Lesson #50: How to be a "Pain Buster" (Part 3: the Prescription)

For the last two weeks, we've focused on the mindbody connection, and how repressed emotional material (especially rage) is implicated in many of our modern-day pain and illness syndromes. Today I will share Dr. John Sarno's "prescription" for a pain-free life, but before I do I'd like make an important, if slightly ambiguous, distinction.

If you've read parts 1 and 2, you understand the basic message of  Dr. Sarno and fans like myself. What you may still be wondering is where to draw the line in your thinking. Which disorders are strictly psychologically based, and which ones absolutely require medical intervention? For instance, if you have chronic pain, and have been to four or five different doctors, none of whom can give you a satisfactory explanation or remedy for your pain, then it would make sense to shift your focus from medical intervention to psychological inquiry.

But let's say you have back pain (either of unknown origin or the result of a minor injury), and you go to your doctor or chiropractor, who examines you and perhaps takes an x-ray or MRI. These professionals are trained to diagnose and label complaints, and, predictably, they will pinpoint a cause for your pain. They even have an important-sounding name for it. But what happens then? Chances are you start behaving in a disabled fashion, taking megadoses of anti-inflammatories, and saying things like, "I can't do that because of my back," or "I'm in pain due to a herniated disc." Usually your symptoms get worse.

Dr. Sarno, while careful not to disregard serious medical conditions, explains that the structural "abnormalities" to which many practitioners attribute pain, are in fact quite normal (or commonplace), and may not be the cause of pain at all. How does he know this?

First of all, studies have shown that most structural abnormalities do not actually cause pain, and secondly, that when Sarno's patients (who had abnormalities accompanied by pain) got in touch with their repressed emotions, the pain went away. This would not have been possible if the structural issue itself was responsible for the pain.

This leads me to Sarno's 3-part therapeutic program (which emphasizes "the power of knowledge"):

1.   Challenge the structural diagnosis, or the "physical" reason for the pain.
Just because your doctor gives your back pain a formal diagnosis doesn't mean that there's anything wrong with your back! As previously mentioned, Sarno explains that many types of pain (but not all) are caused by the brain restricting bloodflow to that area of the body for the purpose of masking repressed emotional pain. It is a diversion tactic, and can be quite harmless. When you "bust" the pain by saying with conviction, "There's nothing wrong with my back," or by allowing the repressed emotions to surface, then the jig is up, at least temporarily. (There may be follow-up work necessary to make the fix permanent).

2.   Acknowledge the psychological basis for the pain.
This step requires you to turn your attention away from the physical preoccupation, and toward the emotional or psychological aspect. Especially when you're experiencing symptoms, go ahead and dredge up whatever might be bothering you. Ask yourself, "What could I possibly be upset or angry about?" Let yourself really explore this, knowing that it's better to face the stuff and release it, than to continue letting it sabotage your health. (See Sarno's books for more advise on how to manage this phase).

3.   Accept the psychological.
In this step, Sarno encourages us to say to ourselves, "It's all right to be the way we are: illogical, unconsciously enraged, like a child having a temper tantrum. That's part of being human, and it's universal." While we may love being in control, or seeing ourselves as nice or good, ultimately the truth of our experience will set us free.

This has been a quick introduction to the facinating world of the mindbody connection, and I should point out that while I used the example of back pain, this concept can be applied to any number of other medical issues that we commonly deal with.

I'm certainly not a medical doctor, but John Sarno is, so if you're interested in learning more, please check out his bestselling books, Healing Back Pain, The Mindbody Prescription, etc.

Lesson #49: How to be a "Pain Buster" (Part 2)

Last week we began a very important discussion regarding the mindbody connection. I introduced Dr. John Sarno and his groundbreaking work (conducted within the western medical model) which convinced me that a huge chunk of our modern-day afflictions can be resolved through working with the mind, and not through drugs, physical therapies, surgery, etc. (Please see last week's post).

As previously mentioned, Sarno believes that repressed emotion (especially rage) is what leads to many chronic pain and illness issues. But why would our minds trade one evil for another? Why not just deal with the feelings, and move on? Where's the logic in creating an elaborate cover-up that could lead to ever-increasing suffering, disability and even death? These are the questions I asked myself, and last week I got to experience the answer firsthand.

I'd been struggling with hip bursitis for about a year, and nothing had helped---until a couple weeks ago when I read Sarno's book, The Mindbody Prescription. The book's wisdom alone turned me into a "pain buster." I called the bursitis' bluff, and it hit the road as fast as a snake oil salesman in the wild, wild west. I went down the list of my past health issues and busted them, one by one. I thought to myself, "This is a piece of cake---it's so much easier to just face our emotions than let them be converted into some horrid disorder." I was smug.

