By Dr. Adam Gries, DACM, L.Ac. | Awakenings Health

One of the things I love most about practicing Chinese medicine is working with people who are experiencing anxiety. It’s an area of medicine that I find particularly fascinating because anxiety is rarely as simple as it initially appears. Our thoughts, emotions, and physical bodies are constantly influencing one another, and understanding those relationships opens up so many possibilities for helping people feel better.

Many patients come into my office with a very understandable request: “Please get rid of my anxiety.” They’re tired of feeling worried, overwhelmed, restless, or uncomfortable in their own bodies. They want to feel like themselves again, and I understand that completely. But one of the first things I try to help people recognize is that anxiety itself isn’t necessarily the enemy. Sometimes it’s an important message, and understanding where that message is coming from can be an essential part of treatment.

Why Do We Experience Anxiety?

Anxiety is a natural human response designed to help us recognize danger and respond appropriately. If we’re in a situation that genuinely threatens our safety, we want our bodies and minds to alert us. That response has helped human beings survive for thousands of years.

The difficulty is that our minds can begin interpreting ordinary uncertainty as danger. We might be sitting comfortably at home, thinking about tomorrow, and suddenly find ourselves feeling anxious about something that hasn’t even happened. Our thoughts tell us that the future is unsafe, and our bodies respond accordingly.

I see this frequently in my practice. People become so accustomed to anticipating problems, imagining outcomes, and trying to control uncertainty that their nervous systems seem to remain on alert. Over time, this can make everyday life feel much more threatening or overwhelming than it actually is.

Part of my work involves helping patients recognize these patterns and gradually develop a different relationship with uncertainty. Life will always contain things we cannot predict or control, but we can learn to experience that uncertainty without constantly feeling threatened by it.

Anxiety Isn’t Always Coming From Your Thoughts

One of the most interesting things about treating anxiety through Traditional Chinese Medicine is recognizing that emotional distress can also have a physical component.

We often assume that anxiety begins with worrying or negative thinking, but sometimes people experience anxiety even when their thoughts seem relatively calm. They may notice a racing heart, tightness in their chest, digestive discomfort, restlessness, or an inability to relax without understanding why.

In Chinese medicine, we look carefully at these physical experiences because the body and mind are understood as interconnected. Sleep, digestion, energy, physical discomfort, and emotional well-being can all contribute to the larger picture of someone’s health.

This is particularly important because we cannot always resolve a physical experience simply by changing the way we think. If someone is experiencing a physiological response that contributes to anxiety, I want to understand what may be happening within their body and how we might support its ability to regulate itself.

Can Acupuncture Help with Anxiety?

Acupuncture is one of the primary tools I use when working with patients experiencing anxiety, stress, and emotional discomfort. Research suggests that acupuncture may help reduce anxiety symptoms for some individuals, and I’ve found it to be a valuable part of my clinical approach.

When someone comes to Awakenings Health for anxiety treatment, I begin by trying to understand their individual experience. I’m interested in how they sleep, how their digestion functions, where they carry physical tension, what their stress levels look like, and how their emotional experiences relate to their physical symptoms.

Chinese medicine provides a framework for evaluating patterns across these different systems. Acupuncture allows me to address aspects of the physical experience while also working with the patient to understand their emotional and mental responses.

What fascinates me is how interconnected everything becomes. Our thoughts can influence our emotions, our emotions can influence our bodies, and physical sensations can then influence the way we think. Anxiety can develop into a cycle where each component reinforces the others.

My job is to understand how that cycle is operating for the person sitting in front of me and determine where treatment may be most helpful.

Learning to Listen to Anxiety

Another important part of my approach involves helping patients become more curious about their anxiety rather than immediately trying to suppress it.

When anxiety arises, I often encourage people to consider what their minds and bodies may be responding to. Is there something happening right now that requires attention, or are they responding to an imagined future? Is their body experiencing stress or discomfort that deserves care? Have they become accustomed to interpreting uncertainty as a threat?

These questions create an opportunity to better understand the experience instead of becoming caught in an endless struggle against it.

I spend a considerable amount of time helping patients examine their thinking patterns, develop healthier perspectives, and become more comfortable with the present moment. This kind of supportive conversation works alongside the physical treatments I provide through Chinese medicine.

What I particularly appreciate about this process is that patients can begin developing greater confidence in their ability to navigate difficult experiences. Anxiety may still arise from time to time, but it doesn’t necessarily have to determine how they live their lives.

Treating the Whole Person at Awakenings Health

One of the reasons I continue to find Chinese medicine so rewarding is that it encourages me to understand the person as a whole. Two patients may both describe anxiety, yet their underlying experiences, physical symptoms, emotional patterns, and treatment needs may be very different.

Someone may be struggling with chronic stress and poor sleep, while another person experiences physical tension, digestive discomfort, or persistent worry about the future. I want to understand those differences because they help guide how I approach each patient’s care.

At Awakenings Health in Raleigh, North Carolina, my treatment approach may include acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine, stress-management guidance, and conversations about lifestyle and emotional well-being. I consider how these different aspects of health interact and how we can support the patient’s overall sense of balance.

For me, the most satisfying part of this work is helping people discover that they have more capacity to navigate discomfort, uncertainty, and emotional challenges than they may have realized. When someone begins to understand their anxiety and develops a greater sense of comfort within their own body, that can be a meaningful step toward improving their quality of life.

Finding a Different Way Forward

If you’ve been struggling with anxiety, I encourage you to consider the possibility that there may be several factors contributing to how you feel. Your thoughts, emotions, physical health, and daily experiences all deserve attention, and understanding how they interact can help us determine an appropriate approach to care.

I’ve spent many years working with people experiencing stress, anxiety, and emotional challenges, and I continue to find this one of the most meaningful areas of my practice. I enjoy helping patients understand what’s happening within them and exploring ways to support both their physical and emotional well-being.

If you’re looking for acupuncture for anxiety in Raleigh, North Raleigh, Wake Forest, or the surrounding communities, I welcome the opportunity to work with you. At Awakenings Health, we’ll take the time to understand your experience and develop a personalized approach to your care.

To schedule an appointment with me at Awakenings Health, visit awakeningshealth.com.

Dr. Adam Gries, DACM, L.Ac.
Doctor of Chinese Medicine
Awakenings Health | Raleigh, North Carolina