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Anxiety & Depression

Stratford Acupuncture & Nutritional Wellness Center

Acupuncture & Nutrition Counseling located in Shelton, CT

Anxiety and depression are serious mental health issues that can be devastating on both the personal and public health level. Joseph Downer, LAc, of Stratford Acupuncture & Nutritional Wellness Center in Stratford, Connecticut, offers a holistic approach to treating these conditions. Stratford Acupuncture & Nutritional Wellness Center welcomes patients in the following towns: Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Branford, Cheshire, Derby, Guilford, Madison, Meriden, Milford, North Branford, Northford, North Haven, Orange, Oxford, Seymour, Southbury, Wallingford, New Haven, East Haven, Hamden, West Haven, Bethany, Woodbridge, Waterbury, Prospect, Wolcott, Middlebury, Naugatuck, Monroe, Newtown, Sandy Hook, Shelton, Bridgeport, Trumbull, Easton, Sherman, Bethel, Brookfield, Cos Cob, Danbury, New Fairfield, Darien, Fairfield, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Ridgefield, Riverside, Westport, Weston, Southport, Redding, Wilton, & Stramford. If you’re looking for mental health improvements without the risks associated with pharmaceutical approaches, schedule an appointment to learn more about the available natural treatment paths. You can book your visit online or by phone.

Anxiety & Depression Q&A

According to the National Alliance on Mental Health, as many as one out of every five Americans will experience some form of mental illness each year. For some, serious mental health problems will alter the course of their lives. Others will struggle with episodic or short-term bouts of anxiety and/or depression.

A number of factors can cause mental illness. Some issues have a genetic component, while others are caused by physiological conditions within the brain itself. In many cases, nutritional deficiencies, poor health habits, lack of adequate sleep, and other environmental factors play a role in mental illness.

How can acupuncture help with mental health issues?

Acupuncture is a form of ancient traditional Chinese medicine. The practice is based on the idea that all humans have an essential flow of energy – qi – that runs throughout their bodies along channels called meridians. When that flow becomes blocked, your body can no longer function properly.

Chinese healing wisdom recognizes the link between body and mind. Because the mind and body interact as one entity, imbalances in one can directly influence the function of the other.

Acupuncture works by using a set of extremely thin, sterile needles to stimulate targeted points along your meridians. That releases qi that might have become backed up or blocked, restoring proper energy flow throughout your body.

Many mental health issues can be improved or corrected through acupuncture, including:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Stress
  • ADHD/ADD
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder

If you’re living with these conditions, or are looking for effective treatment for a loved one, acupuncture is certainly something to consider.

Traditional Chinese medicine offers several treatments for mental health issues. All focus on restoring a proper balance of energy by correcting clogged or blocked energy pathways. A few examples include:

  • Jiu-Jitsu
  • Karate
  • Kampo
  • Qigong
  • Sotai


All of these practices use carefully controlled body movements to improve health and wellness. They train you to focus on the mechanics of your body and teach you to calm your mind and focus on intentional movement. Each of these treatments can help you grow physically stronger, more flexible, and better able to adapt to your environment.

If you’re curious about how traditional Chinese medicine can help improve anxiety, depression, and a range of other mental health concerns, book an appointment with Stratford Acupuncture & Nutritional Wellness Center, either online or by phone.