Beyond Fibromyalgia . . . A Path to Wholeness

Beyond Fibromyalgia . . . A Path to Wholeness

by | Jun 17, 2023 | Care of the Body, Care of the Mind, Personal Growth, Self Care, Self Love, Trauma

The idea the we can recover from from fibromyalgia isn’t very popular.

Our medical system has no cure for fibromyalgia. Even holistic treatments often fall short of providing relief from fibromyalgia.

Back in the 90’s, after struggling with my health for 20 years, I first heard the word fibromyalgia. I was dumbfounded. Also excited. I thought that now that I knew what was wrong with me, I could get help. But the medical system didn’t have anything that helped. I had already began studying holistic health, so put my focus in that direction. Even though it took a long time, I have improved significantly and many of my symptoms are gone or mild.

Today I am inspired to share my approach to moving Beyond Fibromyalgia. 

Which is quite unique.

This is the result of result of my search for health over the past 40 years.  I scoured the medical approach and holistic modalities. This was quite a journey and carried me from one end of the US to another more than once.  Personally working with multiple holistic treatments and protocols and practitioners for 20 years.  Into a monastery for 3 years, and an ashram for 6 years.  10 years of training in wholistic modalities.  Experimenting with diet, exercise and lifestyle choices.  Many years of teaching and coaching others.  I felt like I was guided by a divine hand showing me the next step and the next for 40 years.

Out of all of this I have developed a very thorough systematic way of restoring health.  Based on what really worked and what didn’t. Blending modalities into a synergetic system of rebuilding health addressing all dimensions of our being, body, emotions, mind, spirit, energy and expression. Calling on the power of the body to heal itself.  

This is the system that I used to rebuild my health. And now it is time for me to bring it out into the world.

Below you will see an outline and short description of my system.  I hope it doesn’t feel too overwhelming.  Beginning in September, I will begin teaching group programs taking participants through the process step by step.  My hope/intention is to make the process affordable for everyone.   By doing this in groups you will have the group support throughout the process.

Beyond Fibromyalgia – A Path to Wholeness

Connect to Calm

The Integrative Wholeness Experience

The Integrative Wholeness Experience is designed to teach you how to remain grounded, calm, and centered in the midst of external or internal stress. Accessing your inner wisdom and guidance.  

Internal stress prevents our body from healing itself.  When we have stress from negative life experiences, trauma, unhappy work, and relationship challenges, our sympathetic nervous system is running the show and we do not have the ability to slow down, rest, recharge, and repair.  Or parasympathetic nervous system is keeping us buried in a state of fog and immobility.   This can diminish the effectiveness of any health-oriented protocol.

By grounding ourself in our calm inner Presence we can more easily navigate the ups and downs of the healing journey.  And you will learn how to neutralize triggers and trauma responses as they arise in your daily experience.  

Essential Care of the Body

      • The importance of self-care
      • The importance of bio-Individuality
      • Discover the right diet for your bio-individuality
      • Learn how to keep your body hydrated
      • Enjoy healthy movement for your bio-individuality
      • Use breathing practices to enhance wellness
      • Recharge through sleep, rest, relaxation, and play

The second essential component to rebuilding our health is taking good care of your body.  Without feeding your body the right food for your unique bio-individuality your food can actually contribute to ill health rather than improving health.

Likewise with exercise.  Moving your body is essential for your health and knowing what exercises and how much is right for you will support your healing process.  Doing the wrong exercise or even too much of the right exercise can work against improving your health.

Oxygen is the most important nutrient on the planet.  With our first breath we begin our life on earth.  With the last breath we leave our body. The quality of our breath between these two events contributes to the quality of your life and health.

Water is also an essential nutrient.  Your body is 70% water.  A well hydrated body has a greater ability to detoxify and support normal metabolism.

Rest, sleep, and play are essential to a quality of life.  When we are stressed, we become contracted.  That contraction reduces the quality of our health. Rest and play bring joy and delight into our system and relaxes the body. The right balance between relaxation and contraction is essential for good health.

Quality sleep is also essential to good health.  That is when the body rests, restores, and rebuilds.  Healing trauma, negative life experiences and stresses in your life help the nervous system to unwind allowing for deep restful sleep.   Also the Integrative Wholeness Experience supports you in remaining calm in the midst of stress.

Care of the Mind and Emotions

      • All healing begins with Self-Love
      • Identify, manage and deconstruct stress
      • Embrace the power of your emotions
      • Open and heal the heart
      • Harness the power of your mind
      • Discover the core values that guide you

Much of this is covered in the Integrative Wholeness Experience.

