Post by Kia on Jan 4, 2014 7:33:33 GMT 12
I think more and more of us are looking for alternative routes to wellness. It's no longer about the quick fix we have come to expect from modern medicines, some of which can have a tendency to mask symptoms rather than eliminate them. With this in mind I thought I would have a hunt on the web to try and gather some ideas for alternative therapies and treatments for PNI, both to aid in recovery and for the longer term benefits which incorporating some of these as lifestyle changes can have. Having said all that, I am also a realist, and realistically speaking it's important to mention that in some cases a combination of alternatives with medication may be the best route for some. I know it was for me, but we are each different and our path to recovery will, in all cases, be different for each one of us.
Back to some of the alternative therapies out there (in no particular order of relevance):
1. Meditation: This practice is known to have physiological, psychological and physical benefits. It has been proven to lead to deeper physical relaxation, lower blood pressure, decrease muscle tension and increase emotional stability, among other things. If you know how to meditate, this is a great time to do it. If not, check out some of the links below or google it, there's tons of info out there.
Meditation for beginners: 20 practical tips
Then if you're interested to give it a go I suggest searching YouTube for an exercise that suits you, there are plenty to choose from.
2. Acupuncture & Acupressure: These are very effective methods and have been proven to help alleviate various forms of depression, including Postpartum Depression. Traditional Chinese Medicine links the mind to the body and vice versa. This form of medicine treats the body as a whole. If there is something wrong with the mind, acupuncture and acupressure taps into physical points on the body in order to treat the problem. These methods are also beneficial in the treatment of anxiety, insomnia, pain management, weight control, migraines and much more.
(The above two points taken from the following article)
3. Relaxation and Deep breathing techniques: These are really quite closely related to Meditation, but can feel like a bit more of an accessible route. Once again there is loads of information out there, so it's really up to you to find an exercise that works for you. I use a quick deep breathing technique to help relieve immediate symptoms of anxiety and stress, and this simply involves focussing on my breath and ensuring I am 'breathing from my stomach' (it's sort of like making sure you're expanding your lungs fully by ensuring your tummy expands with each breath too, and then slowly exhaling). Even just a few reps of doing this can help me feel calmer. I encourage you to explore the resources out there, and again, YouTube has lots of practical guided exercises. Next time I find a good one I will post it up.
4. Mindfulness: A way of being
What is mindfulness? (Source of the following can be found here)
One definition of mindfulness that is very simple:
Mindfulness is the gentle effort to be continuously present with experience.
But I like Jon Kabat-Zinn’s definition of mindfulness:
“Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way;
On purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgementally.”
Kabat-Zinn, if you haven’t heard of him, is a famous teacher of mindfulness meditation and the founder of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center.
Paying attention “on purpose”.
This YouTube video by Jon Kabat-Zinn is a really useful start: youtu.be/HmEo6RI4Wvs
and the related website www.psychalive.org/
5. There are so many others...
Including things like Hypnotherapy, Light Therapy, Reflexology, Homeopathy, Herbal Remedy, Reiki, Massage Therapy...
I am sure I can't name them all, and I've certainly not had time to try them all. Some of the things I think helped me included Relaxation and deep breathing, mindfulness (still working on that!) and to a lesser extent Homeopathy and Herbal remedies. But let's go back to the beginning, we are all different, so what works for me might not for you. Investigate, and see what works for you. You will be glad you did. And we would all be interested to know how you get on.
Take care of yourselves,
Kia x
Back to some of the alternative therapies out there (in no particular order of relevance):
1. Meditation: This practice is known to have physiological, psychological and physical benefits. It has been proven to lead to deeper physical relaxation, lower blood pressure, decrease muscle tension and increase emotional stability, among other things. If you know how to meditate, this is a great time to do it. If not, check out some of the links below or google it, there's tons of info out there.
Meditation for beginners: 20 practical tips
Then if you're interested to give it a go I suggest searching YouTube for an exercise that suits you, there are plenty to choose from.
2. Acupuncture & Acupressure: These are very effective methods and have been proven to help alleviate various forms of depression, including Postpartum Depression. Traditional Chinese Medicine links the mind to the body and vice versa. This form of medicine treats the body as a whole. If there is something wrong with the mind, acupuncture and acupressure taps into physical points on the body in order to treat the problem. These methods are also beneficial in the treatment of anxiety, insomnia, pain management, weight control, migraines and much more.
(The above two points taken from the following article)
3. Relaxation and Deep breathing techniques: These are really quite closely related to Meditation, but can feel like a bit more of an accessible route. Once again there is loads of information out there, so it's really up to you to find an exercise that works for you. I use a quick deep breathing technique to help relieve immediate symptoms of anxiety and stress, and this simply involves focussing on my breath and ensuring I am 'breathing from my stomach' (it's sort of like making sure you're expanding your lungs fully by ensuring your tummy expands with each breath too, and then slowly exhaling). Even just a few reps of doing this can help me feel calmer. I encourage you to explore the resources out there, and again, YouTube has lots of practical guided exercises. Next time I find a good one I will post it up.
4. Mindfulness: A way of being
What is mindfulness? (Source of the following can be found here)
One definition of mindfulness that is very simple:
Mindfulness is the gentle effort to be continuously present with experience.
But I like Jon Kabat-Zinn’s definition of mindfulness:
“Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way;
On purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgementally.”
Kabat-Zinn, if you haven’t heard of him, is a famous teacher of mindfulness meditation and the founder of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center.
Paying attention “on purpose”.
This YouTube video by Jon Kabat-Zinn is a really useful start: youtu.be/HmEo6RI4Wvs
and the related website www.psychalive.org/
5. There are so many others...
Including things like Hypnotherapy, Light Therapy, Reflexology, Homeopathy, Herbal Remedy, Reiki, Massage Therapy...
I am sure I can't name them all, and I've certainly not had time to try them all. Some of the things I think helped me included Relaxation and deep breathing, mindfulness (still working on that!) and to a lesser extent Homeopathy and Herbal remedies. But let's go back to the beginning, we are all different, so what works for me might not for you. Investigate, and see what works for you. You will be glad you did. And we would all be interested to know how you get on.
Take care of yourselves,
Kia x