Acupuncture for Emotional Dysregulation and Sensory Overwhelm in Seattle
Emotional dysregulation and sensory overwhelm often show up in the body before they can be named cognitively. Many people experience symptoms such as agitation, shutdown, panic, numbness, or difficulty settling, even when they are already engaged in therapy or other forms of support.
I offer acupuncture in Seattle for people experiencing emotional dysregulation and sensory overwhelm, particularly when symptoms are persistent, stress-related, or impacting daily functioning.
Symptoms and patterns I commonly work with
People seek care with me for physical and nervous-system-related symptoms such as:
Heightened anxiety or panic sensations
Difficulty settling, resting, or sleeping
Emotional reactivity or emotional shutdown
Sensory sensitivity to sound, light, touch, or stimulation
Physical symptoms associated with depression, such as fatigue, heaviness, or low energy
Feeling overstimulated, scattered, or unable to focus
Stress responses that feel disproportionate or difficult to regulate
Some clients are actively working with therapists or other mental health providers and are looking for additional support for the physical and nervous system aspects of their experience. Others are seeking care because talk-based approaches alone have not fully addressed how symptoms are showing up in their body.
How acupuncture supports regulation without replacing therapy
Acupuncture does not replace psychotherapy, psychiatric care, or crisis support. I do not diagnose or treat mental health conditions.
What acupuncture can do is support the physiological side of regulation. From both biomedical and East Asian medicine perspectives, emotional states are closely linked to nervous system activity, sleep, circulation, and stress physiology. When these systems are dysregulated, emotional symptoms can intensify or become harder to manage.
By supporting nervous system regulation, acupuncture may help reduce the physical intensity of symptoms such as panic sensations, agitation, shutdown, or sensory overload. This can make it easier for people to engage in therapy, integrate insight, and access coping strategies.
Many clients find acupuncture most helpful alongside therapy, not instead of it.
East Asian medicine perspective
In East Asian medicine, emotional and sensory symptoms are understood as part of whole-body patterns involving circulation, containment, and resilience. Prolonged stress, illness, trauma, or instability can tax the body’s ability to regulate internal states, leading to symptoms that feel overwhelming or difficult to modulate.
Treatment focuses on supporting the systems responsible for grounding, rhythm, and recovery, rather than targeting emotions in isolation.
My clinical approach
I use acupuncture and East Asian medicine to support regulation in a way that is steady, paced, and non-overstimulating. Sessions are designed to help the nervous system settle and re-establish baseline safety, rather than pushing emotional processing or insight.
My role is often time-limited and adjunctive. Many people work with me for several weeks to reduce symptom intensity and improve regulation, then transition to occasional sessions as needed.
This approach is particularly helpful for people who:
Experience strong physical symptoms of anxiety or depression
Feel overwhelmed by sensory input or stimulation
Have difficulty settling even with insight or coping tools
Are navigating periods of transition or prolonged stress
I frequently coordinate with other forms of care, including psychotherapy and primary care, and I refer out when appropriate.
What sessions are like
Sessions take place in a quiet clinical setting in Seattle. Treatments are designed to be calming and contained, with attention to how the nervous system responds moment to moment.
Over time, people often report improved sleep, reduced sensory reactivity, increased emotional steadiness, and a greater sense of capacity.
Is this a good fit?
Acupuncture can be a supportive modality for emotional dysregulation and sensory overwhelm, particularly when physical stress responses are prominent. It is not a replacement for mental health care, and I encourage clients to maintain appropriate therapeutic and medical support.
If you are looking for acupuncture in Seattle to support nervous system regulation alongside therapy or other care, I offer a free consultation to help determine whether working together makes sense.