By: Ala Wroblewska
Acupuncture is a powerful treatment for stress and trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Research with veterans has shown that acupuncture is more effective than sham treatments in reducing PTSD symptoms, such as fear, hypervigilance, insomnia, irritability, and risky behaviour. Trauma can result from accidents, assault, abuse, health problems, the loss of a loved one, or living in a conflict zone.
Many people feel a sense of calm and well-being after an acupuncture session, no matter what they came in to work on. This happens because acupuncture helps the nervous system shift into “rest and digest” mode, where the body heals, and the mind relaxes.
When managing anxiety and overwhelm, acupuncture is an excellent “bottom-up” therapy. But what does “bottom-up” mean?
Understanding Bottom-Up Therapy
To understand bottom-up therapy, we need to look at three parts of the brain: the brainstem, the limbic system, and the cerebral cortex.
Brainstem: Also called the “reptilian” brain, it controls basic functions like heart rate, body temperature, and blood pressure.
Limbic System: Known as the “emotional” brain, it handles emotions, motivation, and memory.
Cerebral Cortex: This part deals with attention, perception, thought, memory, and consciousness.
Trauma, especially earlier on in life, often affects the brainstem and limbic system. While many people use talk therapy to address their issues, there are times when talking isn’t enough or it hits a wall. This is where bottom-up therapies, like acupuncture, come in handy. They focus on the body to help regulate the nervous system.
How Acupuncture Helps with Stress and Trauma
During an acupuncture session, your body enters the rest and digest mode. This state tells your body it’s safe to relax, which is especially helpful for those who have experienced trauma and chronic stress.
The bottom-up approach to mental health treatment emphasizes tackling the physiological and sensory aspects of psychological distress first, before addressing cognitive or emotional processing. Essentially, it begins with the basics: focusing on bodily sensations, regulating the nervous system, and meeting basic physiological needs before progressing to higher-level cognitive functions and emotional processing.
This approach acknowledges the interconnectedness of the body and mind, recognizing that nervous system dysregulation can lead to mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and trauma-related problems. The idea is to foster safety and stability in the nervous system by addressing the body’s response to stress and trauma through mindfulness, breathwork and sensory-based interventions (in this case acupuncture needles).
Once the body is more regulated and the individual feels grounded, safe, and secure, they are better prepared to engage in other therapies that address deeper emotional wounds and cognitive distortions. Overall, the bottom-up approach highlights the importance of establishing a strong foundation of physiological well-being as a precursor to effective psychological healing and therapy.
Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Therapy
While bottom-up therapy starts with the body, top-down therapy starts with the mind. Top-down therapy includes cognitive-behavioural techniques and talk therapy, focusing on thoughts and mental activities to influence emotions and physical responses.
Conclusion
Acupuncture is a valuable bottom-up therapy for managing stress and trauma. Helping the nervous system shift into a healing mode supports emotional and physical well-being. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, overwhelm, or the effects of trauma, acupuncture can be a beneficial part of your treatment plan.
If you have any questions or want to book an acupuncture appointment, contact Ala.