I took this pic (see attached) about a year ago. It was filled with so much promise at the time. I wanted to capture that moment because in my heart I felt like I was one step closer to finding hope and healing as I prepared for my upcoming clinical research trial. But instead, that said trial just ended up taking another piece of me with it; and boy was it a big one.
Because of what happened to me during my treatment, I have spent close to a year now trying desperately to repair my physical wellbeing; only adding on to everything else I’m already dealing with. Much of it has been a waiting game to see Specialists or Doctors and Neurologists, most of whom continue to pass me off to the next person because they just don’t have the answers.
But a couple of months ago I was meeting quite regularly with a practitioner named Julie (unfortunately my new work schedule has not afforded me the time to see her lately because she only works twice a week and during my work hours, about 45 mins away from me). In the couple of months I was fortunate enough to meet with her she explored many new ways to help calm my nervous system down (in case you missed it: https://wheredidmommyssmilego.com/2022/10/06/sounding-the-alarms/).
She spent much of our time together patiently explaining to me how our nervous system works and how our brains need to repair the wiring in our nervous system so it can heal from the inside out. None of it made very much sense to me at first. I must’ve skipped that day in science class.
But it started to make some sense the more we talked and the more she showed me techniques to incorporate into my daily life and now, after listening to a Podcast earlier this week by @MelRobbins, a highly respected motivational speaker, an expert on change and someone who I admire greatly and follow regularly (and am also currently reading her book “The High 5 Habit”), I had a real AHA moment when she made the connection between how our past traumas trigger the alarm bells to go off in our nervous system; Julie’s teachings came full circle.
Mel, who herself has battled Anxiety, Depression and other Mental Health issues throughout her life speaks candidly in her Podcast about her own past traumas and how each one of us have past traumas in our lives; some bigger than others, some we may never even know we had. She calls them Big T’s and little t’s.
Therapy has really opened my eyes over the past few years and allowed me to see how many of my past memories and traumas there likely were in my life that led to the sudden onset of my Depression and Anxiety diagnosis nearly 9 years ago; some bigger than others, some I never knew I had, but either way, the added layer of trauma that the clinical study has caused me has really made me stand up and listen to those alarm bells going off even more than ever; all desperately needing some serious badass calming.
In her Podcast, Mel discusses 6 things she has been doing regularly over the last few years that have really helped her flip the switch back on to a state of calm (dare to dream). I’ve tried many variations of them over time but the one suggestion of hers I haven’t tried yet has had me intrigued for months now but is also the one thing I fear most because, well, to be honest, I am terrified of the cold.
I can’t go a day lately though without seeing a Tik Tok video of someone or a friend challenging themselves on Facebook to immerse their entire body (right up to their neck) in a tub filled with ice and freezing cold water; doing so for two full minutes and for as many as thirty days in a row.
“Cold Water Exposure/Therapy” has been proven by science to have incredible health benefits associated with it; from healing after an injury to helping ease muscle soreness and joint pain. It has also been proven to improve your circulation, sleep habits, resilience and your mood which in turn can help calm your nervous system down.
It’s been no secret that lately both my mental and physical health have been spiraling out of my control and a big part of the reason is that my healing process has taken a backseat to my new job; a job which has only added an entirely new layer of stress and overwhelm to my life. My mental state is tredding on very thin ice right now so maybe now would be the perfect time to take a plunge and submerge my body, neck deep into a giant vat of freezing cold water before I completely slip and fall through the ice.
Who here has tried cold water exposure therapy? Would love to hear your thoughts.
Here is the link to Mel Robbin’s Podcast: https://link.chtbl.com/UGTDf-Sy?sid=ep34_healyourpast
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