When we have suppressed emotions and unhealed trauma, your cellular memories continuously send a danger signal to your nervous system which keeps you in fight or flight.

The mind jumps in and creates thoughts, stories, and belief systems to attempt to understand and explain the anxiety or depression that you feel.  This tends to slow down the true healing process and keeps you stuck in the uncomfortable known.

Trauma and negative life experiences are revealed and neutralized.  Reprograming the mind to a health life affirmative perspective.  Learning to embrace your emotions in a way that empowers rather than disempowers you.  

All done from a place of self love and compassion.  You will learn a process that will automatically heal trauma triggers and trauma responses as they arise in your experience.  

Identifying and Addressing Underlying Imbalances

      • Support the foundational body systems
      • Discover and deconstruct hidden stressors
      • Experience the art of healthy detoxification
      • Repair cellular damage caused by toxicity
      • Return body systems to balance and optimal function
      • Resolve inherited genetic susceptibilities
      • Restore the energy flow in the body.

When the body has been out of balance for an extended period of time, the biochemistry and energetic terrain of the body changes.  Even after correcting our lifestyle, stress reduction, trauma healing and spiritual connection, the body needs further assistance to return to an inner state of balance and functionality.

The foundational systems of the body include the neuroendocrine system, digestive system, and the detoxification system. By supporting these systems in the body, we can begin the process of rebalancing the biochemistry of the body.

In addition, it is important to identify toxins that are stored in the body tissues which undermine the healthy functioning of the body.    And finally, to repair damage the cells have sustained due to stress and toxicity. 

The body is fueled by energy that flows through the meridian system.  The meridian system feeds each system in the body and keeps the systems, organs and cells functioning normally.  There are many modalities that we can utilize to increase the flow of energy to improve your health. 

Reclaim your Life – Enhancing your Expression

      • Know yourself
      • Create your vision and personal mission statement
      • Effectively manage your life
      • Learn the art of conscious creation
      • Create healthy supportive relationships
      • Communicate effectively from the heart
      • Express your life purpose

Another aspect of rebuilding your health is knowing your true self and consciously interacting with the world around you, through work, family, and society.  Who are you?  What are the gifts that you are here to bring into the world.  How do you manage your time and finances?  Are your relationships healthy, fulfilling, and nurturing?  How do you consciously communicate in the world?

This benefits us in two ways.  First, knowing your core values and mission help you to channel your energy into fulfillment and satisfaction.  It also helps to pull you forward into health. 

The Journey

This may feel like a lot. And it is.  Yet your health and sense of inner peace will grow as you progress through the program.

I am excited and perhaps a bit scared.  It is a lot to take on.  Yet, I truly feel that this is my mission and destiny in this lifetime.  It has been a dream of mine for many many years.  Now is the time to bring it out into the world.

I am certainly open to any of your thoughts, questions and suggestions.  I am here to serve you.  

May you be whole, 💕Bindu

6 Steps to Neutralize Negative Thinking

6 Steps to Neutralize Negative Thinking

by | May 31, 2023 | Care of the Mind, Emotional Health, Self Care, Self Love, Trauma

Did you know that trauma hijacks your mind? 

We have explored the impact of trauma on our nervous system.  When we experience trauma, our nervous system can become disregulated and we can be in sympathetic dominate (fight or flight) or parasympathetic dominate (freeze or immobilize).


The state of your nervous system has a profound impact on your mind.

I certainly have experienced this.  More so in the past, but even now if I get triggered by something.

On days that I wake up fatigued (parasympathetic dominate), life feels like an unbearable burden.  I have no ambition, and my mind fills with thoughts of not being good enough, my life is over, why do I even try.   I can’t do this.  You get the picture.

When something happens to trigger my fears (sympathetic dominate), it feels like there is danger no matter which direction I go.   Life isn’t safe.  My thoughts reinforce those feelings.  I think that nobody likes me.  I think that something bad is going to happen.  How can I protect myself from danger?  What do I need to do to keep myself safe?

Over time, I realized that if I fought my mind at these times, it was a never-ending stressful struggle, and I was on the loosing end.


What to do?

I know that negative thinking can literally be painful.  To be caught in the never-ending stream of negative thoughts kills your spirit and dampens your enthusiasm for life.

Yet fighting it only makes it stronger.  The negative thinking part seems to enjoy the battle.  It is said that the pain-body feeds itself by creating chaos.  And negative thinking is one way to do this.  Fighting the negative thinking feeds the chaos.

There is a saying, “What you resist, persists”.

But there is a way to neutralize negative thinking.


