There's lots of information out there about how our body, mind, and spirit is connected. It's bee proven in many ways by many people, no doubt you've experienced it on some level. Like when you're so stressed or nervous you feel it in your stomach (mind/body), or when you were inspired and had a burst of of creativity (spirit/mind), or how wonderful you felt after a great first date or church sermon (spirit/body).
This is an accepted idea in general terms by most of our society, which is cool - but there's a deeper level. For example, there is a large community that believes our bodies manifest certain physical ailments that reflect our mental state. Louise Hay is an expert in this field, a metaphysical teacher and lecturer who helps people discover their power and ability to heal themselves with more than 40 million books sold in the last 25 years.
In my quest to heal my wrists, I bought a couple of her books. Turns out that wrist issues typically represent lack of movement and ease. Considering this all started in February, just as I was starting to consider major life changes - it sort of made sense to me. After all, while I can dominate things that I'm familiar with - its the uncertainty of new things that can throw me for a loop. Hmmmmm....very interesting.
That's not to say that by working on getting comfortable with my new life in my head, I'll automatically be pain free. I know, that may be confusing based on Louise Hay's work...but I am a stickler for personal beliefs and if you don't believe it, its much less likely to come to fruition. So - while I do believe its possible to heal yourself using mind over matter...I don't believe that I'm over that uncomfortable and uneasy place just yet. However - I do believe I'm well on my way and that in the very near future I'll have gotten clear on what I want and how to go about it, that I'll be in a routine of sorts, and that I'll wake up one day and realize I haven't had to ice or heat my wrists...that I'm out of my anti-inflammatory herbs...and that it's all good.
In the meantime, while we were hanging out in San Diego for 4 weeks...I elected to get some help with the physical realm by hiring a acupuncturist with chinese herb expertise. Wow. It was a totally different experience I'd had from other acupuncturists in that there was in fact some pain involved. But I loved that this guy took time to understand root causes, as well as both the mental and physical aspects. (If anyone in that area has a need I highly recommend Eyton - his site is http://www.bodymindwellnesscenter.com) He educated me all the way through and I learned a lot...like:
- the chinese believe the lungs are the organ associated with grief...the energy meridians that end up coming down the arm into the wrist, actually run through the lungs...and it was February when my divorce was legally finalized
- there was a tremendous amount of tension locked up in my fore arms, neck, and shoulder blades (always knew I carried tension in my shoulders, but didn't put together the idea that a block there would impact how much energy could flow down my arms)
- all that hubub about ergonomics is so much more important than I realized...and as a mobile laptop worker who'd ignored it for so long, I am paying for it but now have the opportunity to make significant improvements going forward
- the benefits of stretching, heat, cold, braces and most importantly...asking for help when you need it (a huge, heartfelt thanks to my mom for all her help!)
So he worked on the connective tissue around my thumbs, wrists, forearms and I would hobble back to the RV and spend the night unable to use my appendages until the next day. He said it was like needling clay, which is of course not good. As time went buy, that clay turned into mud and in some areas started to wash away. Unfortunately there was a lot of damage already done and too soon it was time to go. I look forward to stopping somewhere long enough to engage another acupuncture expert in April.
Until then I will leverage my physical body, conscious mind, and spiritual heart to continue to move forward toward healthy wrists. That includes being grateful for what they do for me...loving and caring for them through stretching, massage, heat, and taking anti-inflammatory herbs...protecting them by wearing braces as needed, not overexerting them, and accepting help. They've seemed to get significantly better week after week here lately - so clearly I'm on the right path!!!
