Ever have one of those nights when you just can’t switch your brain off? You’ve made it through the whole day, you’re finally in bed, and the minute your head hits the pillow, your mind starts going. You’re thinking about that awkward conversation from years ago, making a mental list of everything you need to do tomorrow, or worrying about something that can wait until morning.
The frustrating part is, you’re already tired. You just want to go to sleep, but your brain won’t shut up. Sometimes you’ve had a long day, and even though you’re exhausted, you just can’t seem to relax enough to fall asleep.
What’s Actually Happening in the Body
Sometimes, it’s not even about what’s going through your head. You can have nothing major to worry about and still find yourself lying awake at night, unable to relax.
Think about how you feel after a really stressful day. You’re tired, but you still feel wound up. Your body is ready for bed, but you just can’t seem to settle. That can happen when you’ve been dealing with stress for a while or haven’t been getting enough sleep. Your body needs time to wind down, and sometimes it doesn’t happen as quickly as you’d like.
You might notice things like:
- that familiar “tired but wired” feeling
- racing or looping thoughts
- trouble falling or staying asleep
- tension in the shoulders or jaw
Sometimes it’s more subtle, just a general feeling of being on edge, even when nothing obvious is wrong. So when your mind won’t slow down, it’s usually not random. It’s your body trying to keep up with everything it’s been carrying.
How TCM Sees Anxiety
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the mind and body aren’t really separated. So rather than looking at anxiety on its own, a TCM practitioner will look at the bigger picture. How are you sleeping? How’s your digestion? Do you feel tired all the time, or do you feel restless even when you’re exhausted? The idea is that anxiety can show up differently from one person to another, and what might be going on for one person isn’t necessarily the same for someone else. That’s why TCM looks at your overall symptoms and patterns rather than treating everyone’s anxiety the same way.
Common TCM Patterns Behind Anxiety
Heart & Spleen Imbalance (Overthinking & Depletion):
You might notice you’re worrying a lot, feeling mentally drained, or like your brain is just full and you can’t take anything else in. In TCM, this can be associated with Spleen Qi deficiency. It may be linked to things like skipping meals, eating at irregular times, dealing with stress day after day, or just taking on too much without giving yourself enough time to rest.
You might notice:
- Racing thoughts, especially at night
- Trouble falling or staying asleep
- Feeling mentally exhausted but unable to switch off
- Low energy or fatigue
- Bloating or digestive discomfort
It’s that feeling of being completely drained, but still “on.”
Liver Qi Stagnation (Stress & Emotional Tension)
This can happen when you’re dealing with a lot of stress and don’t really get a chance to let it go. You keep pushing through your day, but the tension never quite goes away.
You might notice:
- Irritability or mood swings
- Tightness in the chest, neck, or shoulders
- Feeling easily overwhelmed
- Sighing often or needing a deep breath
- Digestive changes when stressed
It’s that pent-up, can’t quite relax feeling.
Heart & Kidney Imbalance (Deeper Exhaustion)
In TCM, the Heart and Kidneys are believed to work together to keep the mind settled. When you’re worn out from stress or haven’t been getting enough rest, that balance can be affected, and you might find it harder to relax or quiet your mind.
You might notice:
- Feeling physically and mentally drained
- Restless or lighter sleep
- Waking during the night
- A sense of uneasiness or internal restlessness
- Lower resilience to stress
This tends to feel like a deeper kind of fatigue where you’re tired, but still unsettled.
Why Anxiety Can Feel So Different From Person to Person
Anxiety doesn’t feel the same for everyone. Some people can’t seem to switch their minds off, while others find themselves overthinking everything. Then there are people who feel it more in their bodies, like their shoulders are always tense or they just can’t seem to relax, no matter how hard they try.
That’s why TCM takes an individual approach. It’s about looking at your symptoms as a whole and understanding what might be going on in your body, rather than assuming the same thing will work for everyone.