6 steps to neutralize negative thinking.

  1. Acknowledge that your mind is caught in a negative thinking loop.

Awareness takes some of the power away from the negative loop.  It is easier for your subconscious pain body to control you when you are unaware.

  1. Place your hand on your heart and take some long deep breaths.

Breathing in for 2 -4 counts and then exhaling for 4- 8 counts.  What matters here is that the outbreath is longer than the in breath.

Placing the hand on your heart connects you to your inner self.

The deeper breaths help to regulate the nervous system and bring you into a more regulated state which allows for conscious choice.

  1. Become curious about the negative thoughts.

Watch the thoughts with curiosity and interest.  The part of you who is thinking negative thoughts will feel heard and seen.  Which is what it wants and needs.

  1. Ask that part what it is feeling.

By acknowledging the underlying feeling further disarms the negative thinking.  By acknowledging the emotion, that part will again feel heard and seen.  Emotions are the fuel for the negative thoughts.

  1. Ask that part what it needs.

Under every negative emotion is an unmet need.  Acknowledging and responding to the unmet need can dispel the negative emotions.

  1. Provide some reassuring positive statements based on the need of the wounded part and/or take action if needed.

What does that part need to hear from you?  Perhaps the wounded part just needs to be heard and acknowledged.  Perhaps it needs to know it is safe or loved.

If that part needs you to take action, do that.  By responding to the need, you will develop a relationship based on mutual respect and trust with the part that was in need and your deeper self.


This practice can become a new way of being

In the beginning, this can seem challenging and even weird.  But over time, you will develop a deeper relationship with your wounded parts.  Our wounded parts arose out of trauma and didn’t get their needs met at the time of the trauma.

You might even consider some of these parts bad or wrong.  That is also the result of trauma.  We exile or abandon parts of who we are.  And we develop protective parts to keep them suppressed and to avoid feeling uncomfortable emotions.

These parts act out in unconscious ways to maintain the status quo.  Status quo feels safe because it is known.  But they also hold us back from healing our trauma and moving forward with our lives.


True Healing

True healing occurs when we acknowledge, embrace, and heal all our parts.  They all have something to offer us, and they all have a positive role to play in our lives.

If you need support around this, feel free to connect with me.  I offer Inner Presence sessions where I support you in exploring the underlying causes of negative thinking, negative emotional states, and trauma.  It can be challenging to do this on your own, as your own protective parts will often get in the way.

If interested in exploring this, send me a message via my contact form or respond to this email.  I can offer a complementary 20-minute consultation to explore whether working with me seems right for you.


May you be healed, 💗Bindu

 

Where are You? Where do you want to be?

Where are You? Where do you want to be?

by | May 17, 2023 | Care of the Body, Care of the Mind, Emotional Health, Self Care, Self Love, Trauma

Honestly, that is a very vague question.  So, let me clarify.

The real question is, where are you in regard to your nervous system and how does that impact your life experience and fibromyalgia?   And what can you do about it?

Our Autonomic Nervous System controls much of the activity in the body.  It has two branches, the Sympathetic Nervous System and the Parasympathetic Nervous System and the Enteric Nervous System. 

Today we will focus on the Sympathetic Nervous System and the Parasympathetic Nervous System.   Both have a direct connection to the organ systems in your body. 

In a healthy person, these two nervous systems balance each other.  The Sympathetic gets us up in the morning and keeps us moving during the day so we can function in the world.  The Parasympathetic nervous system slows us down so we can sleep, and the body can rest and repair.   They both are connected to the organ systems in the body to make sure they function properly and can rest, repair and rejuvenate. 

The two naturally work in harmony with each other to keep us healthy. 

When we have experienced trauma, negative life experiences and ongoing stress, the automatic nervous system becomes disregulated.   We can become stuck in either the sympathetic or parasympathetic or take wild swings from one to the other. 

Why is this important to know?

For women with fibromyalgia, this is important because a dysregulated nervous system can be a contributing factor to our fibro symptoms and/or can block healing and recovery from fibromyalgia.

If you know “where you are” meaning “where is your nervous system”, you can take steps to regulate your nervous system and bring it back into balance.  That is a big step in fibromyalgia recovery. 

Your nervous system can be in a state of Sympathetic Dominance, or Parasympathetic Dominance, or swing wildly from one to the other. Or sometimes both are activated.  Or it can be in a balanced or regulated state.

The lists below for each state will provide information for you to consider as you observe your experience.  This will help you to understand where your nervous system is.

