In this space, I would like to share with you some thoughts, information, and simple techniques to enhance your everyday life experiences, and help when those experiences are less than satisfactory to you.
Having worked in the medical field for over 30 years, I've seen a lot of technical advances in diagnosis, treatments, medications and therapies in physical and mental health. While these things definitely increase the quality of care, I have also seen other factors negatively impact the quality of care. Medical care is a now a business which is designed for profitability. The insurance and pharmaceutical companies, for example, influence the services and medications that you can afford and the time a doctor can spend with you. All of the advances in medical science have led to specialization and compartmentalization of information – which means that very often, a specialist will not address a problem in another area of the body which is not their specialty; they will tell you to see another specialist – understandably because it would not be responsible for the first specialist to make judgements in an area of which they have less knowledge. The problem is that all parts of the body are connected to eachother and influence the functioning of eachother, and treating only one part disturbs the balance of the whole. Ideally there is collaboration between the specialists – but sometimes there is not. And sadly, with the imposed time constraints on the doctors – they are for the most part, unable to talk with the patient and use their awareness and intuition to observe the patient's words, body language, and mood to assess the state of health.
Intuition has all but been lost and replaced with an over-reliance on technology. I have known many patients who “knew” something was wrong even though the tests came back negative. Patients who told me they had found their cancer – and had to insist that the doctor looked further or the tests be repeated. Patients who needed attention and empathy but were given a prescription for a medication to numb their feelings – instead of assistance to address and move through the cause for their feelings.
This is why I became interested in complementary practices such as Reiki. Please note that I use the word “complementary” which means it will complement western medical treatments – not compete with or replace them. They are practices which help to balance the body's energies and in doing so, help to maintain or regain health. I saw that all of the advances in medical technology have done a great job of treating specific disease or dis-functioning – but at the same time creating or not alleviating imbalances which prevent or delay the return to a complete and normal state of health. I have come to learn the benefit of many complementary therapies and practices to fill in the gap not filled by standard medical practices.
And probably more importantly – the complementary practices help to maintain balance so that a state of health does not deteriorate in the first place.
So I would like to share what I have learned with you – so that you have another tool to use to attain and keep the state of wellness and peace you would like to have.
Tip for today:
For anxiety – the very quickest and easiest aid:
Stop for a minute and take four deep breaths – paying complete attention to the breath going in, and the breath flowing out.
When you are stressed, your thoughts are causing your brain to send signals to your endocrine system to release the hormones of stress – your fight or flight system.(Stress response) Necessary when you are fleeing for your life, but harmful to your body if released in response to every deadline or disagreement or worry that you have. It impacts your heart rate, and blood pressure and ability to think with clarity, not to mention messes with your metabolism in a way that ultimately makes you gain weight. And you feel awful. When you interrupt the stressful thoughts for even a short time to concentrate on your breath – your brain initiates the relaxation response which does the opposite from the stress response. This gives your body and mind a time out.
Try it – it can be done anytime, anywhere, as often as you'd
like. No side effects. No cost. Nothing to lose but your stress.
