General Has Anyone Else Experienced Holistic Therapy

[amethist]

Dont feel bad for being jealous KP, anyone who wanted help in any way possible could feel like that.

Yes Meadowsweet, they did use the same methods on my husband, but trying to find out from what actually went on is difficult. His memory is not good, but he does know he feels different. He told me Adam taught him how to use meditation to settle his mind, how to stop and slow down when things seem to be escalating, though he does have to be reminded of this. He said Adam seemed to hypnotize him and took him into a library to read books about his life and PTSD, though remember very little else about that.

He still has the same issues, as this is not a cure, they told us that right at the beginning. But it has helped put his symptoms into perspective, so he can deal with them and cope a damn site better than he did before we went.

He still struggles, but can now do a lot more than he could before. Still has to keep up with everything, and we may have to go back, due to something else that we have noticed now he is going out more. But that will be thought about again after he has seen the Physio tomorrow.

 

[Gloria]

Good work Amethist!
I am going to a yoga institute in April and use my brain wave machine (puts you into a deep stage of hypnosis) while having positive reinforcement tapes plugged in. I've been involved with holistic medicine for years and am trying to use only holistic treatments (rather than drugs, etc.) I believe that our brain has the capacity (with a little help) to heal us. After all PTSD is our brain's way of protecting us from a dangerous situation that we went through and we all know how hard our brains work to protect us!:eek: Many times, our brains work a little too hard!

Hugs,
Gloria

 

[amethist]

I think this may be the last part LOL, so here goes.

Whist I was with Paula that morning, I could see so many colours in my mind from cream to deep red, as well as many other colours, all meaning different things to me. But what got me the most was the bright sunshine I saw as we finished, it was streaming int he window in front of me. this had a blind on it but the sun was amazingly bright, or so I thought.

it was not the sun at all, as it was coming in the window behind me and to my left, but well out of my eye sight, and this window too had a blind on it. what I was seeing was my own mind brightening everything up and part of my experience of crossing the bridge. Basically out of the shadows of my family and finally into the light of my own.

Off we went again to find somewhere nice for lunch. A nice oldy worldy cafe was found not far away, so hot drinks and sandwiches were ordered and we just sat and enjoyed the ability to do this again. :)

It was cold out so we did not hang about very long after eating, just went back ready for the afternoon and what we now knew would be the last afternoon.

Paula said she would do some Reiki healing on me that afternoon, to balance out what was left of my own issues.

This was an experience I was so glad I had the opportunity for this, as it was amazing.

So back in the room, incense lit, and laying comfortable on the bed, covered with a lovely soft fleecy blanket. Paula said I need to ground myself first, as this was a stronger spiritual healing than what we had done before. I have done this many times so it was an easy thing for me to do.

She started at my head and just held her hands at each side of my temples, where all the tension had been. This drifted away and I could feel my jaw physically relax.

She then moved her hands under my head and just gently held it, but it felt more like my head was floating, not being held.

She then moved to my shoulders and this is when everything really started to happen. First I started coughing, like my throat was very dry, but i knew it was not dry at all. This was me trying to get rid of what ever blockage was there stopping me from speaking my own mind in times when I needed to. Yea I know I am very open and do speak up, but there are times when I dont, but should, and times when I do and shouldn't. This needed balancing and seems to have made a heck of a lot of difference when speaking hubby. I no longer try and explain things to him, when he asks, when he is not in the right place to take it in, I make him wait until later.

She then moved to the area above my heart, and oh wow was this amazing.

I saw in my mind eye 2 swans doing the greeting dance they do with necks intertwining and showing the love for each other. The difference was that they were not white, but the colour of abalone shell, which confused me until I looked up the meaning of it. This is what I found.

The swans was obvious really as they do usually mate for life, which to me was a good sign. Plus they can also mean transformation, balance and strong partnerships.

The Abalone shell also fitted in with this, being

Abalone shell - Intimately connected to the sea - represents the tides of emotion. Harmony in relationships. The variety of colors represent change as the beauty of existence. Represents sensitivities to otheres and an easy flow of feelings.

So these both meant to me that we were getting it right no matter how hard things got.

This then changed to flowers, but not flowers as we know them, but crystal flowers growing in front of me. all colours all shapes and sizes. This I took to mean that I could now go ahead and do the art work I had buzzing round in my head for months. The flowers meaning now it was time to grow this and the crystals are what I use in all my art work.

As she slowly moved down to each point, I felt more and more relaxed, more settled in myself. My knee was not aching anymore, my calves did not feel cramped up and everything just felt lighter.

I felt as if all the troubles of the world had been lifted finally of my shoulders, and that what ever happened from now on, would be easier for me to deal with.

There is a bit more as we ended the day, but I will have to come back to that in a while.

 

[amethist]

Last part I promise. :D

After another coffee and a cig, and time to come back down from what ever planet we had been on for the last hour or more, we then wrote letter.

One was to let all things go that we did not want to carry with us anymore, things that had been holding us back for so long. These were to be burnt under the tree outside and given to the wind to take where ever it wanted.

The second one was what we personally wanted from the future, a promise to our selves that we would not let the past drag us down anymore. These were to be kept safe and read when ever we wanted, as a reminder of the promises we made to our selves.