Then it hit. The rage, that is. It was like someone tore open Pandora's box. You would not believe the crap that came flying out of there---it was horrible. I turned into Medusa (remember the Greek myth of the scary lady with snakes coming out of her hair, and if you looked her in the eyes, you'd die instantly?) That was me, or at least that was how I felt.

I--did--not--like--that. After all, I'm a nice person, a good person, a person who helps others. All that rage did not fit with my self image. I guess this is why the primitive mind does whatever is necessary to hide that stuff from us. Now I got it.

We girls are taught to be nice ("sugar and spice"), so it's no wonder we bury the dark stuff. Boys, on the other hand, are taught not to cry or be weak, so perhaps their repressed emotions would more likely be sadness, fear and/or shame. (Or maybe they're internally miffed about having to bury half of who they are!) I don't know. I guess each person is unique, and has his or her own personal storage trunk of difficult feelings.

Anyway, next week I'd like to conclude with Dr. Sarno's "prescription" for getting to the bottom of these aggravating mindbody issues and moving forward in our lives. It's a process, to be sure, but I have to tell you that I'm pretty darned excited about this stuff. It's another piece to the grand puzzle of life, and I think it's good medicine.

Lesson #48: How to be a "Pain Buster"

For years, my good friend and fellow author/blogger, Z Egloff, has sung the praises of Dr. John Sarno and his magical book, Healing Back Pain, which led to the healing of her back pain. Last month, Z blogged about her experience (see: http://lifeinzd.com/ 12/13/11 post). She explained that Sarno's healing philosophy could apply to any number of maladies (back, neck, shoulder, arm or leg pain, headaches/migraines, frequent colds and infections, gastrointestinal trouble, cardiac issues, skin problems, etc) so I decided to check him out. I ended up buying Sarno's more recent book, The Mindbody Prescription: Healing the body, Healing the Mind, which I had the pleasure of reading over the holidays, with surprisingly immediate results.

Let me start by saying that I've always been a firm believer in the mindbody connection---at least in theory. (In the throes of physical suffering, it can sometimes be really difficult to see things for what they are). I'm one of those basically healthy people who has always been plagued by nuisance afflictions, and occasionally more serious health concerns. I could take you on a hypochondriacal-sounding walking tour of my past issues (On your left is shin splints, and up ahead you'll see plantar fasciitis," etc), but suffice it to say that there's virtually always been some distracting physical issue to deal with. They'd come in out of nowhere, and would eventually fade away, only to make way for some new, equally unexplainable and annoying issue. That was just "normal," and I never gave it much thought. That is, until I read Sarno's book.

Dr. Sarno is a traditionally trained Medical Doctor/Professor of Clinical Rehabilitation Medicine, NYU School of Medicine, and  he's been helping patients (and readers like Z) resolve pain issues since the 1970's. (His "cure" rate as of 1998 was around 90%). Unlike many western medical doctors, Sarno was extremely dissatisfied with the poor results he and his colleagues were seeing through conventional approaches, and he set out to expose and effectively cure these chronic pain issues at their roots.

Over years and years of study and observation, Sarno found that much (if not all) of his patients' pain was psychogenic---that is, originating in the mind. He discovered that the brain was responsible for cutting off bloodflow (oxygen) to certain parts of the body, thus creating pain and/or illness. But what makes our brains do this?

What Sarno determined was that deeply painful, repressed emotions were the culprit. It seems that the unconscious mind is so desperate to keep these emotions from leaking into conscious awareness, that it creates a physical disturbance to distract us from what's really going on. (I would add that most addictions, compulsions, obsessions, drama, etc., are also designed to achieve the same objective!) Facing the inner pain can seem too overwhelming.

Is Sarno the first person ever to attribute physical disorders to repressed emotions? Definately not. Sigmund Freud chalked up various maladies to repressed sexual energy, while others have implicated fear (as in "A Course in Miracles") or shame (John Bradshaw). Dr. Sarno holds that repressed rage is the principle cause of most chronic pain issues,  and he's quick to point out that certain personality types are more likely to suffer this sort of disturbance than others. The ironic thing is that it's the "nice" people who are the best candidates for the pain and suffering that come with repressed rage and other emotions.

I have to admit that when I first read the part about rage, I sort of rolled my eyes. As a psychotherapist, while I absolutely validate the repressed emotion theory, I thought Sarno was overdoing it on the anger bit. I saw the culprit as being a more general "yucky emotional stew," or what Sarno also called "psychological poison." But then something interesting happened. When I followed Sarno's advice about dredging up what I might possibly be angry about, I noticed that my malady du jour (hip bursitis) disappeared virtually overnight. Not only that, I started getting little "hello's" from my psyche that validated the repressed anger theory. Very interesting stuff...

