientific support.

There is also a tendency by some practictioners to create elaborate theories about how it works and what it can do. Mostly without evidence. So its best to take such claims with a fairly large grain of salt.

Yes, I'm aware of the questionable nature of acupuncture, and I think I'm going in with a healthy dose of skepticism. But I know Rx meds don't work for me, and I've got to find something that will help. At this point, I'd be encouraged by a long-lasting placebo effect in treating the depression. If it helps me feel better, then who cares whether it's all in my head? At the same time, I'm not getting my hopes up unless I see some real shifts and change.

 

[On the Inside]

But I know Rx meds don't work for me, and I've got to find something that will help.

While I presently am using medication that has been reasonably effective with my mental health woes, it took a long time and trial and error to get here, and I'm not particularly confident in it lasting. It took me months to get over the feeling that it was changing something fundamental to my sense of being, maybe good maybe not, and I've since felt a nagging, wearying, light depression about my past and how I managed to end up where I'm at. (I won't even get into the misery of the medications that failed.) But it is helping for now, but temper that with the fact that if I miss a day, I will feel like crap later in the evening and much of the next day, I'm not so sure it is any better than a possible placebo effect from an alternative therapy that Western medical science doesn't happen to support.

If it helps, it can't hurt.

 

[Tom]

Yes, I'm aware of the questionable nature of acupuncture, and I think I'm going in with a healthy dose of skepticism. But I know Rx meds don't work for me, and I've got to find something that will help. At this point, I'd be encouraged by a long-lasting placebo effect in treating the depression. If it helps me feel better, then who cares whether it's all in my head? At the same time, I'm not getting my hopes up unless I see some real shifts and change.

I don't find fault with that approach. If something is works for you, then that is all that matters. With difficult & chronic problems Its good to try different things periodically and even retry something that didn't work once upon a time (it might work now). I do know I experienced significant pain relief the times I tried it. Unfortunately it only lasted a few hours and the ammount of accupuncture treatment needed was excessive/uncomfortable to get there. Just turn a deaf ear to the Mumbo Jumbo that sometimes comes with it.

 

[grommet]

Although many patients experience some temporary relief from pain (myself included) and certain forms of nausea, accupuncture has not shown consistant effectiveness in clinical tests. So essentially the many claims made by practictioners lack scientific support.

There is also a tendency by some practictioners to create elaborate theories about how it works and what it can do. Mostly without evidence. So its best to take such claims with a fairly large grain of salt. The scientific community still considers it mostly psuedoscience and its effects placebo.

I agree with Tom, the only evidence of efficacy with acupuncture has been the placebo effect. That effect can be powerful and effective but in acupuncture it is the theater of the posters on the wall, the dress of the practitioner, the models in the room of nerve endings and such, that psychologically prime the patient to believe medicine is being used and so a feeling of wellness after the treatment can occur.

Since you say are troubled by needles and acupuncture itself has no real effect, I would say, do not do it. It also cautions me that you have a therapist who suggests this treatment. Acupuncture has been tested many times and has not once succeeded under scientific conditions.

 

[DogwoodTree]

Just turn a deaf ear to the Mumbo Jumbo that sometimes comes with it.

The guy I'm seeing actually seems to be very grounded. We talked about it yesterday some...I asked what it is he's going off of when he decides how to do a specific treatment. Turns out I've seen much more extreme "mumbo-jumbo" style treatments used by lay counselors at my church than what this acupuncturist is using. He seems downright plain, grounded, and scientific in comparison, lol.

Since you say are troubled by needles and acupuncture itself has no real effect, I would say, do not do it. It also cautions me that you have a therapist who suggests this treatment.

Well, I had the first treatment early last week, and the second one yesterday. And over that timeframe, the depression has been much more stable...my mood has been more resistant to fluctuations triggered by things in my environment. Granted, that could just be a coincidence, or it could be a short-lived placebo effect. Or it could be the beginning of a longer-term change similar to how yoga and mindfulness have significantly increased my ability to handle the issues I'm facing. It's too soon to tell.

The same therapist who recommended the yoga is the one who recommended the acupuncture, and yoga has definitely had a positive effect (I've been doing it for 9 months now), even though I thought it would be a total waste of time and way too triggering. But I had to try it to find out for sure, and I'm really glad I did.

Basically, I have to keep trying stuff. There are times I feel absolutely horrendous. Life isn't supposed to be like this. Rx meds didn't work for me, and actually caused a lot of problems. I've also exhausted the options offered through my church. Now I'm expanding my horizons into other alternatives. Because giving up just isn't an option.

 

[grommet]

I am glad you are feeling better and I think you should continue with anything that seems to be helping. I reach for things all the time to feel better. A little relief or ray of hope can mean so much. I sometimes talk to objects I have. The other day when I went out I left the tv on so my room wouldn't get lonely.

My best to you