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I'd like to start by saying that all our thoughts and prayers are
with those affected by this week's terrible tragedies. Let us hope
that the madmen responsible will be brought to justice without the
loss of further innocent lives.
This issue's article is written by Shar Phoenix.
Rejuvenation in Time of Crisis
On September 11th, 2001, the heavens shattered over America and
death fell from the sky. Airplanes filled with innocent hostages
became guided missiles, aimed straight for our hearts. All over
the world, prayers are rising for those traumatized by injury or
the deaths of their loved ones. Across this country and around the
world, the shock reverberates as officials and volunteers rally
to dig out rubble, search for bodies and donate blood. Our Canadian
neighbors and many allies worldwide raced to our support, joining
our own doctors, nurses, emergency services, constructions crews
to dig out rubble, all echoing our own gritty determination to repair
the damage and restore our sense of well-being.
NATO, Europe and nations worldwide have issued statements of support,
reaffirming themselves as our allies, calling these acts crimes
against them too. We've seen many incidents of terror televised
from the Middle East, Africa and the UK; each time, the callused
devaluing of life is heartbreaking yet, for all the human capacity
for malicious cruelty, each time there is also great compassion,
humanity's saving grace. America is already beginning to restore
and heal, because so many of us, Yankees and friends around the
world, came together. We kept the internet going day and night,
bolstering each other, facing down fear together. Some of us have
lost friends or know someone who has; some of us have learned of
the loss of one we dearly love ~ none of us will ever be as we were
before that day of raining fire. Yes, we are wounded but we are
resilient and we will survive.
While we're coping with the shock and comforting others, those
of us with Lupus have other terrorists to consider; the ones hidden
within our bodies. In times of intense stress, the immune system
is at risk and we're most vulnerable to the possibility of heightened
symptoms. If we are to weather this crisis well, it's essential
that we do all we can to avoid flare. If it seems selfish to consider
your own needs when the atmosphere is thick with anguish, consider
how much more disruptive a flare might be during the days and weeks
to come. For us to strive for balance and protect our health will
also serve the best interests of those we love.
Those of us who live in or near the American states of New York,
Virginia and Washington may be at risk for a variety of breathing
disorders, due to all the smoke and debris in the air which is just
now being sampled by the United States Environmental Protection
Agency. You may need to speak with your doctors about the use of
oxygen, nebulizers, specific medications or whatever treatments
best suit your needs. Some of us may feel anxious, depressed or
fearful, we may have dietary problems, trouble sleeping or trouble
staying awake. Any of us might or might not experience increased
IBS symptoms, nausea or headaches and if we're afflicted with any
of these or other symptoms, we'd do well to ask our doctors for
assistance in easing these physical manifestations of traumatic
stress and avoiding the possibility of flare.
While we must leave responsibility for the larger issues of solving
these atrocities, repairing our cities and protecting our nation
to others, there is still much that we can do to help ourselves
cope and protect our health. Aside from relying on our doctors for
medical support, there are many other things we can to to control
the negative effects of stress on our health and to achieve a feeling
of balance and control; by taming our emotional reactions, we may
well subdue the beast within.
Television is ceaselessly running videotape of the attacks, hammering
us repeatedly with every hideous detail, contributing to and prolonging
anxiety. On a national news show, a psychiatrist discussing the
risk of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder was asked what crucial contributing
factors there might be during this harrowing time. The psychiatrist
replied, "watching the repetitive images on television" and then
advised finding other, more positively productive activities. Paralyzed
in front of the TV, frozen by the horror and wracked by feelings
of helplessness, we wouldn't be creating and living our best reality,
instead we'd be surrendering to circumstances, abdicating our inherent
right to not only survive but to rebound from disaster and to thrive.
We can utilize simple techniques that may not only help us cope
with stress but by doing so, allow us to create a comfort zone wherein
we're able to visualize positive and practical methods of managing
our daily life in crisis and minimize the negative effects. Even
taking a few moments a couple of times a day to practice deep breathing
can be revitalizing. Breathing exercises can be done at our desks,
while washing dishes ~ just draw air in deeply through the nose,
hold gently then breath it out through the mouth. While breaching
in and out, focus on relaxing your muscles from head to toe, releasing
trouble, letting it flow out with each exhalation. Interestingly,
women tend to hold stress in the muscles of the back, between the
shoulder blades, so relaxing those muscles regularly can be very
beneficial. This simple breathing exercise increases blood flow,
enhancing oxygenation, sparking up the brain cells and releasing
endorphins; it's amazing how much better such a minimalistic effort
can make us feel.
Many children cope with stress by wandering freely through their
imaginations; as we grow older we often find less value in visualization
yet nowdays these techniques are known as vital tools, useful not
only in deflecting stress but in perceiving possibilities and recreating
our learned responses to challenging circumstances. Visualization
combined with deep breathing can be especially rewarding; just close
your eyes and imagine yourself in a safe haven. Landscape this haven
as you choose, visualizing your own personal Shangri-La and return
there whenever a psychological getaway would do you good.
Writing our thoughts down can be very empowering because by recording
the events that are causing our distress, the immediate and long
term implications and our ideas for how to cope best, we define
the situation in clear terms and regain a sense of control. We can
go back to our writings, making changes as ideas come to us, developing
constructive immediate goals and long range plans. Whether we think
of our notations as journal, worksheet or memo, whatever style we
choose, organizing our thoughts can reveal viable options we hadn't
previously considered.
If we feel helpless or anxious, we can redirect our focus by keeping
busy; doing chores, caring for our animals or writing letters. By
occupying the body, we reroute the mind into more productive thought.
If our work is overwhelming, we might take the time to make a list
of our responsibilities, and reorder their priority levels, concentrating
on one task at a time, the most immediate and productive at the
list's top and crossed off when we move on to the next. Facing just
one challenge at a time whenever possible, doing our practical best
and then letting it go can become a liberating habit and inspire
even more ideas for positively assertive living.
We can consciously put aside some time every day for pure pleasure
or say yes to a moment of senseless fun, maybe take a dog for a
walk in a new direction or curl up with a book, play with a child,
watch a movie or visit with a friend. Every moment of joy affirms
the value of all life, including our own and that is always cause
for celebration. Life will always be subject to unpredictability
and filled with challenging perplexities. As the Good Book says,
"even in the midst of life; there is death"; let us never forget
that the reverse is also true. Despite our challenges and our trepidations,
we truly are resilient and capable people; our lives belong to us
and we will not allow any terrorists, without or within, to weaken
our resolve.
Faith is a great mender and whether or not we all believe in a
deity, we all believe in something, perhaps the power we can amplify
inside ourselves or that power connected to a greater force. If
thought has it's own energy and is echoed around the globe, that
energy is then magnified and charged with it's own collective power.
What we believe, if we believe it with conviction and commitment,
can compel change. If we believe in nothing else, let us recognize
that, acting with responsibility and compassion towards others and
ourselves elevates life and rejuvenates hope.
Written and copyrighted by Shar Phoenix http://www.everydaywarriors.com/adults/columns_essays_interviews.html
http://www.everydaywarriors.com/adults/Shar_thrivers_intro_column.html
http://www.everydaywarriors.com/adults/pain_management_sharphoenix..html
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Butterfly News
© 2001 Joanne Forshaw Must not be reprinted in any way without prior
permission from the author. Any queries or suggestions - [email protected]
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