Chinese medicine, reiki, anyone?

[Chava]

My lungs and sadness are connected (all = meltdown) and so is my pain. Should I try acupuncture for the pain in my upper back? Do I mention sadness? I don't want to be overwhelmed. I'm only curious...is it very subtle? If anyone tries to fix or take away my sadness I'll probably also die. I just want to know if this stuff can be worked on in a subtle way and I can leave feeling grounded. I'm full of bad decisions this week (drinking again) and need to try something new. I'm freaking out. I need to be able to feel sadness, but not feel like I'll die...just a saf amount so it can release and not just pile up and drown me.

Or should I have them focus on pain and see what that does for the connected feelings? I just don't know, but know I'm easily tossed into a bad place.

Shout out to @KwanYingirl

 

[joeylittle]

A 'proper' acupuncturist, trained in Chinese medicine, won't actually pay much attention to what you tell them that you are there for, so I've been told by quite a few people. They will take your pulses, look at your tongue, make their diagnosis and do their thing. In a way, it's very freeing - you don't need to do your own triage, they will do what they see your body as needing. I think Reiki practitioners are the same.

I also think the mind can be so powerful when it comes to this stuff - the best thing would be to try and not worry about potential outcomes. I know that's hard, though.

I'm really sorry for your suffering right now.

 

[Seasounds]

• Acupuncture, for relaxation, has always helped me shift to a more neutral place.
• I find Reiki relaxes and calms me, in a lighter way, than acupuncture.

 

[Chava]

Thank you @joeylittle ....mostly I want to know what they are doing, but I think I understand it well enough to just go for it. I just don't know if it releases much or has some after-shit I can't deal with. ?

Thanks @Saetva for describing the difference some. I might try acupuncture first (I do know we have a good person in my area).

I'm not super drunk, but on this gas station shit I'll just end up throwing up water before that point, so that's not so bad. Me + vodka = ER. So if I can avoid that route, that would be great. I want to work with pain and sadness safely but also my conception of a higher power or how I stay grounded in myself (like more Eastern views...light or god in me and outside...having those boundaries...but not just something outside because I dwell there all the time anyway...I need a body God). God help me..

 

[Biz]

Both reiki and acupuncture have been helpful for me when the practitioner is trustworthy and intuitive. Hopefully, if you were working with the right person, they wouldn't release more than you're ready for. Maybe for acupuncture, consider going to a five elements person because that's more energy/emotion focused.
Moving energy isn't always abt release, though. When I get reiki she works with me on bringing my energy down to ground me/it. She also works on my crown chakra so I feel connected to a Higher Power; I notice feeling more clear after.
I hope you're able to find something @Chava, I've been reading your stuff and it sounds like things have been hard lately.

 

[sun seeker]

A 'proper' acupuncturist, trained in Chinese medicine, won't actually pay much attention to what you tell them that you are there for, so I've been told by quite a few people.

I think this can actually be dangerous because it can release too much too fast, especially if there isn't adequate support after the session.

@Chava, is your acupuncturist trained to recognize trauma at all? This is super important. It sounds like there are things you know you are not ready to work on and it is important to let them know. You'll need to communicate what you are and are not ready for and not let yourself be pushed too fast. Ideally, when the practitioner wants to work on releasing a holding pattern, they will ask if you feel ready and honour your response. I've been through this with my acupuncturist, who opened a block (with my permission) after warning me it might bring on strong emotions and asking if that was okay. I said it was. It wasn't. :rolleyes: I think I willed the block back because it was way too much to handle.

If anyone tries to fix or take away my sadness I'll probably also die.

This is profound. It sounds like you need to move on this very slowly. Could you write down your concerns and bring the list along in case it is hard to talk when you get there?

I'm sorry you are having such a hard time.

 

[Ronin]

@Chava, I think there are limitations as to acupuncture with worsening the pain before it gets better, a few days afaik, so depends if that's something you could stand?

Reiki IS subtle, unless done by people who honestly don't have a license for it & proper schooling and are in for the money (mentioning that as with reiki specifically? there's so many more running around these days than used to be, and than genuine practicioners; check their references & trust your gut if choosing this).

There's basically no way to mess with your emotions on that level, shuffle them? Yes. Take them away? No. But that all is depending on how far you're letting that person go; that control is yours.

As far as practicals go, Chinese medicine & Japanese one / reiki have a prerequisite of being sober for treatment to begin. Responsible & reputable practicioners won't mess with anyone currently under influence. Pain medication & necessary medication is another case, but even there, a lot of caution & prior care is advised.

 

[shimmerz]

If anyone tries to fix or take away my sadness I'll probably also die.

I feel this way exactly but for me it is a bit reversed. It is about pain not sadness. I feel as if I allow myself to feel pain I will die. I am so very sorry you feel this way.

Should I try acupuncture for the pain in my upper back?

I agree with JL on this one. Acupuncture can unleash a tide. Unless the acupuncturist is known for being an expert in trauma.

As I recall you are familiar with (perhaps have) conversion disorder. I wonder if your sadness is the cause for your pain. A way of expressing it? Have you spoken to your T about conversion disorder and how that may be addressed?

Also, @Hope4Now just posted about how her therapy this past week had her ease the pain that she has. Perhaps you could speak with her about what her experience was?

Thinking of you @Chava and sending you all the warmth I have.

 

[Hope4Now]

Also, Link Removed just posted about how her therapy this past week had her ease the pain that she has. Perhaps you could speak with her about what her experience was?

Yes...conversion disorder has been tossed around for me.
@Chava, I know my issue is that I feel physical pain instead of emotional pain. (Some people do the reverse...)
I identified it a long while back as fear/freeze mode. This week I have confirmed a more detailed understanding of it. It comes from being pulled in too many different directions simultaneously. It has become so clear since I have been here and have been able to focus ONLY on myself. I have some hugely serious decisions to make about my life after this program. Yikes. You can PM me if you want to.

 

[seedling]

Both acupuncturists I have seen have had experience with trauma. They've been careful to listen to me.
In the beginning with acupuncture I had mostly grounding treatments. They felt great. If there was emotion that released it was the kind that I was glad to have release and afterwards I felt much better and had cognitive insights come to me. It wasn't always easy but the outcome was positive. Communication and self awareness help.

It gave me the first relief from the anxiety and body pain that I'd had. And rest! wow, what a great rest it still gives me.

Both acupuncturists would/will treat specific body pains if I let them know what they are. I have different pain symptoms come up depending on my emotional PTSD symptoms. This is a great relief.

I'm doing some Reiki now and she's a gifted practitioner with a lot of training. She's worked on grounding me when that's what I wanted (great rest there too, relaxation) and then opening some blocked chakras that we became aware of. It's building on the acupuncture and my parts work in therapy.

I think it's an important part of my healing to be doing this kind of treatment.

 

[Ocean5]

First thanks to all responses. I have been looking at Chinese Medicine such as acupuncture. Place I was referred to said things can get worse before better. This discussion gives me greater insight.

 

[Chava]

Link Removed, I've been reading your stuff and it sounds like things have been hard lately.

Yes. Thank you

Thank you everyone!!!! :):inlove: