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Can you find Peace in a Crazy World?

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Can you find Peace in a crazy world when so much seems to be out of our control? How can you switch off from the constant stress that seems to surround us on an everyday basis?

It isn’t easy, but it is possible and there are things you can do today to remove you from that ‘fight or flight’ response.

Firstly, acknowledge when you are feeling stressed or impatient or anxious. If we stop and recognise our feelings, we can do something to address them.

There is no shame here. The last few years have brought up so many anxieties and fears that we never knew we were capable of feeling. Current world events only add to this stress. It’s okay to be angry or feel scared. We are in unfamiliar territory and that’s uncomfortable and often frightening.

So we react in different ways, depending on our past experiences, beliefs and values. We may lash out at others in anger or impatience, we may retreat from the world in fear or we may experience physical symptoms that affect our health.

Acknowledge that this is okay. Don’t criticise or condemn yourself. It may not feel pleasant, but we are just reacting to our circumstances and so many of these circumstances are out of our control. Try and give yourself space in your day. Space where you are not always meeting the needs of others. Space where you can just be and sit or have a nap if you need to. Nurturing ourselves is so important.

Try some meditation. It has huge proven benefits to still the mind. This doesn’t mean that you have to sit still and chant. It can be as simple as sitting outside with the sun on your face, while you tune in to the sounds around you. Being present in the moment is deeply healing.

Go for a walk or dance around the house. Move your body. This encourages those ‘feel good’ hormones to flood your system and leaves you feeling more relaxed and energised. Scream out loud if you need to or sing at the top of your voice. You may feel more comfortable doing this at home, but do it whenever you can, as it helps to release pent up emotions.

Spend time with those who make you laugh. Laughter also releases those ‘feel good’ hormones, such as Dopamine and Serotonin. If you need time alone, then do that. Sit in stillness at home, binge on Netflix or read a book. We all need some down time. Don’t feel guilty!

Definitely, don’t watch the news. It’s meant to be dramatic and alarming, to catch our attention. Your nervous system doesn’t need that. By all means stay informed, but a quick look on the internet will fill you in on all you need to know.

Eat healthily. This may sound strange, but junk food has a negative effect on our brain and hence, affects our mood. It is highly addictive, so the more you eat, the more you want. It gives us temporary pleasure so our brain encourages us to repeat that ‘fix’. It is also inflammatory and can damage our neurones or nerve cells.

Engage in supportive treatments such as Reflexology. It addresses any underlying emotion or trauma and is deeply healing and powerfully relaxing. Try yoga or tai chi. Both are very grounding and stress-reducing practices.

Can you find peace in this crazy world? I really believe you can, but it does take some effort. You need to be willing to change and be accepting of how you are feeling, without judgement. I try and do this on a regular occurrence. I don’t always get it right but I know I have the tools to become more grounded when I need to.

Try and give it a go. Recognise your emotions and don’t judge yourself. Accept that life is weird and uncomfortable now. Then sit in stillness, laugh out loud, dance and sing as if no one is watching and find peace in your life and hopefully, peace in your Heart.

With warmest wishes,

Judy xxx

This facial reflexology chart may be helpful to reduce fear and anxiety. You can download it here. https://solevitality.com.au/fear-and-anxiety/

References: https://www.rmit.edu.au/news/all-news/2016/sep/five-ways-junk-food-changes-your-brain, Photo by Javardh on Unsplash 

Disclaimer: Please note that all information in this article is the opinion of the author and obtained through her research and knowledge and the above references. It is not meant to replace medical advice and a medical opinion should always be obtained for any health condition.

relaxation, well being, pain free

Taking the Power out of Pain

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Relaxation, mindfulness, pain free.

Taking the power out of Pain is possible.

We have all experienced pain at some time in our lives. It may be from a headache, a cut to your finger, a broken bone or from a disease process. Many people live with chronic pain. Many others suffer emotional pain from heartache, a broken relationship, abandonment, loss or grief.

