Healing by Trembling, and a Smile (Healing Trauma in Fibromyalgia Part 2)

So many of us with fibromyalgia have suffered so many traumas. We sometimes think we can never recover from them. But we can. Perhaps much more easily than you ever imagined.

In my last newsletter, I discussed the remarkably simple and powerful Hawaiian technique for self forgiveness that you can do on your own.

This week I discuss two more. The first will release the traumas stored in your muscle memory. The second will release your soul… with a smile!

Mind Body Spirit, and Pain – Shaking off Pain with Trembling

How does Mind Body Spirit (MBS) interplay with pain? Although there are many factors, an especially critical one in CFS/FMS can be understood fairly simply.

In my previous newsletter, I described how your nervous system can "freeze." This can happen during a trauma where you can't fight and you can't run — for example, a child being beaten by an alcoholic parent. And when you freeze, you can also experience feeling your muscles, and the fascia tissue that encases them, tighten up like a suit of armor, while your body goes into a hyper alert and numb mode. This mode persists until you do something very critical to reset your system and release the muscles and fascia.

Wondering what that is? It's simple!

You need to "shake it off."

After a severe trauma or even years of traumas, it's critical that you (literally) shake off your freeze state through trembling. Unfortunately most people are embarrassed to be seen trembling. So they try to suppress it, which can leave them in the freeze state with tight muscles and being numb and hyper alert, sometimes lingering for decades.

The technique is very simple — and free! Being aware of this, you may now notice that times come up where you feel like trembling. In the past you might have unconsciously and naturally suppressed it because it felt stupid to tremble. But simply let it happen. Explain it before hand to your spouse or family so they don't get frightened when it happens. If you're out in public, it's okay to suppress it. It'll likely come up again later when you're by yourself.

After each wave of trembling, you'll find that your muscles feel looser, and you'll feel calmer and less numb. Once in a while, you may even have a mental snapshot of the trauma that was being released. Because most of us carry numerous traumas this may go on over several years, releasing the traumas in layers. But over time, the trembling may last for just a few seconds and be very mild. You may even find that you look forward to them.

This trembling releases the tightness in both your muscles and fascia, which are the primary pain triggers in most people with pain. Muscle pain is, after all, the most common cause of pain — even though it's often undiagnosed because of lack of physician education.

For more insights on healing from trauma, I highly recommend the simple and priceless book "Waking the Tiger" by Peter Levine.

The Secret Power of a Smile

We sometimes forget how the simple act of smiling can make you feel good. Take a few moments now and simply smile. Not for any particular reason, just do it to remind yourself of how it lifts your mood.

When you do, you may stumble across a secret you've forgotten for a while. But which your heart and soul (or deep psyche if you prefer) remembers:

That all is truly well! Watch then, as your smile grows even bigger :-)

This is a powerful and free tool for healing. And wonderment. It's how a small, 1 foot 9 inch by 2 foot 6 inch, painting became the most well-known piece of art in the world. The Mona Lisa.

Pretend that you're your own walking Mona Lisa. And watch how your world changes.

Smile, and you can feel the healing process begin. Smile a lot, and health will begin to ease out and replace illness.

Then take a cue from Cinderella. And Just Breathe...

Let's do this now. Breathe in very long and deep breaths. Slowly and gently, open to drawing in the soft sweet nothingness of life. Allowing in the Universe's unconditional love and infinite energy.

Take your time and notice how you feel while you do this. Let the old pain, trauma and fatigue melt away. You may even discover that the love you'll feel can make you cry with joy. For you'll start to remember and return to yourself.

I invite you to stop for a few minutes and let yourself do this. Right now...

Know that this feeling is always available, ready for you whenever you open yourself and let it in.

Healing Trauma in Fibromyalgia (3-Part Series)

You are reading part 2 of this series. See below to read the other two parts:

• Part 1: Ancient Hawaiian Practice of Self Healing
• Part 3: Releasing Emotional Energy from Traumas