02/20/97
Something happened to me today. I was on my way to another city, running late as usual, when I noticed that I had forgotten to bring my 'Tums' along. I almost immediately started having severe stomach pains. It is simply amazing the power our minds have over us.
But let me back up a bit. I am under a doctors care for an over active stomach, it is beleived that I produce too much acid. This seems to run in the family, as my older brother has the same problem. I am taking a perscription drug 'Prilosec' to help control the discomfort that results. The drug has not been doing the job very well hense the Tums.. But I digress,
Back to the story, As I was saying, I was running late, and there was no chance for me to stop at a store and buy more Tums, so I thought that I was just going to have to 'tough it out'.
Then the thought that I might be able to do something about the pain on my own popped into my head. I have had quite a bit of training in biofeed back, and related subjects, and I had nothing to loose except what was becoming a terrible stomach ache.I set about becoming as relaxed as I could become, considering I was driving, this was a bit limited. I started taking stock of what I was feeling, and tried to 'get into myself', an unexpected choice of words, but it does pretty well describe the situation.
I started to visualize what I think the inside of my stomach would look like, taking care to also include my image of what I think the openings in the lining where the acid spills into the stomach look like as well.
I then carefully visualized them closing down to stop the flow of acid. Within about 20 min., I started feeling better, the pain was recieding, I had done it! I had several small periods of pain as I continued driving, each time being able to stop the pain more quickly then the last.It is now the first of March, and I have not had to take any Tums since the day before this incident occurred, 2/19/97. I still have indegestion, but I usually find relief within seconds of the time I start taking charge. It has now been 9 days since I have taken anything other then my perscription, and I have cut that in half from what is perscribed!
I am no longer taking any perscribed medications to control this problem, as of around the first of June 1997. My Doctor is a bit shrigrinned over this, but says its good that I am taking control of my health.
Hmmm Personal responsibility~ What do you know? Kinda handy at times!!
I am at a point now, that all I do when I start to feel uncomfortable is to say 'NO' to myself, and the discomfort just goes away. I assume that saying the keyword 'NO' sets in motion the steps necessary for me to control the problem, much like a self hypnotic suggestion.
The training I have had in using bio-feedback to control stress, and panic attacks, are coming into play.
Some of the basics that I have learned about stress are as follows:
1)Stress in cumulative
Which means that it is not just the argument that you had with your mother that causes you to have a problem, but add to that the corn bread you burned in the oven, the flat tire on the car, the gloomy weather, your consern for a S.O..2)Each stressor by its self is easily handled.
But carrying their combined weight around can seem insurmountable. I think that it is vitally important that you recognize the problems for what they are, and handle then as seperate troubles, and assign a value for them.So what if you burn the corn bread, feed it to the birds, they won't care.
The flat tire,, so what, thats what the spare is for, and besides its only a tire!
Oh yes, my favorite, gloomy weather, There is not a thing you can do about it, consider taking a walk in the rain, its amazingly relaxing!
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