I'd like to share more of what I learned, so please join me here next week to continue the discussion. And have a radiantly healthy first week of 2012.

Lesson #47: Is it 2012...Already?!

Wow, a new year is just around the corner, and no doubt you're aware of the hype surrounding 2012. But what is all this actually based on? I thought today we'd explore that question from the perspective of the Mayan calendar which ends abruptly in 2012, leaving many people wondering whether that signals the end of time.

So, here goes. The ancient Maya were master spiritual timekeepers as well as astronomical and mathematical geniuses. They had multiple calendars and timetables for various purposes, such as agriculture, human gestation, moon cycles, spiritual cycles, galactic cycles, spirirtual cycles, etc. They left many monuments that would help later civilizations interpret their calendars and prophesies, and although we have achieved this to a great extent, not all of the existing information has yet been revealed.

Like our modern-day calendar cycles, the Mayan cycles ranged from the very short to the very long. Their various smaller cycles, however, all converge in a "Long Count Calendar," whereby one Great Cycle equals 5,126 years, which represents the end of a sun or age. Five Great Cycles makes up a Grand Cycle, or 25,630 years. This represents a galactic cycle and measures the precession of the equinox, or the time it takes the earth to circle through all the constellations. This approximately twenty-six-thousand-year cycle is, in fact, corroborated by modern astronomical observation.

Bear with me. Somehow, around 200 BCE the Maya developed the Long Count Calendar, in which they set the start date (of the current era) at approximately three thousand years prior to that year. After extensively studying the calendars and prophesies, many researchers have concluded that this calendar or era ends on December 21, 2012. That represents not only the end of a 5,126-year great cycle, but the end of the larger 25,630-year galactic cycle. (There are even theories that indicate we may be at the end of 230-million-year cycle in which the entire Pleiadian system--including our solar system--orbits around the galactic center) Wow!

Needless to say, we are at a unique time in history when cycles within cycles within cycles are lining up, and, according to the Maya, this means great change. It is also believed that the end of a major cycle includes a housekeeping phase, during which all unresolved issues, personal as well as planetary, are brought to the surface to be cleared.

Many believe this is a time of endings, to be followed by new beginnings. What will occur in the next few years or decades is unknown, but one thing is for certain---change is in the air. We can fear it or embrace it, but from my point of view, it is a truly exciting time to be alive, and the fact that you are on the planet now means that you came here to be a part of it. Very cool.

It is beieved that this transition period represents a great window of opportunity for spiritual advancement, which is why many spiritual seekers are feeling the pull to heal their own issues and help other people, as well as the earth herself, do the same.

Regardless of what happens or doesn't happen in the next few years, now is a great time to do your homework, unload your baggage, tune into your purpose, and become the person you came here to be.

Happiest of New Years to you!

Lesson #46: Try to Remain Calm!!!

Here we are once again, in the thick of the holiday season. As always, it's a mix of fun and stress, anticipation and dread, nasty colds and tasty hot chocolate. It's a time to close out the current year and start preparing for the year to come. It's a busy, potentially overwhelming time.

How are you right now? Are you rushing around trying to get too much done? Are you worrying about your finances? Are you fighting off an infection or struggling with back, shoulder, or joint pain? And are you down on yourself for how much you've been eating, or how much you've not been exercising?

Even though it may seem normal, or even appropriate to feel harried at this time of year, it's not entirely necessary, and you can benefit greatly from taking a few moments each day to check in with yourself about where you are and what your physical, psychological, and spiritual needs are. By doing this you can make necessary adjustments and avoid becoming sick, stressed out, and overextended.

I used to think I had to go to every holiday party I was invited too, and that I had to look amazing and be extremely interesting at those parties. I used to have a huge conflict about the commercialism of Christmas, which I would grumble about to anyone who would listen. And when I was a new mother, I cried my eyes out about the fact that my babies were pleasingly plump and had lots of love and presents, while billions of other babies and mothers around the world were hanging on by a thread.

Over time, what I've realized is that it's possible to actually enjoy the month of December, but that this can only be done by slowing down, making some mental adjustments, honoring my personal needs, and only doing what I want to do. If I don't feel like going caroling with my church or girl scout troop, I stay home and drink tea instead. Do I mind being seen as party-pooper? Not so much.

I guess what I'm suggesting is what I'm always suggesting, which is to make a habit of caring about how you feel and what internal signals you are receiving. It no longer works to just do what we've always done, just because we've always done it. If you're like most people I know, you're waking up to new ways of being and new ways of seeing yourself. And as we move into 2012, I believe this will become even more prevalent.

This week, I invite you to slow down, stay conscious, and know that the universe (and I) wish you radiant good health, and an intensely happy and peaceful holiday.

 

Lesson #45: Are You Feeling It?