After burning them under the tree, Paula gave me a little flower fairy figure, to put in the tray garden I am going to make, to remind me of the bridge I crossed.

​

It was then time to say our goodbyes and thank them as much as we could, which was not going to be enough what ever we said.

How could we thank them for doing in 2 days what the NHS could not do in 4 years. but knowing we can go back anytime for a top up session.

That night we again went out for another meal, still amazed at how good this was.

We were booked into the hotel, and it was paid for until Tuesday, so we decided that we should make the best of it and do something on the Sunday.

We decided that a trip to the Trafford center might be a good idea, as neither of us had been there before.

So that's what we did, though not knowing we had to travel part way by bus, which for the last few years had been a definite no no for hubby. The diesel reminded him too much of his accident, but there we were on a bus going to the Trafford Center.

Unfortunately his back began to play up again, it had been cold and we thought that was the problem. he stuck it out as long as he could, but we had to make our way back to the hotel after about 2 hours.

We decided that night, while having another meal in the restaurant, that we would go home the next day, a day early, but only because of his back, nothing else.

We now think that even though he wants to go out and does, his back is the issue. He gets anxious but goes out, which leads to tension, followed by back pain. Which then puts his head in a spin, so more tension and so on.

If this is the case, which we should find out tomorrow, then I will be back in touch with them to see if they can get in his head to help break the circle.

 

[KP the nut]

(((Amethist & H))),

I'm sat with tears of joy in my eyes for both of you.

Wishing you both the peace you deserve.
KP

 

[Gloria]

Dear Amethist,
After years of nightmares and sleepless nights with PTSD, last night I had the most wonderful dream I think I ever had. I think you caused me to have this amazing experience in my dreams. I was with you and everyone from the forum. It was all white and so beautiful and honestly I have never had such a beautiful dream. I saw all of us on the forum at a holistic retreat and I felt healed and happy but it was so beautiful - the colors, the music.

What a welcome relief from PTSD nightmares! You definitely inspired that dream because your post gave me hope. I do holistic healing on not only myself but my animals and the results amaze the doctors and veterinarians. I love it! I believe that we can heal and in my dream, we were all doing yoga and we were healing!
Thanks so much for sharing!
Gloria

 

[Toria]

Just finished catching up - wow - it all sounds fantastic. I am so glad that it all worked so well for you both x

 

[amethist]

We all know this is not a cure, but anything that can help minimize the symptoms, has to be worth a try.

Not only has it helped my husband more than I thought possibly, the fluffy part as wife of mentioned and the fact that this would all have been Hocus Pocus to my husband a few years ago. It has helped me see that this does not have to rule your life, you can rule it as well.

 

[Eleanor]

Amethist - awesome. In tears for you guys as well. (Plus, I am feeling a bit smug for procrastinating and thus getting to read the whole thing at one time!) THANK YOU for telling the story.

 

[Daisygirl]

Amethyst,

Thanks so much for sharing this experience! It has given me a lot to think about, as I have been feeling stuck in my own recovery and with my husbands issues for some time. I am SO happy to hear that things are better for your husband and you.

I liked how the focus of the healing was dealing with fears from the past holding you back from the future that you want. Then if the path more likely taken maybe wasn't possible, then to imagine a way around it. I loved the visualization you created about the crocus under the brambles. It really clicked with me.

Like others who posted here, I am a little teary too. Again, thank you!!

 

[amethist]

Thanks to all who have read this and left comments.

It is not all rosy in the garden though at the moment. Hubby has had problems coming to grips with some of this and today we had another break through.

He has been struggling for well over a week now because of various stressor's, and has done so much meditation, to settle his mind. He has been doing all they taught him, but struggled more than he was ready to admit. Plus lots of sleeping and isolating, it was like he had gone back to the time before we did this.

I had to kick butt again, telling him that it is up to him to pull himself out of this slump, no one can or will do it for him. lots of things said, but without any volcanic explosion from me, I don't do that anymore. ;) I dont walk on egg shells either, never have and I dont intent to start now.

He today finally admitted that he should stop "Feeling sorry for himself", wow what a break through, as he has always denied he did this. Always acted the big man when I told him to stop doing it, was in denial of so much.

He now see's that he is not who he was, cannot do some of the things he did, in the same way.

I honestly thought he had got past all this a long time ago, but I was wrong.

He went to bed about an hour ago, upset and crying. I was in 2 minds whether to follow him up, but thought he needed time on his own to process it all.

He will get back on track, but he has some work to do.

 

[KP the nut]

He now see's that he is not who he was, cannot do some of the things he did, in the same way.

I don't know if you were wrong in thinking he had dealt with it.

From my experience, I feel at times I am reconciled to what I can no longer do and that I accept who I am now. Then for no reason, something will spark in me and it hits me all over again.

I honestly thought he had got past all this a long time ago, but I was wrong

Something I see, brings it all back anew that I will never be that person again. Today it was seeing someone pick up their grandchild. It struck me, I'll never have the strength to do that.

He will get back on track, but he has some work to do.

Yes, he will, again and again and again.

You are so lucky to have one another.
(((HUGS)))