Sympathetic Dominance

If your sympathetic nervous system is dominate, you will be in a state of hyper-arousal or fight or flight.  Some of the signs of being in Sympathetic Dominance are:

Signs of hyper arousal: 

  • Fight, flight
  • Overwhelm
  • Rigid and inflexible
  • Impulsivity
  • Tension
  • Anxiety, panic
  • Insomnia
  • Defensiveness
  • Restlessness
  • Intrusive Imagery
  • Phobias
  • Self-destructive behavior
  • Addictions
  • Overeating or restricted eating
  • Obsessive rumination
  • Rage, irritability
  • Emotional reactivity
  • Exaggerated startle response
  • Feeling unsafe

Parasympathetic Dominance

If your parasympathetic nervous system is dominate, you will be in a state of hypo-arousal aka Shutdown or Immobilization.  Some of the signs of being in Parasympathetic Dominance are: 

Signs of Hypo-Activation 

  • Shutdown
  • Reduced Awareness of Sensation
  • Emotionally numb or flat
  • Unable to think
  • Dissociation
  • Memory impairment
  • Sleepy/unable to stay awake.
  • Spacy
  • Withdrawn
  • Unable to actively defend yourself
  • Collapsed
  • Fainting
  • Unable to Move
  • Reduced Physical Movement
  • Lethargy / No energy
  • Disconnected
  • Depressed
  • Passive
  • Ashamed
  • Less Verbal
  • Disappearing

Signs of a balanced nervous system

What you may not know is what it feels like to have a normal balanced nervous system, that easily flows from one to the other as needed as your move through your day. If you have had trauma, ongoing stress, or negative life experiences in early childhood, you might have never experienced a balanced nervous system.  I certainly didn’t. 

What is the experience of a balanced nervous system?

  • You can feel your emotions and think about them at the same time.
  • Feelings and experiences are tolerable.
  • Access to compassion and empathy – toward yourself and others.
  • Ability to learn.
  • Able to be present.
  • Able to be curious about your feelings rather than reactive, defensive, or judgmental.
  • Feeling grounded and calm
  • Able to feel connected in a mutual relationship.
  • Creative
  • Courage
  • Confidence
  • Clarity
  • Contentment
  • Inner Peace

Where are you?

As you read over the lists, what resonates with you?  Which state or states do you experience frequently.  Here are some questions to consider: 

  1. Do you relate to one list or both?
  2. Do you swing from one to the other?
  3. Do you have normal healthy swings from sympathetic to parasympathetic?
  4. Do you have large dramatic swings from sympathetic to parasympathetic?
  5. Do you stay stuck in one or the other?
  6. Are there people or events that will trigger either hypo (parasympathetic) or hyper (sympathetic) activation?
  7. If you become triggered into one or the other states, can you get yourself out?

Keep in Mind . . .

Keep in mind that you will naturally have ups and downs in life.  The nervous system will keep moving from parasympathetic to sympathetic naturally.   And that both are needed to navigate the normal, natural ups and downs of life.    The problem is when one or the other dominates and we get stuck or have wild swings from parasympathetic  to sympathetic.    

Take sometime this coming week to become more aware of  “where you are” in relation to your  nervous system as you go through your day.   Print out the lists and post them where you can see them or carry one with you.  

Awareness is the first step in creating change.  Simply by being aware of where your nervous system is will begin to create change.  Over the last several blogs and newsletters, I have provided some simple practices that can bring you to a balanced nervous system.  The change can be subtle, and it can take some consistent practice over a period of time. 

Also in my upcoming programs, Reconnect with Your Calm Inner Presence and An Introduction to the Integrative Wholeness Experience, we will go more deeply into how to create and maintain a balanced health nervous system. 

Stay tuned. 

May your nervous system be balanced and healthy,  💕Bindu

Your Inner Radar

Your Inner Radar

by | May 6, 2023 | Care of the Body, Emotional Health, Self Care, Self Love, Trauma

Your Inner Radar


We all have an inner radar.

Our body was designed to survive.  Part of our inner survival mechanisms is to constantly be scanning our inner and outer environment and even other people.  This is called neuroception.

It is the way our nervous system listens to the world within our self and outside of our self.   Your nervous system is constantly perceiving the world inside and outside.

It is listening to what is happening in your body, heart, lungs, digestive system, your muscles.  Also, your emotional state and your mental state.

It also perceives what is going on around you.  Sights, sounds, smells, movement, and sensations.

Your nervous system also perceives other people and what is going on inside of them.

There is way more going on inside and outside than our mind can capture, understand, and integrate.


Why is this important?

Especially when it comes to our health and happiness. 

