A young woman came into my office
last week with excruciating neck pain
that had begun suddenly with no prior
trauma or injury. Her neck and upper
back were locked in what is clinically
known as “torticollis”.
As I began to work with her I gently
touched her stiff, neck as she winced
with pain, and asked her “What do you
think is going on here? Why do you
think this is happening”
She replied that she didn’t know.
I said, “Pain is your physiology letting
you know that you need to pay attention
and that something needs to change.” I
asked her, “What do you think you need
to pay attention to? What needs to change?”
She said that everything was “fine” and
that she just wanted to get rid of the pain
and get back to work and living her normal
life.
I said, “Your pain is so intense that you’re
having to disrupt your normal routine, and
stop doing. Do you ever really stop doing?”
“No…never.” was her reply. “I have way
too much to take care of.”
I asked her, “What do you think would happen
if you just put your hand on your neck and
acknowledged and ACCEPTED that this is
where you’re at right now? It hurts. It feels
like it is killing you.
What if you stop trying to be somewhere
you’re not and let the pain fully communicate
with you?”
She said, “If I did that I’d have to stop. I don’t
want to stop. I need to exercise, I need to go to
work. I have kids to take care of…I can’t accept
this pain. I can’t accept it.”
I find that people are often so afraid of
being where they are really at, that they
override the feedback containing the
wisdom that will transform their lives with
drugs, food, TV… whatever helps them
check out.
Only when you acknowledge where you
are at, and accept it can you grow and evolve.
The same principle holds true in every aspect
of life. Physical pain is no exception.
If you are experiencing pain, place your hand on
that area. Breathe in through your nose and out
through your mouth. Don’t try to change the pain.
Observe it. Feel it. Make the sound of it.
Experience the color of it. Discover the borders
of it. Then, let the borders expand. Let the pain
travel. Your mind makes up the concept of borders.
Really, there is energy in an area of your body that
you’re unable to integrate.
The inability to be present with that energy is what
amplifies the pain. Keep your hand or hands on
the area and stay present.
What does the pain want from you? Ask it.
Don’t try figure it out. Just ask and then pay
attention. Do you need rest? Do you need to
hold that part and cry or scream? Do you need
to seek medical attention? Do you need to slow
down? Do you need to speak up about something?
Don’t give the pain your attention for a second
just to try to fix it either! Seek to be with it as you would
a crying baby that you can only give love to even if it
doesn’t stop crying. Accept that part of you for what it
is communicating and notice what happens.
I’d love to hear about your experience.
Warmly,
Dr. John
Dear Dr. John, I was wondering what happened to your series of articles re. back pain. Did you finish it ? It was such a nice and informative series. Would love to read the continuation.
Hi Ruchira,
The series will resume this month! I appreciate the feedback and apologize for the lengthy abscence!!!! Look for upcoming posts picking up where I left off in January. Thanks for your interest. Warmly, John
Looking forward Dr. John.
~ R ~
Our body is our subconscious mind, listening to its messages has the profound affect of healing and dissolving hurt and pain. I really enjoy your posts on this topic.
Noreen, In other words there would be a corresponding psychological component for every bodily issue, whether it be aches, pains, any deformities and malformations, cancer etc,……..? Reminds me of genetic disorders… well… could they just be age old psychological issues deeply programmed into the genetic code of the human beings….? and ageing too perhaps….?
My thoughts exactly Ruchira, a great book to read is Dawson Church's The Genie in your Genes, Epigenetics and the New Biology of Intention
Also check out The Biology of Transcendence by Joseph Chilton Pierce and The Biology of Belief by Bruce Lipton.
Thanks Noreen and John. Will make sure I add them upto must read list
I've been wanting to read Biology of Belief By Dr. Lipton for sometime, but couldn't get down to it. I think I might have to hit Amozon to get hold of a copy.