From Face Book on Nov.6, 2013
Here's what may be a new thought, "The emerging science is providing some really good evidence that the physical sensation can lead to the emotion, instead of the emotion manifesting as a physical experience."
Below are some excerpts from an article written by Douglas Nelson who is the founder and principal instructor for Precision Neuromuscular Therapy Seminars. The link to the article is http://www.massagetherapy.com/articles/index.php/article_id/2226/%E2%80%9CHow-Exactly-Does-Massage-Therapy-Work%E2%80%9D
"Sure. Your mind is always trying to make sense of what the body experiences. The brain needs a reason for what it experiences; we interpret meaning so we know how to respond appropriately. As an example, let's imagine you have an increased respiration and pulse rate. Are you excited or are you fearful? When you think about it, the physical experiences of excitement and fear are almost identical. The mind must decide which emotion it is based on the context of the experience. If you are seated in a theater waiting for a much anticipated concert to begin, it is excitement. If you are seated in a dental chair, your mind is going to interpret your physical sensations as signs of fear.
"The same process can occur with regard to a bad mood. I am sure you can remember being really tense some morning, feeling completely out of sorts. If someone asked you why, you probably couldn't point to any specific offense as the reason. Throughout the morning, however, little things that would normally go unnoticed now really bothered you. You looked for things that were wrong to confirm that the tension you were feeling was perfectly appropriate for the terrible mood you were in. In essence, you created a viable emotional reason to explain your tense physical state."
"I assume that the reverse is also true, correct?" Craig interjected. "A better physical state should have a positive effect on emotions."
"Exactly. This might indeed explain what you experience after a massage. You leave my office with a very different physiology than when you arrived. The optimization of muscle function after massage will be experienced as efficient and effortless movement. The muscle tension in your shoulders is drastically reduced. Your breathing is slower and there is a heightened sense of awareness. Think about the emotional correlate your brain must then assign to this new stream of physical information. When do you normally feel such lack of tension, such lightness and freedom?"
"When I am extremely relaxed, happy, and contented; when the world seems like a wonderful place," he responded.
I learned this for myself a few years ago. I had been experiencing extreme anxiety for some years, and was always tightly focused on what my body sensations were telling me about my state of mind. I found myself in a situation where I was very excited, and realized that the physical sensations I was experiencing were identical to what I experienced as anxiety. This was a tremendous turning point for me as I realized that I could re-interpret what was I feeling anytime. Not quite that simple, of course, but a very big step in the right direction nonetheless. What I have also realized, or come to be comfortable with, is just letting a funny tummy be just that, not a harbinger of disaster, or a herald of hope. Just letting the feelings be, with out interpreting them. I think that might fall under the "Be Here Now" mantra!
So, next time you're feeling kinda funky, ask yourself this, Do I need to change my mind, my job, my friends or, change my state of body? Get up, move around, stretch, get some fresh air, or get a massage!
cheers to new thinking!
Peace
Penny
