Whispers

Your body starts whispering to you that it needs some TLC, or tender loving care. As time passes and it is ignored, it no longer whispers but starts to scream until you have no choice but to pay attention and listen. During stressful times within our own lives, and within the world in which we live, stress can have a direct impact on how we feel emotionally and physically. The whispers are our chance to start implementing self-care, which is essential. Understanding the challenges we face daily and knowing when we need help is half the battle. Believing things will resolve and just go away is not just a fallacy but can cause increased and prolonged damage. Paying attention to the first signs of anxiety and the ensuing pain, and seeking treatment right away can be very healing. It can allow your body to have the gentle push it is seeking and thereby kick into its own mode of healing. However, so many of us do not listen to the whispers. We fail to pay attention to the initial cries for help that our body is giving us. When we finally decide to seek help, so much time has lapsed, that much of the damage is now deep set. It has spread and caused the initial symptoms to be worse, and more systems are now out of whack. It will now take more time to sift through the background noise. This is necessary in order to get to the root of what is causing the issues, and to be able to achieve complete healing.

Acupuncture shines in getting to the root of the matter. We are not just using a Band-Aid to mask symptoms but getting to the origin and root of the illness to stop the symptoms entirely. If we catch it from the onset, it is fast and you can see a quick turnaround. However, this is not typical. Most of the patients I treat come to me with symptoms that have gotten worse over time. Their pain, initially at two out of 10, may now be an eight out of 10. They are unable to get through their day and are unable to go about their daily activities of living. They are truly suffering and have no choice but to pay attention. Recently I treated a patient who had significant improvement with her anxiety and insomnia. She had left it for a prolonged amount of time thinking there was something wrong with her that should just be resolved on its own. Even after having significant improvement, I ascertained from speaking with her that she felt guilty and embarrassed that she felt she needed and relied on acupuncture. We proceeded to have a lengthy conversation during which I tried to help her understand how her attitude was fostering more anxiety. My patients love acupuncture. They love how they feel after a treatment when they are able to fully let go of their anxiety. They are thrilled at the pain relief that comes after a series of treatments and gets better and better. In this scenario, I explained to my patient that rather than seeing acupuncture as a punishment for not being able to handle her life stresses on her own, she should instead look to it as a reward. How fortunate she is to have acknowledged that she needed some TLC and taken measures to help herself.

I frequently treat patients for specific issues. Once it is resolved, they often decide to make acupuncture part of their ongoing wellness routine. They are quick to ask, “Why haven’t I tried this sooner?” Acupuncture provides the best in optimal healing and preemptive care. It boosts your immune system and keeps all your systems flowing and functioning as they should. It does all this with tiny needles that have no medication in them and therefore no negative side effects. Quite the contrary, as the acupuncture session itself is the best respite from your daily stress you can imagine. It is like a mini vacation in your own backyard! Acupuncture boosts your immune system; it allows your body’s energy to heal itself. The incredible changes happening on the neurological level releasing endorphins to relax and provide pain relief have been studied and proven on many clinical trials. The euphoric feeling you get from an acupuncture treatment is not just the forced relaxation, but it is your body’s acknowledging and actually thanking you for giving it the TLC and attention it needs, deserves, and is begging for.

After having this discussion with my patient, she finally got it and heard what I was trying to explain to her. On her next visit she proceeded to tell me how she recommended acupuncture to a friend. She came to her appointment smiling and looking forward to embracing the healing. This was a big step for her. While acupuncture will help her regardless, the proper attitude goes a long way into her enjoying her treatments and making space in her life for healing. This is something we can all learn from.

Sometimes we are our own worst enemies and get in the way of our healing and overall wellness. May I suggest you stop second guessing and put yourself first. Get out of your own way in setting up challenges, excuses, and putting yourself last. Start listening to the whispers before your body starts shouting at you. You can only be as good to your family as you are to yourself. There has never been a more crucial time to put yourself first. Schedule your acupuncture session and begin feeling the complete letting go of both mind and body, so you can see for yourself what all the hype is about. 

Dr. Deborah Rothman is a doctor of acupuncture and Chinese medicine, as well as a Diplomate of Acupuncture. She is in private practice and runs a wellness center in Lawrence, offering a complete solution for all your health and wellness needs. Comments and questions are welcome. She can be reached at 516-203-4500 or [email protected]. Please visit AcuZen.com and follow AcuZenWellness on Facebook and Instagram.