How Acupuncture May Support the Body
Acupuncture is one of the ways TCM works to bring the body back into balance. From a traditional perspective, it may help:
- encourage a more settled internal state
- support the smooth flow of Qi (energy)
- bring balance to the Heart, Liver, and Spleen systems
From a modern perspective, acupuncture has been explored for its ability to:
- Support the nervous system in shifting toward a more relaxed state
- Encourage the release of calming chemicals like endorphins
- Help move the body out of a constant “fight or flight” response
Many people describe feeling more grounded, more relaxed, and better able to rest afterward.
Simple Ways to Support Your Body Daily
You don’t have to change your whole routine. Start with a few things you can actually stick to, and see how you feel.
Things like:
- eating regularly to support steady energy
- creating simple routines to reduce mental load
- moving your body gently (walking, stretching) to release tension
- building in small pauses throughout the day
- giving yourself time to wind down instead of going straight from busy to bed
These might seem simple, but they send a clear signal to your body that it’s safe to slow down, and that’s where regulation begins.
Acupressure Points to Support a Calmer State
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or having trouble settling down, acupressure is one thing you can try. Unlike acupuncture, which involves needles and should be done by a trained practitioner, acupressure uses your fingers to apply pressure to specific points on your body.
You can try it when you’re feeling stressed, can’t seem to relax, or just need a few minutes to yourself. Gently press on each point for about 30 to 60 seconds while taking a few slow breaths. There’s no need to press hard, and rather than getting frustrated with yourself for feeling anxious or wound up, try giving yourself a little time to slow down.
Yintang (between the eyebrows)
This point is often used to help quiet the mind and ease that constant mental activity. This is one of my favourites. It’s a simple one, and many people find it surprisingly calming, especially at night.
Heart 7 (Shen Men)
Inner wrist crease, in line with the pinky finger. Commonly used to support emotional balance and relaxation. It may help when you feel restless, unsettled, or tense. It is often used in evening wind-down routines.
Pericardium 6 (Neiguan)
Inner forearm, about 3 finger widths below the wrist. It helps support the chest and heart area. Can be useful when anxiety feels physical (tight chest, fluttery feeling). Also known for supporting a sense of calm and grounding
Liver 3 (Tai Chong)
Top of the foot, between the big toe and second toe. Often used when emotions feel stuck, tense, or bottled up. Can help support the smooth flow of energy. A good one for that irritable or overwhelmed feeling.
Kidney 1 (Yongquan)
Sole of the foot, about one-third down from the toes. Known as a grounding point. Can help when you feel unsettled, anxious, or “in your head”. Nice to use when you need to feel more anchored.
How to Use Them
You don’t have to try every point here. Just pick one or two that feel right for you.
Press gently for about 30 to 60 seconds and take a few slow breaths while you’re at it. There’s no need to force anything. Just take a minute, slow down, and give yourself a chance to relax.
Simply Salt & Soul
The Salt (The Science): When you’re stressed for a long time or not getting enough rest, your body can have a harder time relaxing. You might lie in bed wanting nothing more than to fall asleep, but your mind just keeps going. Your nervous system plays a part in how your body responds to stress, which can affect how easily you relax. Acupuncture has been studied for anxiety, though there’s still more to learn about how well it works. Getting enough sleep, eating regularly, and finding time to move around during the day can also help. I know it’s not always easy when life gets busy, but these are things worth paying attention to.
The Soul (The Wellness): In TCM, anxiety isn’t looked at as just something going on in your head. Practitioners look at the whole picture, including the Heart, Spleen, and Liver, and how they relate to what you’re experiencing. I find that way of looking at it interesting because it gets you thinking about what’s been going on in your life, too. Have you been stressed lately? Are you sleeping well? Have you been taking on too much without giving yourself much of a break?
I think a lot of us are guilty of just getting on with things, even when we’re exhausted or feeling overwhelmed. There’s always something else to do, so we keep going. Sometimes, we don’t even realize how much we’re carrying until we finally stop for a minute.
Just a quick note — everything I’ve shared here comes from my own experience and what I’ve learned over the years. Everyone’s body is different, so if something you’re dealing with feels ongoing or unclear, it’s always a good idea to check in with a qualified practitioner who can support you more personally.