ANXIETY, ACUPUNCTURE & THE CAVEMAN 

 November 11, 2020

By  Steve Hoffman

Got anxiety? Thank the cavemen. You can also thank them for your very existence! So, what do cavemen have to do with anxiety. Primal parts of our brain are mainly responsible for producing anxiety. Just like a healthy dose of fear kept cavemen from walking too close to the edge of a cliff, anxiety kept our ancestors worried enough to gather food or build a shelter or stock up on firewood. What do you think happened to the caveman who said “Dude, I’ll worry about firewood next week, I’m just going to chill here today”? Well, those laid-back cavemen had less chance of survival. And if they did not survive, they did not pass those chill genes down to you or me.

Modern Times

Some areas of the world, even some areas of our own communities, still have to worry about meeting basic needs, but for many in our society, food and shelter are not something that they worry about on a daily basis. So basically, we don’t need that level of anxiety in our lives. So why do so many of us suffer with anxiety. Unfortunately, the area of the brain that produces anxiety is still there. And humans have an amazing ability to find things to worry about, even when there is nothing there to worry about. There is supposition that, as a survival instinct, we are trying to keep that area of the brain honed just in case we really do need it at some point.

Troubled Times

Don’t get me wrong. Between the pandemic, the economy, and the election, there has been plenty to get worried about recently. Anxiety can develop in times like these and even impact a person for years to come.

Get Help

Ironically, cavemen probably did not suffer from anxiety. They had enough to worry about to keep themselves occupied. We, on the other hand, have plenty of time to let our minds go every which way and worry about all kinds of things. If you find yourself being overwhelmed with worry, here are a few things you can do:

Exercise: Remember, the cavemen were probably “exercising” 16 hours a day so your 20-minute HIIT workout may be good for your cardio but probably will not control your anxiety. But it will help, and taken with other interventions, even 20 minutes a day can help.

Therapy: Talk therapy is crucial, especially now. It can be hard to reach out for help but the damage that anxiety can do to you, physically and mentally, makes the effort well worth it.

Acupuncture: It is in the title after all! Acupuncture reduces stress hormones and can take patients out of fight or flight “lock” allowing them to rest and recover. Electro acupuncture induces the body to produce neurochemicals like gabapentin that can reduce anxiety.

If you are suffering, call today, set up a consultation and see if you are a good candidate for acupuncture.


Princeton Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

Our patients know just how effective treatments are for these and a host of other problems. Steven Hoffman, a New Jersey Licensed Acupuncturist and Diplomate in Oriental Medicine, will provide you with a thorough intake and evaluation and a clear, comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plan that will insure that your goals are met or exceeded. Do you want to move past these or other problems? We will help you thrive not just survive!

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