Is it just me or are a lot of us feeling conflicted about the holidays? I'm referring to the age-old abundance versus non-abundance issue. The holidays have traditionally been a time when people become aware of those who are more or less fortunate than they are, but this year it feels more pronounced than usual.

I recently had the opportunity to visit to the Blackhawk Auto Museum, which is an exhibition of 90 gorgeous cars, many of which are antiques. I couldn't help but notice that the biggest, most luxurious and over-the-top models were from the 1930s, which was the decade of the great Depression. (I don't know if you've read The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, but his devastating story of the extreme poverty experienced by so many Americans during the Depression left a lasting impression on me). Being around these cars, stirred up sad feelings about class issues, as did the bumper stickers I read on an SUV yesterday: "Fueled by Capitalism," and, "Spread my Work Ethic, not my Wealth."

Ouch.

At church last Sunday, our minister shared the story of a young immigrant woman working for a well-to-do family. As the holidays rolled around, she observed the bounty of beautiful gifts that flowed into and out of their home. As well as feeling homesick, she felt unhappy for those who were having a very different experience on the other side of town. Long story, short, the woman used her modest income to buy some beautiful baby clothes and blankets which she gave, anonymously, to a poor family who had just had a new baby. This made her feel much better, and when the young son (of the people she worked for) discovered what she had done, he was intensely moved. In fact, it changed his life forever.

Hearing this story reminded me of a few important points. First of all, it feels great to give, and it especially feels great to give to someone who has an actual need, knowing that you are making a difference in their life and in the world. Secondly, we can't alleviate all the suffering in the world, and that's not our job, but we can contribute in our own way. Every little bit of kindness counts. And finally, the intention behind the gift (the love, generosity of spirit, altruism) is as valuable as the gift itself, as is demonstrated in the story of the immigrant woman and the little boy.

You may be in a great place right now, or you may not be. You may have an abundance of health, wealth, and love in your life, or you may be struggling. No matter who you are or where you are in your life, please remember this:  We're all in this together. Whatever you can contribute (a smile, a song, or an orphanage), please do it now. It will make you and the recipient feel great, and we all need to feel great in order to be who we came here to be. Give and you shall receive. Love and you will be loved. Honor your prosperity by sharing it with others. And avoid the guilt game. It serves no one.

In the words of Tiny Tim, "God bless us, everyone!"

Lesson #44: Is Humor Really the Spice of Life?

Last week, I read something that described humor as a gift from God, designed to remind us not to take this life experience too seriously. It said that our ultimate soul essence (beyond these bodies) is light and playful, and that the purpose of earthly humor is to reconnect us with who we really are. I loved this statement, and in my head, I heard the old saying, "Humor is the spice of life." But is this really true? Couldn't you say that food is the spice of life, or that sex is the spice of life?

Let's take a look at this from a higher perspective. It seems to me that God made food enticing to us so that we wouldn't physically waste away and die, right? And sexual desire was an incentive to reproduce and propagate the species, correct? But what is the function of humor?

The way I see it, food and sex are sort of the meat and potatoes (or vegetables and rice) of life, and humor is, in deed, the spice of life. It comes in all different varieties, for virtually any possible application. Just get creative: sprinkle on a little of this spice or that, saute  for 10 minutes, and you've got yourself a nice, home-cooked, life experience.

So, how's your funny bone? Do people say you have a good sense of humor, or do they tell you to lighten up? For me, humor has always been serious business. In fact, I've provoked many a raised eyebrow throughout my life for making myself or others the butt of jokes, laughing out of turn, being silly, sardonic, or unexpectedly funny. It wasn't until I read the recent blurb on humor that I realized why I felt compelled to do this. It became clear to me that comedians, clowns, etc., do what they do because it's their divine purpose to lighten the mood and help people remember joy in this often-too-serious world. And sometimes---a lot of times, actually---this involves poking fun.

When I was a child,  I loved Lucy! Lucille Ball, was a comic genius, and actually a strikingly beautiful woman (although she rarely took advantage of that fact, at least not on stage). Like so many other comediennes who would follow her, she was committed to making people laugh, regardless of the cost. What impressed me most about Lucy is that during the 1950s, when women were valued most for how they looked and how well they conformed and behaved, Lucy was a wild and crazy knucklehead who never minded looking ridiculous. If it made people laugh, Lucy did it. And as a self-conscious little girl who never felt attractive enough, I admired the heck out of Lucy.

I could go into the various health and wellness benefits of enjoying a good laugh (blah, blah...stress reduction, blah, blah...) but suffice it to say that a sense of humor can be as valuable in life as our other five senses, and maybe even more so.

This week, I encourage you to look for the humor and irony in life, choose a funny movie or TV show instead of something heavy, and if you hear a funny joke, pass it on.

So, what makes you laugh?