Mental health and sleep
Mental symptoms and sleep problems are common and can have a strong influence on each other. Stress, anxiety, gloomyness or long-term worry may make it more difficult to relax and sleep well. Otherwise, a period of poor sleep can affect your mood, concentration and ability to cope with stress.
The symptoms can occur temporarily during a stressful period, but they are also present for a long time or regularly return. Sometimes a diagnosis has been made, such as anxiety disorder or depression, while other people mainly suffer from tension, restlessness or sleep problems without a clear diagnosis.
Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can be used for various mental complaints and sleep problems. The treatment is tailored to your complaints and personal situation. On the individual complaint page you can read more about this.
Read more about your symptoms
Common complaints
Mental complaints and sleep problems can be expressed in different ways. Common complaints are:
Mental and emotional complaints
- stress and inner restlessness;
- peaks;
- feeling anxious;
- gloominess;
- irritability;
- difficulty in concentrating.
Physical complaints and sleep
- tense muscles or difficulty relaxing;
- palpitations in the event of stress or disturbance;
- headache or chest tightness;
- indigestion during periods of stress;
- difficulty sleeping, often or early awakening;
- light or restless sleep and vibrant dreams.
Read more about insomnia, anxiety and anxiety symptoms, depression and depressive symptoms, ADHD and ADD, PTSD and mania and bipolar symptoms on the individual pages.
Western disorders
Mental symptoms and sleep problems can occur without a diagnosis. Sometimes there is a mental illness or sleep disorder. On this page you can read more about:
- insomnia (insomnia);
- anxiety and anxiety symptoms problems;
- depression and depressive symptoms;
- ADHD and ADD;
- PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder); PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
- mania and bipolar symptoms.
In addition, symptoms may occur with, for example, panic disorder or adjustment disorder, or associated with prolonged stress and burn-out.
Sleep problems may also be related to physical disorders, hormonal changes, drug use or other sleep disturbances.
A diagnosis can provide important information on the nature of the complaints and appropriate care. In case of severe, persistent or rapidly worsening complaints, assessment by a general practitioner or other competent healthcare professional is important.
Possible causes
Mental symptoms and sleep problems can be caused by a combination of physical, psychological and social factors. Long-term stress, profound events, work or relationship problems, illness and prolonged overload may affect mood and sleep, for example.
Physical pain, hormonal changes, disturbed sleep rhythm, alcohol, caffeine, certain medications and insufficient relaxation can also contribute to sleep problems or restlessness.
Often factors affect each other. Stress can disturb sleep, while sleep deprivation can make someone more sensitive to tension and emotions. Therefore, during a consultation, not only one complaint is considered, but also its course and factors that may influence it.
What can acupuncture do?
Acupuncture treatment is tailored to the symptoms and your personal situation. In someone who is particularly difficult to unwind and unable to sleep, a different treatment principle may be central than in someone with gloom or anxiety problems.
Depending on your symptoms, treatment may be directed at:
- reduce physical stress and inner restlessness;
- support sleep and recovery;
- increase rest at peaks and promote irritability;
- support mood and capacity for activity.
In addition, the underlying TCM pattern is examined within Chinese medicine. On the individual pages you can read in more detail which treatment principles can be applied to the various complaints.
What can Chinese herbal medicine do?
Chinese herbal medicine is used regularly for mental complaints and sleep problems, sometimes in combination with acupuncture. The herbs are tailored to the symptoms and the underlying TCM pattern. This allows two people with insomnia, for example, to receive a different herbal treatment.
Depending on your symptoms, the herbal treatment may be aimed at:
- support a quiet, restorative sleep;
- Reduce inner restlessness and worry;
- support vote and energy;
- help to reduce physical complaints in case of stress.
Because herbs are taken daily, they can also support the body between treatments. Which treatment principles are relevant to a specific complaint, please read more extensively on the individual complaint pages.
How does Chinese medicine view mental health and sleep?
Western medicine and psychology distinguish between different mental disorders and sleep disorders. In Chinese medicine, the combination of mental, emotional and physical complaints is also considered, as well as circumstances that improve or exacerbate them.
