Brainspotting
and memories of life and of death
June is a mixed bag of births and deaths. If you know, you know, if you don’t you don’t. If you want to know more about what I mean, ask me, I’m willing to share. My great-nephew was born today, but his granddad is not here to meet his namesake because he passed away (in June) several years ago. I was there; death in real life didn’t look like it often did as it was peacefully portrayed on television.
My favorite grandmother died a lymphoma related death, on my birthday, while I was eight months pregnant with my youngest son. They just missed meeting each other as they passed through the veil between life and death. When I was young, I didn’t stop to think about the people I loved the most not being here anymore. Now that I’m not so young, I probably think, too much, about the people I love the most not being here.
My father-in-law passed away almost 3 years ago (3 days before my favorite grandmother’s birthday) due to complications from a shoulder surgery which was initially precipitated by a fall that was severe storm related (remnants of Olga). Hurricanes aren’t supposed to keep causing trouble this far north, right???? The break in the bone that occurred next to his replaced shoulder never healed back up again, some infection set in, and he waited for a couple of years for that broken arm (and infection) to heal before they went back in (surgically) one last time. He never came back home from the hospital. All of these broken arm shenanigans followed about 20 years of other chronic health issues (for him) that played a part in our decision to move closer to my husband’s parents. My best good friend Babby wrote a poem about that, but some days I feel more like Naomi (call me bitter) than all that Ruth’s story encompasses, and I’ve told her that, but she insists on calling me Ruth anyway which probably means there’s still hope for my life’s bitter experiences.
She packed up her family Like the Beverly hillbillies, And moved to Tennessee, Like RUTH in the Bible. I call her Ruth Because she has lived that story Like a stranger in a strange land I know she misses her family But I’m sure glad I have her as a great friend, https://stephanieschaibleldd.substack.com/p/leaving-death-in-the-dust
Yesterday, I took a meal to my mother-in-law because she had shoulder surgery this week, and I felt my father-in-law’s presence even though he’s been gone for almost 3 years now. It felt as if he were going to walk into the kitchen from the living room just like he always did when he was still alive. He never did walk into that room, but it felt to me like he had.
Time is short, use it well…………
Chronic illness is not just a physical battle; it often comes with emotional and psychological trauma that can intensify symptoms and hinder the healing process. This is something that my brainspotting therapist (who kicked Lyme in the pants) sort of said in an interview about Lyme disease. Having a brainspotting therapist who literally knows what I’m going through because she’s been there herself is the icing on the cake I’m not supposed to be eating.
One of the biggest problems I’ve been having is frequent viral infections and an auto immune flare up phase that lasts around 2-4 months after each infection. I was in the midst of a pretty bad flare when I began brainspotting in April, and it really helped bring me out of that dark place, so I thought it might be a good idea to share a snippet from the brainspotting recommendation I wrote -
What I've experienced with brainspotting has blown my mind, and I'm very encouraged by the benefits and experiences that began during the first session. Brainspotting has helped give me relief from the negativity loops that were beginning to feel stuck in my head, the bad memories I felt like I was being bombarded with, and the feelings of heaviness I had in my mind and body. I'm now thinking more clearly and positively and having more aha moments (insightful epiphanies) since my brainspotting sessions started. The release of emotions from my body (that I had been suppressing) was much needed. I've experienced an increase in energy and in my activity level, and I'm feeling lighter in my mind and body, and my mood has lifted. I've also had an improvement in my immune system function- I got a cold bug shortly after I started brain spotting which cleared up in 2 weeks instead of 8 weeks. My nervous system feels more regulated, and I've noticed a much-needed improvement in my spirituality- a return of feeling a closeness and connection to God and an increase in my ability to pray. I am feeling much better and more like myself again for the first time in a long time, and I'm very grateful for my brainspotting sessions!
Those of you who have been suffering with long covid are probably familiar with brain retraining programs like Gupta and DNRS, but brainspotting is different and has turned out to be a good fit for me. Brainspotting allows the person to release trauma that has been stored in the body in a way that promotes both emotional and physical healing and you get to work with a real person/therapist which is helpful because chronic illness can be very isolating.
Brainspotting is an advanced brain body technique for healing emotional trauma, anxiety, depression and PTSD. It is one of the few techniques that effectively addresses the root cause of psychological stress and trauma. It is based on the premise that where you look, or your eye position, correlates with deep seated emotional experiences that are typically unreachable by traditional talk therapy. If you have ever felt stuck in a rut, high anxiety or repeating an unhealthy habit (despite your good intentions to change) then Brainspotting is an ideal therapy to help your breakthrough. ~Victoria Cumberlege
In other news, the chicken whisperer (my husband) suffered a pretty nasty work-related cut to his right index finger, and since he works with his hands this has not been a pleasant experience, but he’s back at work and hoping to regain the feeling in his finger.
“I wanted a perfect ending. Now I've learned, the hard way, that some poems don't rhyme, and some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next. Delicious Ambiguity.”
― Gilda Radner
“Just look around you and you will see how threads hold everything together.” ~Babby
Do you know the red thread? Don’t give up…………………
Best Wishes and many thanks to my precious supporters,
My name is Stephanie, I can do hard things, and “Leaving Death in the Dust” was created in sickness and in hope for healthy healing.
******Remember to make prayer a priority.
This publication was created to encourage the chronically ill to become more actively involved in their own health care. I’m glad you’re here, and I hope that you have found our newsletters to be helpful.
