Acupuncture for Anxiety and Stress in Denver
What brings people in with anxiety and stress
Constant worry and a body that will not switch off
A tight chest, shallow breathing or frequent sighing
Jaw clenching and tension headaches
Burnout and running on fumes after a big project
Waking at 3 a.m. with a racing mind
Stress that shows up as poor digestion
Nerves before a procedure, exam or flight
Panic that is getting more frequent, alongside a therapist or physician
Stress that has you short on patience at home
How acupuncture treats anxiety and stress
Under sustained stress the sympathetic nervous system stays switched on: faster heart rate, shallow breathing, tight shoulders, poor digestion and light sleep. Acupuncture helps in four ways. A 2018 review of 13 trials found it an effective option for anxiety with fewer side effects than conventional treatment, and a 2021 meta-analysis of 20 randomized trials found it reduced generalized anxiety symptoms more than control treatments, though both call for better-designed studies.
It shifts the nervous system toward rest
Chronic stress keeps the sympathetic nervous system dominant, so the heart rate stays high and the breath stays shallow. Needles in the ears, wrists, top of the head and lower legs are thought to raise vagal tone and lower sympathetic activity. Most people notice the breath slow within minutes, and many fall asleep on the table.
It releases the muscle tension stress builds
Stress is held in the body as clenched jaws, raised shoulders, a tight chest and shallow breathing. That tension feeds signals back to the brain that read as threat, which keeps the cycle going. Needling the neck, shoulders, chest wall and jaw releases the guarding, lets the breath deepen and quiets those signals.
It helps regulate the stress response
Research suggests acupuncture influences the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, the system that governs how strongly the body reacts to stress, and the release of calming brain chemicals such as endorphins and serotonin. Over several visits the gap between a stressful moment and the body’s reaction tends to widen. The points change with what I find in your pulse and history, so no two plans are the same.
It supports sleep and digestion
Stress is a common cause of light sleep, waking at 3 a.m. and a stomach that will not settle. Shifting the body out of its alert state allows the deeper sleep and the digestive activity that happen during rest. Many patients sleep harder the night after a treatment, and better sleep makes the next stressful day easier to handle.
What to expect
What to wear and bring
Wear loose, comfortable clothing, since I work on the arms, lower legs, ears and head. Eat a light meal beforehand and go easy on coffee, which can leave you wired before you lie down. Bring a list of your medications.
Your first visit
Plan on 90 minutes. We talk through what the stress looks like for you, how you sleep and eat, what you have tried and anything else going on in your body, and you do not have to explain anything you do not want to. Then you get a full treatment and a rest on a heated table. If panic attacks are becoming more frequent or you have thoughts of harming yourself, I will ask you to also see a therapist or physician, because acupuncture works alongside that care, not instead of it.
What it feels like
Most people feel a brief tap at the ears, wrists and lower legs, then a heavy, settled feeling as the needles do their work. You rest for 25 to 30 minutes in a private room on a heated table, and many people doze off.
How many visits
I recommend weekly visits for the first four to six weeks, then every two weeks, then as needed. Most people know by the third visit whether this is working for them.
Add-ons that fit
I often place an ear seed, a tiny bead on an ear point that you press when tension builds. For patients who want it, a Chinese herbal formula works more slowly but helps hold the gains between visits.
Book Your Appointment
Why choose The Subtle Point
One practitioner, every visit
You see me, Michael Sugiura, L.Ac., Dipl. TCM (NCCAOM), at every visit. I am a Colorado licensed acupuncturist and have treated patients since 2017, the year I became licensed.
A private room, no rush
Every treatment is one-on-one in a private room on a heated table. You stay dressed for most treatments, and the visit is long enough to talk through what is going on.
Five-star reviews
Patients have left more than 500 five-star reviews across Google, ClassPass and Groupon, and the clinic holds a 5.0 rating on Google.
Easy to reach
3600 South Beeler Street, Suite 150, in Hampden Town Center at Hampden Avenue and I-25, with free parking at the door. Open until 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, and Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
500+ five-star reviews across Google, ClassPass and Groupon
124 Five Star Reviews
If you’ve found your way here just go ahead make that first reservation, you won’t regret it. I have been seeing Michael for over a year now, first for my anxiety and PTSD and then for continued gut health issues. Now I regularly see him for both acupuncture and cupping to help maintain my mental and physical wellness. He really tries to find the root cause, has many recommendations, and talks through the treatment with you. I often show up a stressed out, anxious, and in pain mess and leave feeling incredible relaxed.
—Liz Solorio
247 Five Star Reviews
Michael was very knowledgeable and professional. It was a very nice experience. We discussed regarding healthy food I am eating He recommended some food to try to help me with my weight and stress. It was a very productive discussion about stress, food. He also told me about cupping and what he’s doing next and if I was comfortable. I really recommend him.
—Mitsuko
146 Five Star Reviews
“Mike is so thorough and knowledgeable. Best acupuncture experience I have ever had. I will definitely be going back!”
“The owner Michael was super nice and very knowledgeable! I had a great experience!”
“This is the first time I’ve ever had acupuncture and cupping, and it was great. Definitely recommend.”
Prices
Payment
We accept cash, check, all major credit cards, and HSA/FSA cards. We don’t bill insurance directly, but we can provide a superbill you can submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Rarely, and never the way an injection does. Acupuncture needles are about the width of a human hair. Most people feel a brief tap, then a dull, heavy or warm sensation that fades in a few seconds. If any point feels sharp, tell me and I will adjust or remove it.
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Most people feel noticeably calmer during the first session and sleep better that night. Lasting change, where the calm carries through a hard week, usually shows after four to six weekly visits.
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Acupuncture stimulates specific points with very fine needles. That signals the nervous system to release endorphins, increases local blood flow, calms the stress response and reduces inflammation. In Chinese medicine terms it restores smooth movement of qi and blood where it has stalled. I choose points from your symptoms, history, pulse and exam, so no two plans are identical.
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Yes. Acupuncture has no known interactions with anxiety or antidepressant medication, and many of my patients use both. Do not change your medication without talking to the prescriber. If you later want to reduce it, that is a conversation for you and your doctor, and I am glad to coordinate with them.
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Only as much as you want to. I need to know how the stress shows up in your body and your sleep. You do not need to tell me the story behind it unless it helps you to.
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A tiny bead on a small piece of adhesive tape that I place on an acupuncture point on your ear at the end of a visit. You press it for a few seconds whenever you feel the tension building. It stays on for three to five days and gives you something to do with the stress between visits.
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Book online at acusimple.com/access/4476, or call or text (720) 285-6251.