An important concept here is Shen. This is often translated as the Spirit and describes within Chinese medicine aspects such as consciousness, emotions, mental rest and sleep. The Shen is connected to the Heart System. If the Shen is adequately supported, one can more easily relax and sleep according to this vision.
Other TCM organ systems may also be involved. The Liver is connected to the free flow of Qi and therefore plays a role when stress, frustration or irritability are at the forefront. The Spleen is linked to the processing of food and thinking processes; long-term worrying can play a role within this system.
In addition, Blood and Yin are important for rest and recovery. In case of insufficient presence, Chinese medicine suggests that the Shen may be less well-equipped. For example, this can manifest itself in light sleep, many dreams or inner restlessness.
A recognizable combination of mental and physical symptoms is called a TCM pattern. This allows two people with the same Western diagnosis within Chinese medicine to be treated differently.
Some common patterns are discussed below. They can also be present without a Western diagnosis. Other patterns are possible and multiple patterns can occur simultaneously. Not everyone with the same pattern has all the symptoms mentioned. Which pattern is present is determined on the basis of the overall complaint picture.
On the individual complaint pages you can read more extensively which patterns occur in case of insomnia, anxiety or depressive symptoms.
Further reading
Common TCM patterns
Liver-Qi-stagnation
When Qi's free flow is hampered according to Chinese medicine, tension and emotions can be more difficult to regulate. This pattern is often associated with prolonged stress, frustration and feeling physically or mentally tense.
Common symptoms
- stress and tension;
- irritability or frustration;
- mood changes;
- difficulty in relaxing;
- tense neck, shoulders or jaw;
- a compressive or tense sensation on the chest or abdomen.
Heart Blood deficiency
Blood has a nourishing function within Chinese medicine and helps the Shen unwind. If the Heart is not fed enough by Blood, especially light sleep, mental distress and fatigue can occur.
Common symptoms
- difficulty in sleeping or sleeping;
- light or restless sleep;
- many dreams;
- palpitations;
- fatigue;
- forgetfulness or difficulty in concentrating.
Yin-deficiency with Heat
Yin represents within Chinese medicine among other things the nourishing, cooling and soothing functions of the body. When Yin is insufficient, relative Heat can arise and it can become more difficult to calm down physically and mentally.
Common symptoms
- inner restlessness;
- difficulty in sleeping or sleeping;
- feeling of warmth in the evening or night;
- night sweats;
- dry mouth or throat;
- irritability.
Heart and Spleen weakened
According to Chinese medicine, the Spleen plays a role in the formation of Qi and Blood. Long-term peaking, mental stress or exhaustion may be associated with a situation where insufficient Qi and Blood are available to support the Shen well.
Common symptoms
- peaks;
- fatigue;
- light or restless sleep;
- difficulty concentrating;
- low appetite;
- palpitations.
Phlegm and Heat verstoren the Shen
When Phlegm and Heat interfere with mental rest according to Chinese medicine, restlessness and sleep problems may coincide with a heavy or full feeling and digestive symptoms. This is a more excessive pattern than the previously described deficiency patterns.
Common symptoms
- restless sleep;
- many or lively dreams;
- inner restlessness;
- irritability;
- a heavy or full feeling;
- nausea or bloating.
These patterns give a general picture of how mental complaints and sleep problems can be distinguished within Chinese medicine. In the case of insomnia different patterns may be central to anxiety, depressive symptoms or prolonged stress. On the individual complaint page therefore this is discussed more extensively.
Outlook
The course of treatment depends on the specific complaint, severity, duration of the complaints, possible underlying causes and your personal situation. Temporary stress or sleep problems usually have a different course from long-term or complex mental symptoms.
In case of severe symptoms, a higher frequency of treatment may be appropriate at the beginning. Long-term complaints usually require more time and the treatment plan can be adapted to the development of the symptoms during the course.
Because the course varies widely between, for example, insomnia, stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms, you can read more extensively on the individual complaint pages what you can expect from a treatment pathway with that specific complaint.
Contact
Do you suffer from mental complaints or sleep problems and do you want to know if acupuncture or Chinese herbal medicine can mean anything to you?
During a first consultation, we will discuss your complaints, medical history and any underlying factors. On the basis of this, a treatment plan will be drawn up that matches your personal situation.
You can make an appointment directly online or contact us for more information.