Acupuncture

Acupuncture became essential in keeping me well

• while balancing three challenging roles:
  • brain cancer carer ,
  • mother of a newborn and a toddler
  • Corporate Commercial Manager and then

• as a young widow and single parent.

At different stages I developed chronic eczema on my face, alopecia (bald spots with hair falling out), tight muscles in my neck and shoulders, low physical energy (due to the weight of grief) and low immunity to winter colds and viruses. The root cause of all these ailments was of course stress, around the clock anxiety and lack of sleep.

I was frustrated because the strong steroid creams for my skin and the physiotherapy for my muscles seemed to be short term “band-aid” approaches. I had a good GP who supported me as best she could. She suggested that I try sleeping pills because sleep is so important to provide the body with rest and time to heal.

I was reluctant to try sleeping pills because I felt that I needed to wake easily during the night for husband in case he had a seizure episode or for my young children who were toddlers.

I shared my frustration and my reluctance with my counsellor and she suggested that I try acupuncture. I decided to give it a try and thank goodness I did.

With the support of acupuncture (supplemented by Chinese herbal medicine provided at my appointments)

• my alopecia did not return
• my skin settled (For the first time in my life I did not need apply steroid creams for several years)
• I slept soundly but still woke if I was needed and
• when most of my friends and family succumbed to colds and viruses I managed to stay relatively well and keep on keeping on.

Not surprisingly acupuncture was also an effective way of forcing me to stay still, relax , heal and meditate while the needles were in place! I used it as an alternative option to yoga when I had no energy to attend a yoga class. I find that an hour of yoga postures frees up and balances energy channels through my body.  Acupuncture also does this but you are able to lie still!

Usually the needles do not hurt at all. Occasionally some needles were painful at first but then as I lay still surrendering to the process –  the pain subsided, various strong emotions came to mind and then passed. Afterwards I always felt calmer and more peaceful.

If you are considering acupuncture to help with the emotions of grief or the physical manifestation of grief then I would strongly recommend that you give it a try!