01.28.2010     21h39

I went to see an acupuncturist today, and let's just say that she's the second health professional in as many days to tell me that I'm too stressed and that's why I'm not sleeping properly.

When she asked why I was so stressed, here's the list I gave her:

• teaching
  
• my phd thesis
  
• Damien lives in Paris (= commuting back and forth)
  
• getting mugged in La Courneuve/Aubervilliers
  
• website development company
  
• BIG IMPORTANT EXAM next tuesday (feb 2)
  
• work stress
  
• roommate stress
  
• can't run to relieve stress

With a list like that, it's no wonder I'm stressed!

The funny thing is, I never actually think about EVERYTHING that I do, since I can only do one or two things at a time. When I finished giving her the list today, she nodded and asked if I have a type-A, go-getting personality. Yeah, i think you could say that!

She was wonderful, listening to what I had to say and asking questions when necessary. She checked my "Chinese pulses" to find out what parts of my body aren't in harmony, and it was the most incredible thing ... just by putting her fingers on certain parts of my wrist, she could tell me things. "Your heart races a lot when you get nervous, doesn't it?", she asked as she lightly touched a certain point. [There were other things as well, but they're a little too personal to reveal here!] I am apparently running low on heart/cardiovascular something or other, and on dealing with my feelings.

Then she inserted a few needles here and a few needles there. Only once or twice did the needles actually hurt (and even so it was only a slight tingly kind of pain). She covered me up with a type of metallic blanket and put on some soft music. As soon as she walked out the door, my eyes welled up uncontrollably with tears, as if I needed to cry. I didn't, but it was weird, as if I felt overwhelmed or something.

She came back after 10 minutes to touch each of the needles, and then she was gone again. I think I was there for a total of 30 minutes before she came back in and took the needles out. I walked out of there feeling a lot better, with a prescription for a whole bunch of herbal, homeopathic things to try to improve my stress levels (and hopefully my sleep habits).

If you're feeling "off" and you haven't tried acupuncture, I recommend it!

[special thanks to Alexis, one of my best friends from college who is a licensed acupuncturist in Portland, Oregon, for encouraging me to try it!]

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Glad you had a good experience. An emotional reaction is pretty common, I've certainly had people cry before - and it's been very cathartic. I hope it'll help your sleep - though sometimes it can take more than one treatment!

- Alexis

I think I may try going to acupuncture after I have this baby. I've always been interested. It sounds like your experience was a good one!!

- krissy

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