Veterans at the Tacoma Area Coalition of Individuals with Disabilities (TACID) suffer from ailments ranging from anxiety and depression to post traumatic stress and bipolar disorder.  

But one thing they clearly aren't afflicted with is aichmophobia - a fear of needles or pointed objects.

On Thursdays, a group of active-duty Servicemembers, retirees, family members and veterans gather at the TACID building near Tacoma Community College for free acupuncture sessions offered by the Military Stress Recovery Program (MSRP).

Led by retired Chief Warrant Officer 3 Doug White, a former Joint Base Lewis-McChord Soldier and a trained acupuncturist, the MSRP is one of TACID's Veterans Support Programs. Other offerings include Tai Qi/Qi Gong and PTSD Anonymous. All are offered free to active-duty Servicemembers as well as retirees, veterans and family members from all services.

A peer counselor who knows firsthand how participants are struggling, White started the MSRP at TACID in July 2010, and he donates both his time and the necessary equipment.  

The program uses acupuncture to help veterans struggling with anxiety, depression and behavioral disorders.

But there are no labels during White's sessions, and more importantly, no stigma attached.

"(Some Servicemembers) think that if they see (a doctor) and they mention that they have a behavioral disorder, they're afraid of losing their clearance or losing their jobs or not being deployable," he said.

White is there simply to help put them on the path to healing.  

Each session begins with a short discussion about relaxation and expectations about what acupuncture can do. As participants recline comfortably, White places five small needles in each ear: two address emotional disorders while the others are geared toward kidney, spleen and lung function.  "This is about achieving balance in the body," White said.

For the next 30 minutes or so, participants sit quietly with pins in place, eyes closed, relaxed. The room is darkened, and music plays softly in the background.

"I want them how to remember how relax," said White. "One thing Americans aren't good at is relaxing. That what's causes a lot of imbalances."

While not painful, the practice can generate heat and energy.

Acupuncture works by engaging and activating energy pathways in the body. "What you're doing is connecting pathways so they can either increase, decrease or stabilize energy flow," White explained. "We put a pin in the switch. Basically we're flipping switches along channels."

Peter Carpizo, a retired Sailor, and his wife, Alicia, were trying acupuncture for the first time last week. Both said they felt more relaxed. "I love it," Alicia said after the needles were removed. "I want to come back here."

For more information about the MSRP, e-mail White at agelesshealing@gmail.com or call (253) 359-2613. For more information about TACID, visit www.tacid.org.