Trauma Support Check-in: Sunday 30 of May, 2021
Body and mind
Our body is our home. The more comfortable it is, the better we live.
For 3 million years our ancestors had a strong connection with their bodies. In fact, the human mind was a slow evolutionary development.
In our technological societies, we tend, more and more, to focus on our minds and forget our bodies. Here we are, reading this screen... We spend a lot of time looking at screens and other information-carrying objects.
The idea of “mental health” vs. “body health” further accentuates this divide.
But our bodies have a strong influence on our minds, and vice-versa.
The most obvious is breathing. When our minds are anxious, our bodies breathe fast and shallow. On the other hand, our bodies can calm down our minds by slow, deep breathing.
Our healing has a direct route, that focuses on our minds, mostly through therapy and emotional care, like the one that takes place here, in 7 Cups.
This is because our troubles come from phenomenons of the mind, like flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive thoughts. We have to deal with these first.
But while we treat them with the ultimate goal of getting rid of them, we can also take advantage of every contribution to our present wellbeing that we can get from other dimensions of our lives.
Our bodies can be a great source of wellbeing, and contribute greatly to our mental health.
Those of us that have to live with the lasting effect of trauma, can’t afford the luxury of ignoring our bodies, and the contribution that they can make to our wellbeing.
Breathing, as told, is the first bodily door to ourselves. Regularly practicing deep breathing is a must.
Light exercise and a healthy diet are also necessary.
I want to focus here on stretching. Making our bodies more comfortable and enjoyable, by elongating our stiff muscles.
Our muscles accumulate a lot of the tension that originated in our post-traumatic stress. By releasing this tension, we get rid of these negative muscular memories and, in turn, help our minds get rid of those too.
Having a balanced muscle tone makes our bodies more comfortable during the whole day, every day, and greatly helps us sleep better. We feel better 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Practicing stretching is easy and doesn’t take much time. No equipment is necessary. Anybody can do it at its own pace. It can be done every day for a little while. The exercises are simple and progressive. You are always in control of the degree of effort you make.
There are dozens of books and Youtube videos on stretching exercises.
I personally recommend a relatively old book by Bob Anderson. You can download it HERE. It is very clear, easy on your body, and very progressive, starting with exercises for zero flexibility people.
Give stretching a try !
You will feel better, and it will help you in your healing path.
The living are soft and flexible.
Grasses, plants and trees,
while growing are tender and supple,
Being flexible is the basis of living.
(from the Tao-Te-Ching - Lao Tzu - circa 600 BC)
Questions:
- How are you feeling these days ?
- How do you take care of your body ?
I look forward to your comments, and wish you all the best !
Marcelo.
@WelcomeToChat
Greetings friend, this was a well thought out and well written post, I'll definitely look into the book.
I am doing ok thanks, How about yourself ?
I have cronic back pain. I have exercises I do, although admittedly not as often as I should lol,but stretching and and exercise are a healthy way to help your body.
Look forward to reading more of your posts!
Jim.
@LordFireStorm71
Dear Jim:
Thank you for your compliments and your friendly words !
I am glad you are doing well. I am fine too, thanks.
I have found that tension in one part of my body can affect other parts, even far apart. For example, stretching my legs reduces tension in my neck. So a "holistic" approach works best for me rather than a focalized one.
Also, that strengthening the ABS relieves the back muscles from doing all the effort to keep you upright, and thus reduces chronic back pain.
I am glad you liked the post.
I look forward to seeing you soon.
All the best !
Marcelo.
This is so true, the mind body connection. The mind affects the body, and the body affects the mind. I have gastrointestinal issues caused by long-term stress, and if I don't eat healthily my body will release chemicals that instigate my depression. Conversely, I also know that on the bad mental days, my body will feel more tired or I'll get stomach aches not being able to digest food the same as on good days.
Stretching is such a simple thing but eludes me at times. Sometimes it feels like a nice release of toxins, but some days my body doesn't seem to want to relax or straighten out. I notice this with my posture as well. Standing up tall with my shoulders back and chest out actually makes me emotionally uncomfortable some days. It's a sudden intense feeling of vulnerability of my core.
I had a rough day today. I feel very overwhelmed by life. I feel so ill-equipped to handle the things i have to handle. I feel like i missed out on so many basic life skills.
@WelcomeToChat
Hello, Marcelo (that rhymes 🤣), it's nice to see you again in trauma support. I hope you're doing ok.
- How are you feeling these days?
There have been ups and downs, more downs than ups. I'm fine, I try to keep myself busy 24/7, especially with school and it kinda works because I don't have too much time for bad memories, but it is draining. I had a lovely weekend with my mom, it was so fun and relaxing. I am well today but a little sleepy.
- How do you take care of your body?
I used to be an active girl before the pandemic, but now there is not much chance of going out to play volleyball with my friends and I miss it a lot. I go out skating but I don't do much stretching.
@WelcomeToChat, Hi there!
1. I think I'm moody. I tend to overslept when I am mad or frustrated. Maybe it's anger.
2. I don't know. I will download the pdf you posted. It may come in handy in the future.
@WelcomeToChat
I feel okay these days. I am just trying to take a nap.
@WelcomeToChat
Hi Marcelo,
Thanks for creating this topic/thread for us all here. Hope you are doing well.
How are you feeling these days ? I/we have been going through a lot lately. We have been struggling to hang on for a while, with it all. I/we have finally, with the help of a new therapist, been able to resolve most of that part of things. Most of us totally agree with this decision, but a couple of us are upset and sad about it, but, feel that we will just do best to learn to deal with it and listen to the others about it. Another big issues I/we have been facing is about losing our home, due to a young, inexperienced, insurance broker, not accepting the home inspection that we paid for and was passed. After weeks of stress over possible thousands of dollars of additional electrical work he kept insisting needed to be done, but, the home inspector said all was fine, we got a good electrician out here, and the ins broker talked to him on the phone, and then good electrician explained things to the ins broker so he could properly understand it. Then, the ins broker contacted us here and appologized for all he has caused and felt so bad. We were not mad or upset at him, but, am so glad to not face getting a loan and paying the thousands of dollars of upgrades in the electrical panel he kept insisting on. Whew!
- How do you take care of your body ? Marcelo, you mentioned many great things above that will help us all out here. Thanks Marcelo. 
I/we haven't been taking care of the body like should be done at all. I/we were doing well, for us, with all of our medical problems and surgeries before covid hit. I/we really do need to get back to doing more of what Amy and some of us learned to do and used to do so consistently, ...with exercise, stretching, eating right, doing other things like just walking--when able, for our mind. I/we were such an athelte when we were young, doing many different sports, on into college and after college. Then, when working we sure got loads of exercise at work and did things for our mind also.
Thanks kindly, Marcelo. You have given us all here at this community so much! I/we hope that you are alright and also have some time to take care of yourself, or make some time for it. You are much loved, Marcelo. 