Anxiety and fatigue: Western and Chinese perspectives and how acupuncture can help

If you’re constantly tired, even when you haven’t been physically active, it can feel frustrating—especially when your mind is racing with anxiety. Anxiety and exhaustion often go hand in hand, and this type of fatigue is common. Let’s explore why it happens and how acupuncture can help restore your energy.

The Western medical perspective: Link between anxiety and fatigue

Anxiety can drain your energy in several ways, even if you’re not physically exerting yourself. Here’s why:

• Chronic stress: Constant anxiety puts your body in a perpetual “fight or flight” state, which uses up your energy reserves. This ongoing strain depletes your adrenal glands, which are responsible for managing stress hormones like cortisol.
• Poor sleep quality: Anxiety can interfere with your ability to sleep deeply and restfully, leaving you feeling exhausted the next day.
• Mental exhaustion: Anxiety often leads to overthinking, worrying about the future, or ruminating on the past, which mentally drains you.
• Hyperactivity of the nervous system: Anxiety activates your sympathetic nervous system (the fight or flight response), which can leave you feeling constantly “on edge” and fatigued, even if you’re not physically doing much.

The Chinese Medicine perspective: Qi Deficiency and Spleen/Kidney weakness

From a Chinese Medicine perspective, fatigue related to anxiety may be due to a Qi deficiency (lack of energy) and weakness in the Spleen and Kidneys:

• Qi deficiency: Chronic anxiety can deplete Qi, your body’s vital energy. This depletion can leave you feeling tired, weak, and sluggish, even without physical exertion.
• Spleen Qi deficiency: The Spleen is responsible for transforming food into energy, and anxiety-related worry can weaken the Spleen. This often results in feelings of fatigue, especially after eating.
• Kidney deficiency: The Kidneys store the body’s Jing, or essence, which is related to long-term reserves. Anxiety and stress can weaken the Kidneys, leading to chronic fatigue and low energy.

How acupuncture helps with anxiety-related fatigue

Acupuncture can help replenish your energy and restore balance, giving your body the boost it needs to combat the tiredness associated with anxiety. Here’s how acupuncture can help:

✅ Restores Qi: Acupuncture helps to revitalize your Qi, increasing energy levels and improving overall vitality.
✅ Strengthens the Spleen and Kidneys: By targeting specific points, acupuncture supports the Spleen and Kidneys, addressing the root causes of fatigue.
✅ Regulates the nervous system: Acupuncture calms the nervous system, reducing the overactivity caused by anxiety and promoting a more balanced, rested state.
✅ Improves sleep: By calming the mind and relaxing the body, acupuncture improves sleep quality, allowing you to wake up feeling more refreshed and energized.

Common acupuncture points for addressing fatigue include:

• Stomach 36 (Zusanli): Known for its ability to boost energy, this point strengthens the Spleen and overall Qi.
• Ren 6 (Qihai): This point helps to replenish Qi and support the Kidneys, addressing chronic fatigue.
• Kidney 3 (Taixi): Helps to nourish the Kidney energy, supporting long-term vitality and fighting exhaustion.

If anxiety is draining your energy and leaving you feeling tired all the time, acupuncture can help restore balance, calm your nervous system, and revitalize your energy. At Village Healing Centre in Curl Curl, we offer gentle, effective treatments to help you feel more energised and at peace.

If you’re in the Northern Beaches of Sydney and you’re curious about acupuncture for anxiety, we’d love to meet you. You don’t have to figure this out alone.

📍 Find us in Curl Curl (Sydney Northern Beaches)
📞 Call us at (02) 9938 2182
📅 Book your appointment