Question:
Nancy wrote: > Don’t worry … if this were ‘real life’, my body would be automatically > moving away. :/ Then, you’d have to decide if you could handle being around > someone who cringes at the thought of hugs. :/
No problem, you have to deal with things the best way you can. I don’t *have* to touch people, I just like to. I’m fine with non huggers. > My tactile input, lately, seems to be from my cat … not
from people. Super, a great way to get touch and unconditional love. > OTOH, I know that I’ve heard the Deane Juhan (didn’t know her name tho) > philosophy from more than one therapist. Because touching is such a ‘big > deal’ in sue-able organizations, in the VA system they
have Tai Chi classes > for PTSD vets, and even there, corrections are always made without touching. > I think that touching has something to do with
hypervigilance, startle > reaction, and fear in my case. Another item to work on
… So long as you do get tactile input in away you can handle, then forget about the rest. Temple Granden (sp?) an high functioning austistic woman, made herself a "hug" machine that she uses to get touch. You are allowed to be okay with not being touched by humans. Hopefully, someday you will be okay with accidental touch from humans (if you aren’t already. Smiling, Margaret
Response:
margaret szedenits <mszeden…@mediaone.net> wrote in message
news:CsH46.2337$IC6.77121@typhoon.mw.mediaone.net… > Nancy <ki…@cris.com> wrote in message > news:92vcq2$dcp@dispatch.concentric.net… > > For example, while I was told by my therapist to avoid > Reiki, > Nancy, > Why on earth would your therapist tell you to avoid Reiki? > Its a very benign form of energy work. I’d love to hear the > reason.
Maybe therapists earn a lot of money and are threatened by ‘benign energy work’ ? A lot of medical profession where I am advise patients against self medicating with vitamins. Yet when I get post trauma cold symptoms, I *NEED* that 3000 milligrams of vitamin C, then the next day I’m just fine. If I don’t get it (3000 mgs’) then the cold/flu symptoms hang around for weeks. $7 worth of Vitamin C lasts me about 2 bouts of post trauma flu & saves me about $70 in doctor visits + prescription fees. > In answer to the original question, getting regular massage > has helped me tremendously in feeling more connected, better > about my body and happier over all. Now I am a massage > therapist and get and give massages. It has been a big part > of my recovery.
Thanks for sharing. I understand massage is very popular. Lots of sports people have regular massage therapy as part of the training and recovery. I’ve never had a massage myself but others I know seem to thrive on it. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Cheery-bye, > Margaret
Response:
Nancy <ki…@cris.com> wrote in message
news:92vcq2$dcp@dispatch.concentric.net… > Hi Cearc! > > Just wondering if anyone has tried Alternative Therapies? > What, exactly, does Alternative Therapies mean?
AFAIK, alternative therapies is the name for the umbrella under which sit those therapies/treatments which would not currently be described as ‘Conventional or Allopathic medicine & treatments’. Some examples of alternative therapies are:- Acupuncture, Alexander Technique, Aromatherapy, Art Therapy, Tai-Chi, McTimoney Chiropractic, Reflexology, Reiki, Seichem, Shiatsu, Massage treatments, Herbalism, Homeopathy, Yoga, Watsu……and many more which i can’t think of or haven’t come accross yet. > For example, while I was told by my therapist to avoid Reiki,
I find that surprising and not surprising at the same time. My doctor was very sceptical about Reiki & alternative therapies, as most ‘conventional’ medicine practitioners are. It is not possible for Reiki to be harmful, as it is a harmless form of energy. > I have used > sounds (mostly on CDs, but also I installed several indoor fountains as well > as an outdoor one), aromatherapy (sandalwood helps, some make me ill), > meditation, crafting …
aaaah, the sound of a fountain is glorious. I’m glad that you’ve found some things which help. > They all help me concentrate my mind and give me a sense of control over my > environment. > Smile and there will be something to smile about! > Nancy
Smile and the world smiles with you!, Cearc /|
Response:
Morine, >Yet when I get post trauma cold symptoms, I *NEED* that 3000 milligrams of >vitamin C, then the next day I’m just fine. >If I don’t get it (3000 mgs’) >then the cold/flu symptoms hang around for weeks. >$7 worth of Vitamin C lasts me about 2 bouts of post trauma flu & >saves me about $70 in doctor visits + prescription fees.
