Dear Patient, A patient asked me, “It seems like when I’m really stressed, the needles hurt more. Is that real?” It is very real, my dear. When you are in a state of high stress, you involuntarily perceive everything as a threat. Disaster could strike at any moment so your nervous system tries to thwart any possible attack. It doesn’t have time to distinguish between a sharp, friendly acupuncture needle and a sharp, unfriendly knife, ax, broadsword, or spear. It’s easier, and potentially life-saving, to bypass your thinking brain and just have one standard-issue response to everything.
Love this.