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Challenging Worry

Ashley -> Health Educator

2024-04-20 11:42 PM

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Complimentary Therapies


16 years ago 0 78 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
I think complementary therapies are great and certainly helpful. However, when I was really ill, there was no way I could take advantage of them. I needed to be stabilized with medication first. Once that happened, I started doing yoga and found it very helpful. It introduces some breathing exercises that are similar to box breathing. Also, it encourages mindfulness-that is, to only think about your present moment experience rather than being distracted by planning tomorrow or worrying about something that might occur.
16 years ago 0 8760 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
JohnnyO, Thanks for sharing your regiment with us. You can also use this time to slowly begin incorporating these different complimentary therapies into your routine slowly, making it easier to stick to it over the long-term. Keep up the great effort! It sounds like you're really benefiting from it. Danielle, Bilingual Health Educator
16 years ago 0 138 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi Danielle, Yes, I was attending yoga for a long time, starting initially as one of few exercises that I could do given a severe sciatica injury. And I link the sciatica injury as the physical trigger for the worst of my anxiety. I have just signed up to take a QiGong class and also have an instructional video of similar work. Although fairly gentle physical exercises, the intent of gathering and circulating energy makes them more potent than their strictly physical level movement. I had been using aroma therapy oils in the bath though have bought a few diffusers. I also burn incense. Watching the smoke rise can be calming too. Selecting scents that are both medicinal and appealing. I also use herbal teas and sleep aids, most based on valerian root though they also include skullcap, hops, passion flower. These are very calming and certainly a better choice than the addictive and destructive caffiene option that I usually make. We have a massage college in town which I was sampling. It can be hit and miss given that they are students just learning. I had been a client for the Shiatsu college and that was good. I may go back to try the Thai massage which assists in stretching out stiff muscles and joints. I had a doctor once tell me that if I was to do all the right alternative activities, I probably would not need to take medication at all. Unfortunately I wasn't disciplined enough to make a daily practice of all the helpful modalities and ended up on pharmaceuticals. I still practice the other methods as a means of continuous improvement.
16 years ago 0 8760 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Members, In addition to the support you€™re receiving online, outside therapy and medication; many other alternative therapies exist to help alleviate the symptoms of anxiety. They include but are not limited to: €¢ Yoga, Meditation, Reiki, Tai Chi, Ayurveda, Massage €¢ Aromatherapy €¢ Magnet Therapy, Light therapy, ESR €¢ Herbal supplements, nutritional therapy and Chinese medicine €¢ Educational materials At this time we would like to remind all our members that although taking herbal supplements, Chinese medicine or making changes in your diet has been beneficial to some, it is not always safe. For this reason, it is always highly recommended to consult with your doctor or pharmacist before pursuing any naturopathic regiment as it may conflict with other current health conditions and/or medications you are taking. We now invite our members to share their experiences with alternative therapies and/or ask questions. Danielle, Bilingual Health Educator

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