Sorry, I’m confused by "post trauma cold symptoms" and again later "post trauma flu". Please explain Gary
Response:
Hi margaret! > > For example, while I was told by my therapist to avoid > Reiki, > Nancy, > Why on earth would your therapist tell you to avoid Reiki? > Its a very benign form of energy work. I’d love to hear the > reason.
Probably because the folks that were promoting it were ‘pushing me’ and very enthusiastic, and I was getting the shakes if someone were to even touch my forearm. :/ I still don’t like people to touch me, even accidentally. The only time that someone with Reiki training ever touched me was only bearable because I was so tight in my shoulders that I was tearing from the pain. As always YMMV Smile and there will be something to smile about! Nancy
Response:
Hi Nancy, Nancy <ki…@cris.com> wrote in message
news:930ne4$ccv@dispatch.concentric.net… > Probably because the folks that were promoting it were
‘pushing me’ and very > enthusiastic, and I was getting the shakes if someone were to even touch my > forearm. :/
If they were "pushing you" then run a mile away (which you did, : ) ). Reiki should not be pushed. > I still don’t like people to touch me, even accidentally. The only time > that someone with Reiki training ever touched me was only bearable because I > was so tight in my shoulders that I was tearing from the
pain. Good thing this is a ng, I touch people all the time and probably would have touched you without even realizing it, ; ). I hope you can find a good way to be touched. To quote Deane Juhan(who wrote a handbook for bodyworkers), "without adequate tactile input, the human organism will die. Touch is on the principle elements necessary for the successful development and functional organization of the central nervous system, and is as vital to out existence as food, water and breath." But *you* must find the way that works for you and not be pushed into something. Best wishes. Margaret
Response:
Hi margaret! > Good thing this is a ng, I touch people all the time and > probably would have touched you without even realizing it, > ; ). I hope you can find a good way to be touched. To quote > Deane Juhan(who wrote a handbook for bodyworkers), "without > adequate tactile input, the human organism will die. Touch > is on the principle elements necessary for the successful > development and functional organization of the central > nervous system, and is as vital to out existence as food, > water and breath." But *you* must find the way that works > for you and not be pushed into something.
Don’t worry … if this were ‘real life’, my body would be automatically moving away. :/ Then, you’d have to decide if you could handle being around someone who cringes at the thought of hugs. :/ My tactile input, lately, seems to be from my cat … not from people. OTOH, I know that I’ve heard the Deane Juhan (didn’t know her name tho) philosophy from more than one therapist. Because touching is such a ‘big deal’ in sue-able organizations, in the VA system they have Tai Chi classes for PTSD vets, and even there, corrections are always made without touching. I think that touching has something to do with hypervigilance, startle reaction, and fear in my case. Another item to work on … Smile and there will be something to smile about! Nancy
Response:
Cearc <ce…@ket.btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:t59jq1bo3vlrb6@corp.supernews.com… > > That’s lovely to hear. Thanks for that.
