ANXIETY, STRESS & PTSD
Acupuncture for Anxiety, Stress, PTSD & Mood in Colorado Springs
Your chest is tight, your thoughts won’t slow down, and even small things feel like too much. Some days it’s worry, some days it’s a heavy, flat feeling, and some days old trauma keeps you on high alert. You’re doing everything you can to hold it together, and you’re exhausted. Your first visit with Dr. Dawna is up to 90 minutes, so you can be heard at your own pace.
New patients $110 · up to 90 minutes
In crisis? Call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Veterans, dial 988 and press 1.
Mood & Stress Concerns Acupuncture Can Help
What you’re feeling is real, and you deserve care that takes it seriously.
Ongoing stress and burnout
Anxiety, worry, or restlessness
Panic and a racing heart
Low mood, depression, or apathy
Irritability and feeling on edge
PTSD-related tension and hyperarousal
Trouble sleeping from a busy mind
Brain fog and trouble focusing
Mood shifts tied to hormones
Fatigue after long-term stress
Your mood is shaped by your brain and the body around it.
A nervous system on alert. Long-term stress can keep you stuck in fight or flight.
The gut-brain connection. Digestion helps shape serotonin and other mood chemistry.
Hormones and cortisol. Thyroid, cortisol, and cycle shifts can affect mood and energy.
Sleep, sugar, and nutrients. Poor sleep, blood sugar swings, or low nutrients drain resilience.
As a DACM and Registered Nurse, Dr. Dawna looks for root causes, and your unique pattern guides your care.
Why Mood Is a Whole-Body Issue
How Acupuncture Can Help Your Mood
Research suggests acupuncture may help calm the body’s stress response.
A calmer nervous system. It may help your body shift into rest mode.
Easier anxiety and stress. Studies suggest it may lower anxiety, with few side effects.
Support alongside PTSD care. A veteran trial found encouraging results next to standard care.
More in every visit. Acupuncture, bodywork, herbs, and nutrition, together in one appointment.
Research note: In a 2024 trial of 93 combat veterans with PTSD, acupuncture reduced symptom severity more than sham needling. It’s one promising study, not a replacement for trauma-focused therapy.
For Veterans
Thank you for your service. Trust is earned, and you’ll never be asked to retell your story.
VA Community Care referrals. Veterans with a VA Community Care referral are seen through the affiliated clinic, Lake Plaza Acupuncture and Chiropractic (LPAAC).
Approval comes from the VA. Referral approval is up to the VA, so check with your VA care team about eligibility.
Part of your team. Acupuncture complements your mental health care; it doesn’t replace it.
Veterans Crisis Line: dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255.
What Your Visit Looks Like
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Your Story, Fully Heard
Up to 90 unhurried minutes. Share only what feels right; you set the pace.
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Finding Your Pattern
A Chinese medicine assessment shows what’s keeping your body on high alert.
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Gentle Acupuncture
Ultra-fine, sterile needles help calm your nervous system. Many patients doze off.
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Soothing Bodywork
Tui Na, acupressure, or myofascial work releases tension held in the neck, shoulders, and jaw.
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Your Plan
Nutrition, herbs, and simple daily steps to keep you feeling steadier between visits.
Nearly 20 years of experience helping thousands of patients.
Certified Functional Medicine Clinician (CFMC), trained to look for root causes rather than just symptoms.
Conveniently located at 6885 Tutt Blvd, Suite 100, in northeast Colorado Springs.
Why Patients Choose Dr. Dawna Ara
Doctor of Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine (DACM) and Registered Nurse. Eastern medicine grounded in Western clinical training.
NCCAOM board certified. Licensed in Colorado & California.
Rated 4.8 on Yelp (56 reviews)
“My depression and anxiety are reduced to about 10% which is huge for someone who has been struggling with that her whole life.”
~ NICOLETTE S., YELP
Frequently Asked Questions
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No. Acupuncture complements mental health care and doesn’t replace it. Please keep working with your therapist, psychiatrist, or doctor, and don’t stop or change a prescription on your own. If your goal is to adjust medication, talk with your prescriber first.
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Most people are surprised by how little they feel. The needles are about as thin as a hair. You may notice a brief pinch, a dull ache, warmth or tingling, and then most patients relax deeply.
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Everyone is different, and a series of visits usually works better than one or two. Many patients start weekly, then space visits out as they feel steadier. Dr. Dawna checks in on your progress at every visit.
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Many people leave feeling deeply relaxed, and some sleep better that night. Others notice gradual changes over several visits. Both are normal.
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Veterans with a VA Community Care referral are seen through the affiliated clinic, Lake Plaza Acupuncture and Chiropractic (LPAAC). Referral approval is up to the VA, so check with your VA care team about eligibility.
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A new patient visit is $110 and includes up to 90 minutes. Follow-up visits are $80. Ask about packages if you’re planning a series of treatments. HSA and FSA cards are accepted.
Ready to Feel Steadier?
You don’t have to carry this alone. Book your first visit with Dr. Dawna Ara, DACM, RN, with up to 90 minutes to be truly heard. You’ll leave with a calm, clear plan to help your body settle and your mind feel more like your own.
New patient visit: $110 · 6885 Tutt Blvd, Suite 100, Colorado Springs, CO 80923
If you are in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). Veterans, dial 988 and press 1. In an emergency, call 911.
This page is for educational purposes and isn’t a substitute for medical or mental health care. Acupuncture is intended to complement, not replace, care from your mental health and medical providers. Individual results vary.