Pain has been described as an unpleasant sensory or emotional experience that can start as a mild discomfort or something more severe. It can be just an irritation or it can be agonising and we all experience it in different ways. This is dependent on the actual pain and our tolerance to it and is also influenced by our attitudes, beliefs, personality and social factors. It can affect our emotional and mental wellbeing and totally dominate our lives.

We can however, take the power out of Pain. What do I mean by this? We can look at the power and attention we give to our pain and change this. We can change our attitude towards pain and our focus on it. I am by no means, diminishing the extent of the pain that you may be feeling. Pain is real and if we are in severe pain, our whole life can be dominated by it.

However we can address the response we give to pain. Pain is influenced by emotions, and the cycle of pain and emotions are connected. Emotions may also affect physical change. For example, when you are anxious or angry, your muscles may tighten, and this change can contribute to increased pain. Our thoughts also influence how we feel pain. If we are anxious, our sense of pain heightens and we feel more pain and become more stressed, which in turn exacerbates the pain. Pain will also affect our sleep and if we can’t sleep, we don’t cope so well with any discomfort we may be feeling.

So what can we change? How can we live more comfortably with pain?

The first step is to acknowledge and accept that you have Pain. This may sound rather obvious as your body is screaming at you that you are definitely uncomfortable, but by taking this step you are starting to take back control. You are acknowledging what is there and now you can do something about it.

Pain does not define you! It is something you are currently living with but it is not who you are. Recognise this because it means that you still have a life outside of your physical and emotional feelings.

Stay informed about measures you can take in your life. If you need to take medication then become aware of what is available. Look at complementary therapies that can help too. Facial Reflexology is a very powerful therapy used in the treatment of pain. Regular treatments will reduce stress and inflammation and improve the nerve supply and circulation to help ease your discomfort. Specific charts can be designed for your particular area of pain so you can take back some control and become involved in your own care.

Practice meditation and deep breathing. This helps reduce stress and relaxes your body and takes the focus off any negative thoughts you may be experiencing. Engage in some exercise every day. Even if it’s a short walk outside. Do what you enjoy. Every time you move your body, you are helping strengthen your muscles, bones and joints. You are also reducing stress and improving your sleep. Just try it for short periods and increase when you feel more able to.

Look at your diet. Try and avoid foods that cause inflammation, as inflammation in the body stimulates the immune response. A heightened immune system, that is, one that’s always on alert, will affect our nervous system. This stimulates the brain to produce hormones, such a cortisol, that bring on anxiety and depression, rather than our ‘feel good hormones such as serotonin, that make us feel better. If our bodies are stressed or inflamed, they become more sensitive to pain, so that pain management techniques may not be as effective.

Foods that cause inflammation include dairy, refined flours, sugar, cakes, biscuits, vegetable oils such as safflower, sunflower and corn oils, fried foods, processed foods and alcohol.

The best anti-inflammatory foods include foods that are as unprocessed as possible, fresh whole fruits and vegetables, whole grains such as brown rice, quinoa, oats, whole grain breads and pasta, beans, lentils, chick peas and other legumes, nuts and seeds, fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel and sardines, seafood and poultry. Spices such as turmeric, ginger, rosemary, cloves, cinnamon and thyme have also been found to reduce inflammation.

Know that you can have an impact on how you experience pain. Acknowledge where you are without judgment. We all deal with pain differently and no way is right or wrong. Then look at your lifestyle and see what changes you can make. Take back control.

Pain is not an easy thing to live with, especially if it’s chronic pain but you can take the power out of it.

Let me know if you need any help.

Warmest wishes,

Judy xxx

I am also offering online consultations to help with Pain relief. They can be booked here. https://solevitalitybooking.as.me/?appointmentType=13076781

References: www.painaustralia.org.au/about-pain/what-is-pain, https://www.hss.edu/conditions_emotional-impact-pain-experience.asp, https://www.msk.org.au/pain-guide/