So is your story I had forgotten the you can do Reiki without touching. Sometimes when even massage, drumming, etc aren’t working enough I’ll get a series of Reiki treatments. Really seems to help turn down the "monkey brain". Giving work that has been helpful to me to recieve is very healing too. Best of luck with the continuing attunements. Margaret – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I feel I must tell my tale of how alternative therapy helped me. > A few years ago I was in a very bad way. I was extremely exhausted by PTSD, > and became depressed an suicidal. I got to a stage where I could not be left > alone, and I was taken to people’s houses (friends of my fiance) to be > ‘babysat’, so I wouldn’t do anything ’silly’. One lady asked if i would > like a reiki treatment, because she thought it would do me good. I was so > exhausted that i just accepted with a sort of ‘do what you like, I don’t > care anymore’, attitude. > So the next day I had a reiki treatment. I expressed that I could not stand > being touched, so the reiki lady (a friend of the 1st lady i mentioned) gave > me the treatment without touching me – she just hovered her hands a few > inches above me, and let me know what was going to happen at my request. I > can’t say how long the treatment lasted, as time seemed to be a completely > different dimension in the reiki treatment room. > The effect on me was outstanding. I felt very spaced out after the > treatment, maybe slightly empty – but empty in a way which was a positive > way, as though the empty feeling was a result of
negativity being drawn out > of me and away in some way – words are inadequate to
explain the feeling, > but it was not a negative feeling. > On the day after the treatment I felt as though my
suicidal feelings had > vanished. I couldn’t understand it at all. My fiance was amazed and relieved > at the change in me. And so was i. > To this day I feel that reiki saved my life. If I hadn’t had that treatment > on that day I would definitely be dead now. > I am now attuned to Reiki I, and will become attuned to Reiki II very soon > (as soon as I’ve booked the appointment!). I use Reiki to treat myself and > my animals, and i find it useful when i cannot get to
sleep at night. Reiki – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> is so peaceful & relaxing that I always fall asleep before i’ve finished my > treatment. > I have given Reiki to my Mother, who suffers badly from depression, and she > said that it helped her too. > Anyway, that’s my experience. Sorry for waffling on ! > Best wishes, > Cearc > /| > > Cheery-bye, > > Margaret
Response:
margaret szedenits <mszeden…@mediaone.net> wrote in message
news:CsH46.2337$IC6.77121@typhoon.mw.mediaone.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Nancy <ki…@cris.com> wrote in message > news:92vcq2$dcp@dispatch.concentric.net… > > For example, while I was told by my therapist to avoid > Reiki, > Nancy, > Why on earth would your therapist tell you to avoid Reiki? > Its a very benign form of energy work. I’d love to hear the > reason. > In answer to the original question, getting regular massage > has helped me tremendously in feeling more connected, better > about my body and happier over all. Now I am a massage > therapist and get and give massages. It has been a big part > of my recovery.
That’s lovely to hear. Thanks for that. I feel I must tell my tale of how alternative therapy helped me. A few years ago I was in a very bad way. I was extremely exhausted by PTSD, and became depressed an suicidal. I got to a stage where I could not be left alone, and I was taken to people’s houses (friends of my fiance) to be ‘babysat’, so I wouldn’t do anything ’silly’. One lady asked if i would like a reiki treatment, because she thought it would do me good. I was so exhausted that i just accepted with a sort of ‘do what you like, I don’t care anymore’, attitude. So the next day I had a reiki treatment. I expressed that I could not stand being touched, so the reiki lady (a friend of the 1st lady i mentioned) gave me the treatment without touching me – she just hovered her hands a few inches above me, and let me know what was going to happen at my request. I can’t say how long the treatment lasted, as time seemed to be a completely different dimension in the reiki treatment room. The effect on me was outstanding. I felt very spaced out after the treatment, maybe slightly empty – but empty in a way which was a positive way, as though the empty feeling was a result of negativity being drawn out of me and away in some way – words are inadequate to explain the feeling, but it was not a negative feeling. On the day after the treatment I felt as though my suicidal feelings had vanished. I couldn’t understand it at all. My fiance was amazed and relieved at the change in me. And so was i. To this day I feel that reiki saved my life. If I hadn’t had that treatment on that day I would definitely be dead now. I am now attuned to Reiki I, and will become attuned to Reiki II very soon (as soon as I’ve booked the appointment!). I use Reiki to treat myself and my animals, and i find it useful when i cannot get to sleep at night. Reiki is so peaceful & relaxing that I always fall asleep before i’ve finished my treatment. I have given Reiki to my Mother, who suffers badly from depression, and she said that it helped her too. Anyway, that’s my experience. Sorry for waffling on ! Best wishes, Cearc /| – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Cheery-bye, > Margaret
