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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Daisym on March 10, 2008, at 23:45:53
I'm working on being aware of what is happening in my body. So tonight I feel some tightness in my left calf muscle and that "I need to stretch" feeling in my lower back. My neck is tired - too much driving this weekend and my left elbow is achy from too much typing and bad posture while doing it. There is a heaviness in my chest - anxiety mixed with some unidentified upset. I feel like I do when I've had a tough session or when I'm upset with my therapist but I don't think I am -- am I?
We had an OK session - we've been talking the past few times about sexual feelings, which gets tough. But I've been handling it OK. Today my brain turned off - he saw it and I described it as a garage door coming down. I can see it but I can't stop it, it just happens. He joked that he needed to be more careful about hitting the button - you know - that remote thingy that makes your garage door close. Too bad it is an invisible button so you never know where it is exactly. And I did get upset with him a little but he cleared it up.
So what is this? I hate this feeling. Someone described it as dread - I think that is it. And loss somehow. Something is missing...maybe it is just being tuned in more to my body, which means I have to stay in it instead of floating away.
It would be so much better not to have a body, except...where would my shoes go then?
I'm just rambling tonight. Can you describe what is happening in your body? And can you escape it?
Posted by LlurpsieNoodle on March 11, 2008, at 6:38:51
In reply to Body Awareness exercises, posted by Daisym on March 10, 2008, at 23:45:53
Hi Daisy,
I've given a lot of thought to this. Clearskies and I bought a book (for a nickel) on amazon and it is full of tips to become more attuned to the lives our bodies live. "coming home to your body"Here's an excerpt (p. 79) March 11
"Birds are singing. Light green leaves adorn branches that recently stood bare against the gray winter sky. Buds pop out, promising colorful flowers soon. Rebirth is in the air.*
All of creation goes through death and resurrection experiences. We let go of a hurtful relationship, making room for new love. we end a job that stifles out creativity and risk a new venture. Rejecting old images of our bodies, we insist on loving ourselves more.
Join the spring festivities. Acknowledge you personal rebirth by enjoying a refreshing bath. To prepare, find several sprigs of honeysuckle with its joyous aroma*. Placing one sprig in your hair, save the other sprigs for your bath.
Play uplifting music that creates a sense of anticipation. After turning on the water in the tub, mix in a cup of oatmeal*. This natural cleanser will gently remove the dead cells of the past and reveal your fresh new skin. Sprinkle the remaining sprigs of honey suckle across the water.
As you sink into the tub and relax picture the ending of some aspect of your life. Feel the sadness and grief, the tiredness and relief. Then imagine the new birth, as your life now has room for more life and adventure. Let yourself be absorbed in the gladness as your lungs draw in the sweetnesses of the honeysuckle.
Wash yourself with gentle soap, removing all traces of the past. Rinse and gently pat yourself dry. Wear the honeysuckle in your hair the remainder of the day to remind you that you've passed through a valley of darkness and again into the light."
* no honey suckle where I live. I'll just use lavender bath salts instead, and put a dab of essential oils behind my ear
*what happens to the oatmeal after the bath? won't it clog the drain? Can I eat it hahaha :):)
-Ll
Posted by gardenergirl on March 11, 2008, at 13:17:00
In reply to Re: Body Awareness exercises » Daisym, posted by LlurpsieNoodle on March 11, 2008, at 6:38:51
I'm not so good at this, either. In my case, I think I sort of live almost entirely in my head, while my body just sort of does what it thinks it's supposed to. This is why I often walk into walls and furniture that have been in the same location for years, knock things over, occasionally "flail", etc. I used to see an energy healer, and she often commented on how heavy my head was. I always interpreted that as having most of my energy up there. I'm trying to inhabit the rest of my body more through yoga, which helps if I'm really paying attention. I'm also trying to use grounding exercises to move my energy down through me to the earth. I'm not very disciplined about it yet, so I haven't had any huge change. But I'm trying. The only time it's not easy to escape into my head is when I'm having physical pain somewhere. Then, because of my sensitivity I think, I can get over-focused on it.
Oh, and about the oatmeal in the tub...colloidal oatmeal only! Like Aveeno. If you use the kind of oatmeal you can eat, put it in a pantyhose leg and tie it to the faucet. I put regular rolled oats in my bath ONCE. After my quite pleasant bath, I had to "pan for oatmeal" forever! And my dog was oh so willing to help me. Not cool when you're nekkid.
And honeysuckle reminds me too much of all that stuff that grows wild and aggressively in my backyard. It's a pain to pull out if you let the trunk get too thick. Come to think of it, the ground's probably really squishy right now. I should go pull some. Excellent therapy if you concentrate on the little ones. :)
gg
Posted by Dinah on March 11, 2008, at 13:45:11
In reply to Re: Body Awareness exercises, posted by gardenergirl on March 11, 2008, at 13:17:00
rofl.
I'll bet your dog was in seventh heaven, though.
Posted by 10derHeart on March 12, 2008, at 14:27:30
In reply to Re: Body Awareness exercises, posted by gardenergirl on March 11, 2008, at 13:17:00
>After my quite pleasant bath, I had to "pan for oatmeal" forever! And my dog was oh so willing to help me. Not cool when you're nekkid.
>I'll bet your dog was in seventh heaven, though
oh dear, the mental images, the mental images....somebody STOP me.........!!!!
{hi gg ;-)}
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