When your nervous system perceives a threat, it automatically responds to that threat.  Your fight or flight or freeze or shut down kicks in automatically.  Your body is preprogrammed to keep you safe and alive.

When your nervous system perceives safety, it relaxes and allows the body to relax.


Impact of trauma on neuroception

When we have been traumatized, the neuroception can perceive potential threats based on your past experience.

For example, a big burly man with red hair and a yellow shirt hurt you or traumatized you when you were young.   Your nervous system may send you into fight or flight or shut down any time you see a big burly man or a man with red hair, or the color yellow.

Even if there is no real threat in your current environment.  This leads to anxiety and stress even when there is no real threat.

This neuroception is also listening to what is going on in your body, so if you have suppressed emotions your nervous system will activate fight or flight or freeze or shut down almost continuously.

This is a factor in anxiety disorders and severe depression.


The question becomes, “What can we do about this?”

This is where mindfulness and practices that calm and balance your nervous system can be helpful.

Mindfulness is the practice of being present with what is really happening in the moment, in our environment and in our body.

So, if you are being mindful, you will notice your anxiety level rise.  You will also notice what is happening in the environment outside of you.  And you can evaluate your environment to see if there is a true threat or only a perceived threat that doesn’t exist.

If you have an ongoing mindfulness practice, your nervous system will be more grounded in the present and less likely to overreact.  If your nervous system is overreacting, the next step is to apply one of the practices that calm and balance the nervous system.    See my recent posts for simple and easy mindfulness practices.  And here are some other suggestions that may be helpful.

My preferred practice is to slow down and deepen my breath.  That will take the edge off anxiety and bring you into the present moment.

Other simple practices include:

  • Grounding yourself in the environment around you. Pick up a pen another object in your environment and focus on it.  The color, texture, shape, smell.
  • Placing your hand on your heart and feel your heart and your hand.
  • Self soothe through positive statements or mantras.
  • Bring to mind a positive experience.
  • Simply look around your environment. Is it safe? Is there any real threat?


You may have other ways to self soothe.

Be creative.  Ask your heart what it needs to feel safe.

Enjoy exploring ways that you can self soothe and calm your nervous system.  Self-care is essential in today’s busy world.

 

May you soothe and calm your inner experience, 💕Bindu

Finding Your Calm Grounded Center

Finding Your Calm Grounded Center

by | Apr 28, 2023 | Care of the Body, Emotional Health, Self Love, Trauma

For the last several weeks, we have been talking about trauma and how it impacts us, our body, our emotions, and our mind.  

Today, we will explore some ways that we can rediscover and ground our self in a calm grounded center.  There are many ways to do this. As we are all unique, we must find what works for us.  

Over the last few weeks, I have offered a breath technique, the hug, and placing your hand on your heart. This is a wonderful starting place. Today, I’ll share another possibility.     

Another way to nurture a calm grounded center is to remember memories from your past where you felt loved, safe, secure, heard, respected. And the list could go on, but I think you get my drift. It could be anything that leaves you with a pleasant feeling inside. 

 

Here are some areas that you can consider:

1.        Who is a person or pet that you feel welcomed and/or safe with?

I have my three beloved cats who surround me with their love. And some close friends that I feel very safe with and can share my heart. 

2.      Is there an object that helps you to feel safe?

This could be a piece of jewelry, a teddy bear, maybe a warm cup of tea. Let your creativity have some fun with discovering an object that would help you to feel safe.

3.       Is there an action or activity that grounds you or brings you into a pleasant or calm state of body and mind. 

I love working in my yard and planting beautiful plants and watching them grow. I like to go for walks and appreciate nature around me or listen to an uplifting song or podcast. 

4.      Is there a place where you feel welcome and content? 

I love my home. I feel safe within my home. Being in nature helps me to feel grounded and content. And I love teaching my yoga classes which brings me great joy and connection with others. 

5.       What words can you say to yourself that give you comfort? Is there something that you can say to your inner child to reassure yourself?  What did you most want and need to hear as a child? Can you say those words to yourself. 

 Be creative with this exploration

This is just a very short list of the possible external places, people, events and activities that can assist in returning to a balanced state. Use your creativity to discover what works for you. As you discover what works for you, consider how you can integrate them into your life.

I understand that overcoming trauma is a long-term process. Many times, it may feel like you are not making any progress. Yet every kind word, grounding breath or hug takes us one step closer to recovery. 

May you feel welcome, safe, and loved, 💕Bindu

Coming Soon

Thanks for your patience. 

I am having a challenge in getting the time together to finalize the program.