Response:
Nancy <ki…@cris.com> wrote in message
news:93292f$4i6@dispatch.concentric.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi margaret! > > Good thing this is a ng, I touch people all the time and > > probably would have touched you without even realizing it, > > ; ). I hope you can find a good way to be touched. To quote > > Deane Juhan(who wrote a handbook for bodyworkers), "without > > adequate tactile input, the human organism will die. Touch > > is on the principle elements necessary for the successful > > development and functional organization of the central > > nervous system, and is as vital to out existence as food, > > water and breath." But *you* must find the way that works > > for you and not be pushed into something. > Don’t worry … if this were ‘real life’, my body would be automatically > moving away. :/ Then, you’d have to decide if you could handle being around > someone who cringes at the thought of hugs. :/
Touch is a bit of an issue for me, too, though not as much of an absolutely huge issue as it was. Just a word about not wanting to be hugged - I do not want to be hugged in real life, either. I don’t feel comfortable with it. I have a friend who is a Paranoid schizophrenic who also does not like to be hugged. We always make a point of not hugging each other! > My tactile input, lately, seems to be from my cat … not from people.
Animals can be marvellously therapeutic to touch. They’re especially good if one can’t deal with touch from humans. Animals have helped me a lot. I didn’t have access to any cats during my darkest periods, unfortunately. Instead I found that ponies are very good (if you are a person who can tolerate fairly large animals), and luckily I had access to a pony which was owned by an old woman (luckily calm old women were about the only person who didn’t trigger me at that time) who did not have time to look after him. When I went to help with the pony it also appealed to my drive to help others, as I felt that I was helping the old lady as well as the pony. Tactile contact with chickens is also very good. I feel that they have been an immense help to me because: Owning the chickens gave me something to get out of bed for every morning, coz they needed to be let out. Also, I had to shut them in again at dusk, which gave the day a sort of routine. They get extremely tame when kept as pets, and enjoy being stroked in much the same way as cats – they even jump up onto one’s lap as cats do. Also, their feathers are extremely soft as cats fur. And as a bonus, they give eggs too ! > OTOH, I know that I’ve heard the Deane Juhan (didn’t know her name tho) > philosophy from more than one therapist. Because touching is such a ‘big > deal’ in sue-able organizations, in the VA system they have Tai Chi classes > for PTSD vets, and even there, corrections are always made without touching. > I think that touching has something to do with hypervigilance, startle > reaction, and fear in my case. Another item to work on …
Same in my case. if i’m unexpectedly touched, or touched by someone who i do not want to touch me, I react. Cearc /| – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Smile and there will be something to smile about! > Nancy
Response:
Just wondering if anyone has tried Alternative Therapies? If so, what were they and what you think of them? Personally, I have found Reiki to be extremely helpful. Cearc /|
Response:
Hi Cearc! > Just wondering if anyone has tried Alternative Therapies?
What, exactly, does Alternative Therapies mean? For example, while I was told by my therapist to avoid Reiki, I have used sounds (mostly on CDs, but also I installed several indoor fountains as well as an outdoor one), aromatherapy (sandalwood helps, some make me ill), meditation, crafting … They all help me concentrate my mind and give me a sense of control over my environment. Smile and there will be something to smile about! Nancy
Response:
Nancy <ki…@cris.com> wrote in message
news:92vcq2$dcp@dispatch.concentric.net… > For example, while I was told by my therapist to avoid
Reiki, Nancy, Why on earth would your therapist tell you to avoid Reiki? Its a very benign form of energy work. I’d love to hear the reason. In answer to the original question, getting regular massage has helped me tremendously in feeling more connected, better about my body and happier over all. Now I am a massage therapist and get and give massages. It has been a big part of my recovery. Cheery-bye, Margaret
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