Author: Stelyana Spassova

Symptoms are signposts. They are messages from the unconscious – an invitation to listen to what the unconscious is trying to communicate. A bit like dreams, they are an ingenious way of getting our attention – if we listen, the rewards can be great, if we don’t they will “up” the volume until we do!

Symptoms take many forms – from aches, anxiety and arguments to addictions – from self-doubt, dissatisfaction and depression to dis-ease – from impatience, impotence and insomnia to illness.

But what are they trying to communicate? This will be as individual as your fingerprints and the patterning within you. Yet at the same time, they may express something universal, human, “archetypal” – just as we are all born, have parents, exist in a human body and go through feelings and experiences. But the configuration will be unique to you.

Sometimes the body becomes the safe storage space for feelings and aspects of ourselves that had to go into hiding at some point in our lives. For example, if something traumatic happens, it may simply be too much to process at the time, to the experience is shut away. Or, if the environment was simply not open, not understanding, not accepting – perhaps critical, dismissive or neglectful – if the emotional climate was too much or not enough – natural needs, feelings, even characteristics are kept frozen in the unconscious, often deep in the body, waiting until the chance comes to let them be safely seen, so they can thaw and flow.

Sometimes they first come to light when something in the present reminds us of what happened. A pattern repeats, the feelings start resonating and sending out signals – mental, emotional or physical – asking to be recognized – so they can be worked through and resolved, so that life can flow again.

So, we can see that over-riding symptoms or trying to get rid of them is not what they are asking of us, even if that were possible. Feelings of shame can keep symptoms in place, but there is no shame, no blame in safely bringing to light what has been hidden. Rather, it is honourable and intelligent to see the opportunity in the problem.

If we learn to pay attention to symptoms, to explore and really hear and understand them, something profound starts to happen. This can take time, it is a process and it can be complicated. It often helps to do it with another – for example, in therapy. But if we begin, one step at a time, life can transform.

ROSANNE HOOPER, BA(Hons), UKCP reg., Dip AIP. Rosanne is an experienced integrative and humanistic psychotherapist who works with clients on a long or short term basis. She has been in practice for over fifteen years.

It is becoming widely accepted that Reflexology has a beneficial effect on couples trying to conceive, both naturally or with assistance such as I.V.F. Fertility and the speed of conception is determined by both physical and psychological factors as well as possible nutritional deficiency.

Lack of ovulation is often caused by an imbalance in the thyroid gland causing a short luteal phase which means that any fertilised egg is not sustained in its early phase for long enough. This may not show up in a blood test but if it is a chronic condition will show up on the feet. Low thyroid and stress can lead to adrenal deficiency which causes further problems. Women failing to get pregnant often are increasingly stressed causing a build up of neurochemicals that affect the regulation of the hormones.

Reflexology creates a profound state of relaxation helping to rebalance the endocrine system (the hormones) so that periods become regular and ovulation can then take place. Reflexology gives increased blood flow to the uterus to assist implantation. Other conditions such as hostile cervical mucous, polycystic ovaries, endometriosis may respond well.

Another powerful modality is Vertical Reflexology Therapy (V.R.T.) -working with the top of the feet while standing. V.R.T. only takes a few minutes but is an incredibly powerful treatment. The body appears to be more receptive to healing energies when its in a standing position. Precision Reflexology is also useful, as well as advice on the importance of nutrition and the adverse effect of environmental influences. For example pesticides in fruit and vegetables are endocrine disruptors. The importance of a properly balanced diet, exercise and positive affirmation cannot be overstated.

More and more therapists and doctors are advising both partners to follow a four month pre-conception plan, to maximise general health and fertility. It is good to have Reflexology weekly for at least eight weeks, and then monthly before ovulation. Men also can have hormonal imbalances affecting their sperm count and will benefit from treatment.

JULIA SHAW, BA, ITEC, MAR, ART reg. I have been practising at the Brackenbury Clinic for many years. I have had special training in Fertility Reflexology and in Pregnancy Reflexology. I have treated many people with fertility problems with success and there is nothing better than treating someone from trying to become pregnant, through pregnancy to birth.

Natural Fertility Treatment – A case history

Sheila and Graham came to see me after trying to conceive for nearly three years with no success. Sheila’s main concern was that her gynaecologist wanted to prescribe her Clomid which carried risks of side effects. Her grandmother and mother had both had ovarian cancer and her sister had symptoms of polycystic ovaries.

The doctor told her that her tests seemed to always show small follicles and problems with her left ovary. He couldn’t offer her any further treatment unless she agreed to take it.

Sheila’s cycles were always different – anywhere between 30 – 60 days. Sometimes she experienced pain on intercourse. She worked full time and became tired easily. She was in search of another opinion and was very interested in any natural methods of treatment.

