Touch is the best medicine for relieving pain

An article in Prevention highlights that when we are rejected by other human beings, our brain registers it the same way as physical pain. An experiment conducted at UCLA tracked that when players were rejected by other unseen players during a computer game, their Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC) lit up just as if they were physically injured.

The takeaway is that our brain does not know the difference between social and physical pain, in that either experience is potentially harmful to the organism and thus is actively avoided. In the past, when our human society was much more in need of each other to protect ourselves from the elements and other predators, it meant death to be rejected and ostracized from our community. Today that old wiring remains and gets set-off when we receive a social snub from another.

In my experience of working with clients, a physical injury can lead to long term problems, like limping, joint pain, splinting, and avoiding or limiting use. Similarly, emotional pain, whether experienced from their family, schoolmates, work, or other social situations, is remembered as painful and cause long-term effects and patterns. These individuals have learned that others are not safe to be around because they may cause them pain. This emotional pain pattern creates fear and expectations that have a dramatic impact on their ability to live freely and thrive.

It is extraordinary to think that both ends of the spectrum can make life unbearable for human beings: living without people or living WITH people! But it remains true that if emotional pain patterns of rejection, judgment, low self-esteem, and other negative ways of being get established early on, than the individual is left to suffer with the belief that people are not to be trusted. You can imagine how that affects their ability to feel love, safety and freedom in partnerships, family, work, and more.

Bodywork has the extraordinary capability of diffusing these patterns while affirming an individual’s sense of well-being and personal safety. In receiving consistent, therapeutic, and supportive touch, a direct communication is received by the deepest layers of subconscious, that humans CAN be trusted and that the client is worthy of feeling good and being accepted. It is a joy to work with individuals who are initially hesitant or even fearful of deeper intimacy and connection, who over time and consistent effort, find they open up “in spite” of themselves. Touch has an ability to circumvent the beliefs of the mind and interrupt thinking patterns that might otherwise try to avoid social contact and vulnerability with others. Touch speaks louder than any words as its impact and energy can be immediately felt and embodied.

Remember too, that as an infant, we are completely dependent on our mother to provide loving nurturing touch and connection. It is a deep human need to be loved, accepted, and encouraged by touch. In fact, studies of infants not regularly touched (say at orphanages) show that these children have delays in neurological function and sociability.

Consider the implications of the article biochemically (this is where the science comes in): touch releases endorphins to assist with relieving pain (it is exactly why we rub injured areas). Additionally, nerve impulses that send “good” feelings are mylentated and thus “out-run” the impulses that carry pain signals. In my experience of working with people of all ages and backgrounds, bodywork’s ability to leave everyone feeling good, safe, stable, and “grounded” in their body and over time in relationship to others is very effective, regardless of whether the pain is physical or emotional.

Integration Does a Spirit Good

Hello everyone. This is the first launch of my blog. This will be an interesting exploration of thoughts, feelings, insights, and full self-expression around my business, philosophy, and growth process. This blog post is about integration.

A word of caution: I will use we as a designation for human beings as the masses — this may not apply specifically to you as an individual — I only ask that you try it on like a jacket and if it does not fit or support you in expanding your vision, than take it off, return it and ask for a refund. Back to my belief(s) are integration…

We need time to integrate. The difference between spiritual growth and body-mind-emotional growth simply is time. Our spirit may “get it” and frankly we may even “understand it,” but it takes time and (sometimes) practice to integrate and “have it” in our bodies, minds (as in a thought that is accessible, remembered, and referenced), emotions (a whole topic in and of itself), and ultimately in our actions and relationships out in the world. Integration is necessary and possibly the most important aspect of growth, healing, and the nebulous term — Transformation.

We are not fully “transformed” until we have integrated the new information: a form of digestion, embodying, and release the “waste” — that which is unnecessary, superfluous, and unimportant to us personally. Integration is establishing our perspective, our thoughts around it, and the ways and means we are going to act out this in the world.

As may be obvious, I have alot of ideas that as yet may not be completely fleshed out or even understandable to the average human. I look forward to expanding on integration and the other aspects of the tremendous amount of amazing information and growth that has occurred for me in my years in the holistic healing field.

I also look forward to offering some of my own personal philosophy and intentions that are behind my coaching and bodywork practice.

Feel free to offer comments and feedback on my posts as they will support me in clarifying my ideas and making sure that which I express is relevant, supportive to the amazing expansion that is occurring on this planet, and generally of worth and value to you the reader.

Thank you for dropping by and I look forward to being of service to your growth, to encourage an opening of your mind, and to generally blow the top off any box that you may have adopted as your home.

Have fun, play, and recognize my ideas are may not be your own: as I was reminded recently on an audio CD for a workshop hosted by Joe Vitale of The Secret: Meditation is NOT what you think!

An excellent reminder for all that I do. I’d like to believe that life is not what I think, however, alas, a blog would then be completely irrelevant, eh?