The second R in the 3 Rs of Healing….
Last week we started the discussion about the 3 Rs of healing with “Retraining” being the first pillar. This week we will discuss “Relaxing the Nervous System”.
Many of you know that I do my best to refrain from the word “relax”. Just telling someone to “relax” can invoke the opposite sensations. In this case, I prefer to use the term “soothe” instead. True, it doesn’t start with the letter R but I think in this case it’s ok.
Your body (your fascia) is your tangible subconscious. What you feel on the inside can show up in your body. Learning how to recognize when you have sensations such as overwhelm, anxiety and withdrawal and taking steps to soothe your nervous system to address those sensations can in turn decrease your pain.
Like anything else in life, soothing will mean something different to everyone. Some of us find it soothing to walk our dog(s) in nature, especially this time of year in the early morning hours when the birds start their chirping. Some of us like to turn down the lights and light a candle in the evenings and swap that old episode of True Crime for a fun YouTube Comedy stand-up. Laughter can be SO soothing! Others find that listening to a good audible book while weeding their garden soothes (and feeds) their soul!
Getting regular Myofascial Release treatments is a great opportunity to soothe your nervous system but what are you going to do the other 23 hours of the day? What are your favorite soothing methods and are you using them regularly?