Acupuncture for Anxiety in Brighton
Anxiety can show up in many different ways. For some people it’s racing thoughts or a constant feeling of worry. For others it’s much more physical- tightness in the chest, heart palpitations, tense shoulders or jaw, digestive problems, poor sleep, or simply feeling constantly on edge.
I’m an acupuncturist and Chinese medicine practitioner with 16 years of clinical experience, now practising in central Brighton. I have a particular interest in anxiety, insomnia and stress-related symptoms, and I see patients from Brighton, Hove and the surrounding area.
Rather than treating everyone with anxiety in the same way, I look at how it is affecting you as an individual and tailor each treatment accordingly.
Can Acupuncture Help With Anxiety?
There is a growing body of research suggesting that acupuncture can help reduce anxiety symptoms in some people. The research is not perfect and more high-quality studies are still needed, but overall the findings are encouraging.
In my own clinical practice, anxiety is one of the problems I see most frequently.
What I particularly like about using acupuncture for anxiety is that we don’t have to separate the emotional symptoms from what is happening physically. Anxiety may come with poor sleep, digestive problems, heart palpitations, chest tightness, headaches, muscular tension, exhaustion or a constant feeling of being on edge.
These symptoms all form part of the picture I use to decide how to treat you.
The aim isn’t simply to help you feel relaxed for an hour while you’re on the treatment table. We look for changes in how anxiety is affecting you in everyday life- how you sleep, how tense your body feels, how strongly you react to stressful situations and how easily your nervous system seems to settle afterwards.
Some people notice changes relatively early in treatment, while longer-standing or more complex anxiety can take more time. I review progress regularly rather than assuming that everyone needs the same number of sessions.
I don’t use a standard set of “anxiety points”. Each treatment is based on the individual person in front of me.
How I Approach Anxiety in Chinese Medicine
Chinese medicine looks at the whole pattern of symptoms rather than anxiety in isolation.
During your consultation, I may ask about things that initially seem unrelated- including your sleep, digestion, energy, appetite, menstrual cycle, physical tension and how your symptoms respond to stress.
I also use traditional diagnostic methods including tongue and pulse diagnosis and body palpation. Drawing on my Shiatsu training, I briefly palpate along the meridians to gather additional information about what is happening in the body.
All of this helps me decide which acupuncture points are most appropriate for you.
What Happens at Your First Appointment?
Your first appointment lasts approximately 60 minutes and includes both a consultation and acupuncture treatment.
We’ll talk through:
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how your anxiety affects you
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when it began and any triggers you’ve noticed
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your sleep, digestion, energy and other physical symptoms
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relevant medical history and medication
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lifestyle factors that may be contributing
I’ll also look at your tongue, feel your pulse and briefly palpate along the meridians before choosing your acupuncture points.
You will receive acupuncture during your first appointment. Where appropriate, we may also discuss whether Chinese herbal medicine could be useful alongside your acupuncture treatment.
What Happens at Follow-Up Sessions?
Follow-up appointments are also 60 minutes.
We begin with a short check-in to see what has changed since your previous treatment- not only in your anxiety, but also in things such as sleep, digestion, energy, mood and physical tension.
This is followed by approximately 15 minutes of Shiatsu massage.
The Shiatsu serves two main purposes: it gives me additional information about how your body is responding, while also giving you time to settle and relax before the acupuncture.
I then tailor your acupuncture treatment according to both what you’ve told me and what I’ve observed during the session.
How Many Acupuncture Sessions Will I Need for Anxiety?
For most people, I recommend starting with 3–5 weekly sessions and then reviewing your progress.
You don’t need to commit to a long course of treatment upfront. Over those first few sessions, we’ll look at how things are changing- not only your anxiety, but also related symptoms such as sleep, physical tension, digestion and how you’re coping with stress day to day.
If you’re noticing worthwhile changes, we can decide together whether to continue and how frequently you need treatment. If you’re not seeing enough change, I don’t believe in asking you to keep coming indefinitely.
Long-standing or more complex problems may need a longer course of treatment, but I’ll always be open with you about how I think things are progressing.
Can Acupuncture Help When Anxiety Affects My Sleep?
Anxiety and sleep problems very often occur together. You may find it difficult to switch your thoughts off at bedtime, wake frequently during the night, or wake very early and immediately start thinking.
When anxiety and insomnia occur together, I consider both as part of the same overall picture rather than treating them separately.
My Master’s research focused on insomnia, and sleep has remained a particular clinical interest throughout my career.
What If My Anxiety Is Mainly Physical?
Anxiety isn’t always experienced primarily as worried thoughts.
People may experience symptoms such as chest tightness, palpitations, digestive changes, nausea, muscular tension, headaches, jaw clenching or a feeling that their body simply cannot switch off.
If your anxiety is very physical, those symptoms become an important part of how I assess and tailor your treatment.
If you develop new, severe or unexplained physical symptoms, however, it is important to have them medically assessed rather than assuming they are caused by anxiety.
Can I Have Acupuncture While Taking Anxiety Medication or Antidepressants?
In many cases acupuncture is used alongside conventional treatment.
You should not stop or change prescribed medication because you are having acupuncture. Any changes to medication should be discussed with the clinician who prescribed it.
Please let me know about any medication you are taking during your initial consultation so that I have a complete picture of your health and treatment.
What About Panic Attacks?
People who experience panic attacks may also come for acupuncture, particularly when their panic attacks occur alongside ongoing anxiety, poor sleep, physical tension or feeling constantly on high alert.
As with other forms of anxiety, I look at the whole pattern rather than treating the panic attacks as an isolated symptom.
If symptoms such as chest pain, severe breathlessness or palpitations are new or unexplained, they should always be medically assessed rather than assumed to be anxiety.
Is Acupuncture Painful?
Acupuncture needles are extremely fine and most people are surprised by how little they feel.
You may occasionally experience a brief sensation when a needle is inserted or a dull, heavy or tingling sensation around a point. Once the needles are in place, many people find the treatment deeply relaxing.
Fees
Initial consultation and acupuncture: £60
Follow-up appointment including Shiatsu and acupuncture: £60
Concessionary appointments
I want treatment to be accessible to people who need it, so I keep two appointment slots each week available at a concessionary rate for people who would otherwise find the regular fee difficult to afford.
Concessionary appointments are £30 per session and are available for up to 10 sessions, subject to availability.
If you feel you would benefit from the concessionary rate, please get in touch to ask about availability.
About Your Practitioner
I’m Inbal Sivan, an acupuncturist and Chinese medicine practitioner with 16 years of clinical experience.
I hold a Diploma in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine from Campus Broshim following four years of full-time study, and an MSc in Advanced Oriental Medicine from Middlesex University.
My Master’s research focused on insomnia, and I have a particular clinical interest in anxiety, sleep and stress-related conditions.
I am a member of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) and the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine (RCHM).
Considering Acupuncture for Anxiety?
If anxiety is affecting your sleep, your body, your relationships or simply how you experience everyday life, you don’t necessarily have to just keep pushing through it.
If you’re curious whether acupuncture might help you, you’re welcome to book a full first appointment. Or, if you’d rather talk to me first, you can book a free consultation with no obligation.
Brighton Acuclinic
57 Ship Street
Brighton BN1 1AF
Page reviewed by Inbal Sivan, MSc — September 2026