Just as this national crisis has unveiled long-standing kinks in our “democratic experiment”, on a very personal level it has also revealed our own kinks, not just in dealing with adversity, but in our relationships with family, friends, job, money, time, health and energy.

We have lost and buried loved ones AND family members can ignite your very last nerve! We get to work at home AND are working longer hours and more intensely because of lack of usual work structure. Some have more leisure AND are agravated that they can’t do their usual activities. Others have gotten to see their child’s first steps AND are fighting more with their spouse.

We’re all doing the best we can AND we’re all taking a hit. Living in closed-in situations with loved ones is a recipe for increased friction (see Anger molecules need space). As well, living in isolation with lack of social contact has an actual impact on the brain and brain chemicals. Studies with mice show a broad array of behavioral changes including aggressiveness, persistent fear and hypersensitivity to threatening stimuli. I feel bad for mice having to run the gauntlet for us humans 🙁

We all know that eating wisely, exercise, hydration and quality rest are essential to good health. But what are you consciously doing for your mental health? See acupuncture below…

Exercise and activities are good for your body, brain and mental health! We’ve known for decades that exercise is better than any anti-depressant. We need to be creative and find things that nurture our body and mind. Get yourself a hoola-hoop, do cartwheels, dance, chase each other with the water hose, go for a bike ride or hike, find a place to watch the sunrise or sunset.

Nutrient-dense food is good for your mental health too. Our brain needs nutrients, enzymes, fats, proteins, healthy carbs and of course, dark chocolate:-). The more variety, the better. I like to promote eating with the seasons, so load up on watermelon, cherries, tomatoes, beets, zucchini, peaches…

And of course, acupuncture, which helps to open the communication pathways between stomach and brain, brain and ovaries, liver and stomach, uterus and heart, brain and heart, back and head, shoulder and hip… If we are not consciously processing the difficulties, struggles and conflicts that we’re going through, then we’re packing it on, in our body, unconsciously. It creates blocks which impede the flow of blood, fluids, neurotransmitters, hormones, lymph… which ultimately lead to dis-ease.

If you have developed healthy coping mechanisms for all that’s going on, GOOD ON YA! That’s an amazing feat. A consistent meditation practice can soften the edges on which we find ourselves day in and day out. A regular yoga practice works for many people. Daily walks. Feeling your feelings and setting aside time to share them or contemplate their meanings in your life. All good tools. Getting pushed to our edges, being personally and globally challenged are great ways to awaken to our potential as human beings. It’s not fun, but it can be enlightening!

If you’re doing well, keep it up. No matter what you’re doing, acupuncture can provide grounding, improved flow or circulation, calm the nervous system, reduce physical and emotional symptoms and increase the endorphins in the blood stream. Win-win! Come see me 🙂

Schedule an acupuncture appointment.