Although stress and anxiety are distinct, they are sometimes intertwined. Understanding the distinctions and connections is important.
Stress is a response to an external trigger such as a deadline, conflict, or ongoing life challenge. Stress can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term). Short-term stress can be adaptive, increasing alertness. However, chronic stress raises the risk of mental health conditions and physical illnesses like heart disease and diabetes. Stress produces both mental and physical symptoms, including irritability, fatigue, muscle tension, digestive issues, and sleep problems.
Anxiety, in contrast, is a persistent state of excessive worry that can occur even without a clear external stressor. It shares many symptoms with stress—such as insomnia, poor concentration, fatigue, and irritability—but is more enduring and can significantly impair daily functioning. Stress can trigger or worsen anxiety, and when anxiety becomes excessive or long-lasting, it may develop into an anxiety disorder, which affects nearly 30% of adults at some point.
Recognizing the signs of excessive stress and anxiety is important, as early awareness can improve management. Understanding their relationship helps guide effective strategies, and professional support can be beneficial when symptoms persist or interfere with daily life. Acupuncture may be a treatment option.
The following study is a double-blinded randomized controlled trial with 56 participants diagnosed with anxiety who were randomly placed in 3 different groups: control (receiving no acupuncture), acupuncture, and electroacupuncture. Those participants in the treatment groups received a 30-minute acupuncture treatment once a week for 10 weeks. The results showed a significant reduction in anxiety in both the acupuncture and electroacupuncture groups after the 5th session, with continued improvement after the 10th session. The positive effect after treatment was independent of anxiolytic medication.
Silva, Maria Luisa, et al. “Electroacupuncture and Acupuncture in the Treatment of Anxiety: A DoubleBlinded Randomized Parallel Clinical Trial.” Journal of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences, vol. 10, 2023, pp. 353–360.*