Graham suffered recurrent tonsillitis and infections and often woke with headaches.

I taught Sheila how to carefully chart her cycle each month for me so we were aware of when she may ovulating and any irregularities. This way I could adjust her medicines as necessary.

Both of them needed to pay a lot more attention to their diet. They were given advice on what foods would be medicines for them and which ones to avoid. Filtered water was recommended for making tea and for cooking. All food had to be organic and they needed to drink plenty of water every day. The important things to avoid were caffeine, alcohol, tobacco and foods containing wheat and dairy.

Sheila was also advised of all the things in her environment and diet that may act as hormone disruptors.

They were provided supplements for their individual needs and herbal medicines. Graham was given a mixture of herbs to help with detoxification and lymphatic and immune support. Sheila was provided a prescription to help modulate hormone function and reduce inflammation. They returned for their second appointment when Sheila had completed her first chart and with additional test results they had been advised to have.

Graham’s semen analysis results revealed 92% abnormal forms, his hair analysis showed high lead levels and both of them had low zinc levels. Sheila’s blood test results showed very low ferritin which would have contributed to her tiredness.

I adjusted some of the supplements, increasing Zinc and providing Graham with antagonists to lead. He was given a mixture of herbs to help with detoxification. Sheila was given additional organic iron supplements.

Improvements were felt by both of them quickly. After four months Sheila called to say could I help her as she had a conference to go to and thought she may have a tummy upset as she was feeling a little sick. Her regular charts showed her cycles were always over 30 days but there had been no very long cycles since treatment. She was disappointed she had not started menstruating and was at day 35. I asked her to give me her temperature readings. They were higher than normal and well over her post ovulation phase cover line. I suggested she have a pregnancy test. Test was positive. Herbal teas were provided for mild morning sickness which only lasted a short time.

Sheila had a healthy pregnancy and gave birth naturally 9 months later to a beautiful and healthy baby girl.

Names have been changed for confidentiality purposes.

Julia Schultz DBTh, NFM, MMHA, MNHAA . Julia practises at the Brackenbury as a Medical Herbalist and Natural Fertility Management Consultant.

Fear is an intrinsic part of the human condition. But in today’s world it has become the modus vivendi of so many people’s lives. It comes in many forms:

 

• Fear of loss/abandonment/separation
• Fear of judgement/disapproval/criticism/punishment
• Fear of failure/humiliation/not measuring up/impotence
• Fear of success/potency or castration/attack
• Fear of intimacy/closeness/vulnerability/hurt
• Fear of change/death/annihilation/ordeal
• Fear of the future/bag lady fears/fear of the unknown/fear of feelings
• Fear of fear itself….

The list goes on.

Most pernicious of all is unconscious fear – as it rules from below, keeping a part of the psyche in paralysis and the true self hidden, not only from the world but from the person themselves. And when entrenched it can be terribly isolating, disempowering and debilitating.

Many fears are memories, originating in childhood – what did happen translates into a fear of what will happen. Old, unprocessed experiences build into an expectation, a sense of inevitability, to the extent that sometimes the psyche sets up a kind of recreation of the original – in order to understand it.

Sometimes fear is kept at bay through manic activity, running, hiding, distractions, avoidance, trying to stay in control, fighting. Some fears are buried in the body and emerge as tensions, twinges and symptoms. Some fears turn into obsessive, ruminating thoughts.

There may also be a layering of feelings, with anger masking fear or fear masking desire, grief or tenderness, for example. Generally there is excitement tucked somewhere inside fear, and sometimes an invitation, a challenge, a task. While the collective may keep some fears in place, there may also be a collective aspect to some fears, for example, fears about the planet can evolve into an empowered response to take positive action.

But fears ask to be understood. The key thing is to become conscious of the fears, to share them, to speak about them and explore them in a safe place (as in therapy) to get the measure of them. Some will then naturally release, some will transform, some will open up unforeseen areas of the self and life. It takes courage, but fear transformed becomes wholehearted engagement in life.

ROSANNE HOOPER BA(Hons) UKCP reg Dip AIP. Rosanne is an experienced integrative and humanistic psychotherapist, working with clients on a long and short term basis. She has been practising for over 15 years.

Imagine that your subconscious mind is like the software on your computer. It controls how you feel and how you react to situations, your views about yourself, what and when you eat, even down to the colours of the clothes you chose to wear. In short, it is the operating system of your life.

It works the way it does because it has been ‘programmed’ by our life experiences and memories. It does not have its own agenda, it simply processes the information the way it goes in – good or bad. Unfortunately, if the latter is the case, this will influence our experience of daily life – rubbish in means rubbish out.

However, we are not helpless and are able to change our subconscious reactions, if we really want to.

