From exhaustion to vitality: Shirley's experience with acupuncture

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'I feel vital and completely refreshed when I leave the acupuncturist.'

As part of the Acupuncture Week, Shirley, 58 years old and manager of an acupuncture practice, shares how she regained peace, balance, and energy after a burnout thanks to acupuncturist Widi Widiyati , and rediscovered her passion for work.

‘My burn-out came very suddenly for me. In hindsight, I understood that earlier symptoms already pointed to a burn-out, but I did not recognize them. I was working at a large corporate company and was always on the go. Suddenly, I crashed. I had an acute panic attack, which I also did not recognize as such. It felt like a heart attack. I had trouble breathing and almost screamed out loud. I then dropped everything and went home. When I arrived home, a friend who is a psychologist told me to immediately call in sick and see a doctor. I did that, and the doctor diagnosed me with a severe burn-out. She referred me to a physiotherapist for breathing therapy. She noticed how restless and mentally and physically exhausted I was.

‘The breathing therapy helped me to become calmer, but I felt like I needed more. I did not want to take medication. I have always found acupuncture interesting because of its holistic approach, and my partner has set up an acupuncture alliance in the past. So, it was clear to me quite quickly that I wanted to try it. At that time, I also had the mindset: I want to get rid of my burn-out as quickly as possible. Now I know that recovering from a burn-out is a long-term process.

Mental peace, better sleep
'After just two treatments with Widi, I felt calmer and more relaxed. Less panicky. In the beginning, I went every week and felt that peace mainly during the treatment itself. It took a while before that feeling persisted after a treatment. My body had been in stress mode for so long. After a few treatments, I noticed that the mental peace lingered, allowing me to concentrate better. I started looking forward to Widi's treatments. She creates a nice, relaxed atmosphere. Her practice space is very pleasant, always with soft, soothing music in the background. It truly feels like a mini-retreat. I feel vital and completely refreshed when I leave.

'For half a year, I combined breathing therapy and acupuncture. It really helped me. I stopped the breathing therapy, but I still go to Widi. Not for my burnout symptoms anymore, as those have disappeared, but for my well-being. It's a wellness moment for me. I book a treatment when I feel it's necessary, for example, during a busy period, and afterwards, I always feel better. I'm calmer, and I sleep well again. Widi has also given me lifestyle advice that I still benefit from, like exercises I do when I wake up in the morning to start the day better. I was out of commission for a year. After reintegrating with my previous employer, I consciously looked for different work. That's how I ended up in the job I do now: guiding an acupuncture practice and a few GP practices toward a more professional management. I found my passion in that. I work fewer hours but do something I really enjoy.'

Effective and Efficient
‘Acupuncture has helped me experience more peace and balance in my life. I recommend it to everyone, which is also what I literally do, for example on my social media channels. I regularly post videos about acupuncture on Instagram. I am also very open and positive about acupuncture in my environment. I naturally work for an acupuncture practice and consider myself as an ambassador for acupuncture because of that. Everyone in my environment knows that. I also regularly receive questions from people. They are curious if it can also work for their complaints. Due to my positive experiences with acupuncture, my daughter and my niece are now also going to an acupuncturist. I actually never receive negative reactions, except maybe that people are afraid of the needles or wonder if it really works. Regarding the needles: people always think it hurts but I have never experienced that myself. Maybe it can be painful for some complaints, but fortunately an acupuncturist has many different types of needles and techniques that can make it less painful. And to the question if it works, I always say: why not give it a try? In this case, "if it doesn't help, it doesn't harm" really applies. And with supplementary insurance, you also get, at least a part of, the costs for a treatment reimbursed - this varies per health insurance company.’

‘I see acupuncture as a tool for various complaints. In my opinion, that is also a major advantage of acupuncture: during one treatment, different complaints can be addressed. So, I don't have to make a separate appointment for each complaint, like with a physiotherapist. At Widi, every complaint that is currently affecting me is taken into account. Acupuncture is therefore not only effective, it is also very efficient. I recommend it to everyone.’

More stories during the Acupuncture Week
This interview is part of the Acupuncture Week, which this year focuses on burnout. During this week, we share various conversations with acupuncturists and clients about how they view recovery from both physical and mental exhaustion from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Also, read the other interviews and be inspired by stories from acupuncturists and their clients about recovery and balance.

Curious about what acupuncture can do for you?
Feel free to contact NVA-acupuncturist Widi Widiyati or find an NVA-acupuncturist near you.