A part of the process of our subconscious mind is to look after all the automotive body responses, like walking to the bathroom or the way you stand in the shower. You don’t have to think about it – it happens automatically – but it also determines how you feel as you stand there, happy, sad or anxious, for example.

A lot of the learnt programming which influences our subconscious comes from our childhood, but it continues to develop as we grow up. We tend to absorb negative conditioning – you’re no good; you’re fat; your brother is cleverer than you; you are stupid; you don’t deserve anything nice.

Negative conditioning produces negative attitudes and impacts on the way we live our lives. We find ourselves believing that ‘the only important thing in life is money’; ‘my relationships always fail’; ‘I feel better when I eat’; ‘smoking relaxes me’; ‘drink makes me feel more confident’. They become habits – a way of living – they become who we are, and influence how we think, feel and perceive ourselves.

Over time, this grows to be more than a habit, and becomes our ‘writing on the wall’, which effectively defines us and what we believe about ourselves.

The good news is that we can change by using the power of our own subconscious minds. Hypnosis works with your subconscious mind to rewrite the software programme to achieve a new positive outcome. By going back to the initial programming from childhood onwards, a qualified hypnotherapist can negate the influence of the past on the way you live your life. The effects can be life changing. Hypnosis has been proven to help with a huge range of complaints including stress, anxiety, depression, phobias such as fear of flying, stopping smoking, weight control, drug/alcohol abuse and insomnia.

Hypnosis will help you to change your old habitual responses as long as this is what you really want. Unlike what stage hypnotists would like you to believe, hypnosis cannot make you do anything you do not want to do. It is safe and drugfree. When our subconscious mind is not acting in our best interests, we can turn this around by using its own power with the help of hypnosis and rewrite the negative programming in a more positive way.

WE CAN THINK WHAT WE WANT TO THINK

WE CAN FEEL WHAT WE WANT TO FEEL

WE CAN BE WHO WE WANT TO BE

 

Our emotional lives are made up of patterns – habitual ways of relating to the world, learnt through life experience. So, we tend to expect the present and the future to be the same as the past.

All this can be very unconscious – “that’s just the way life is”, “it’s bound to happen”, “people always….me” becomes the silent litany. It can also be very subtle, with layer upon layer of hidden assumptions about self, other and life.

At first the patterns tend to be enacted – so that, for example, a marriage or a boss starts replicating the earliest relationship with a parent or a new baby starts to feel like a sibling or a younger self. And, because it is familiar it feels attractive and so repeats. In the same way an addictive pattern may set up – a pull towards drink, drugs, compulsive sex and so on – in an attempt to keep the feelings down.

Paradoxically, however, it is the very problems, discomfort and pain it generates that can begin the awakening process. This is where crisis becomes opportunity. When a dawning recognition of “groundhog day” emerges, and the old forms of self-medication no longer really work, it is a positive sign and a good time to begin a conscious journey of self discovery, for example, in therapy.

Awareness is key. Once the pattern is seen, it is no longer unconsciously pulling the strings. Then more life-enhancing patterns can start to form – and the deeper designs of personal potential and true destiny emerge.

ROSANNE HOOPER, BA(Hons), UKCP reg., Dip AIP. Rosanne is an experienced integrative and humanistic psychotherapist who works with clients on a long or short term basis. She has been in practice for over fifteen years.

Spring has arrived, and the gorgeous weather makes you want to shake off the winter blues and have a good old clear out. In Chinese medicine, spring is paired with the Wood element as plants and trees start showing signs of new life and regeneration.

At this time of year, Wood exemplifies the energy of growth, change, and pushing through obstacles and we may have more energy to get moving on projects and enhance the classic “spring cleaning”. It is also the energy of frustration, anger and stress. Spring is a really good time to work with these blockages, and get things moving.

As people start getting more active, this is a busy time of year for osteopaths. Osteopathy is a holistic system of healthcare, which means it considers the effect of emotional, environmental and physical factors on people’s health status and ability to heal.

Surveys show osteopathy’s huge popularity in the UK with over 3,000 osteopaths providing six million patient consultations a year.

Osteopathy is usually perceived as a method of treating musculo-skeletal problems (especially low back pain) using physical techniques such as manipulation and muscle work but it is originally a complete system of health care. The therapy employs a wide range of techniques such as manipulative techniques, muscle energy techniques, stretching exercises, myofascial release and cranial osteopathy. This diversity of methods allows the practitioner to have access to all structures of the body and therefore treat a large variety of conditions, both acute and chronic. Osteopaths often deal with complaints such as sinusitis, asthma, neck and shoulder stiffness, headache, back pain, digestive disorders and many others.

Alexia Lescure BSc Ost (Hons) practises at the Brackenbury Clinic on Thursdays. She has a special interest in pregnancy and baby care, as well as sports performance and injuries.