Yesterday was a busy one for me.
I had a morning appointment with my VA Psychologist. She hooked me up to a biofeedback machine to teach me how to use paced breathing for stress reduction. She did a baseline test run of about five minutes where I just do diaphragmatic breathing, then she shows me on the graph how I need to work on my Heart Variability Rate. When she called "time," she asked if I was just messing with her. My breathing rate was near perfect and my Heart Variability Rate was very good. All I did was use my own hypnosis techniques coupled with the breathing technique that she taught me.
So then our discussion switched over to hypnosis and the ways that the mind can heal the body, no matter what the illness. She seemed skeptical, so I gave her several anecdotes of video-recorded hypnosis sessions where it appeared miracles were being performed. She stated that she was still skeptical since video can be faked. I asked her if she trusted the National Institute of Health. I gave her a link to a web seminar where a psychiatrist with a very long list of credentials demonstrates to healthcare providers how clinical hypnosis can be helpful in their practice. For example, helping someone through a dental procedure without anesthesia.
In that seminar, he presented a case of a man with Parkinson's Disease who needed a brain implant to control the tremors in his right arm. The patient must be awake so that the surgeon can speak with him to ensure the implant is placed in exactly the correct location. The patient could not relax long enough to do the surgery. The hypnosis session helped him relax, but the miraculous part is that while relaxed (and without any suggestion), the tremors in his arm stopped.
For those who don't know, Parkinson's involves actual physical damage to the nervous system. It is not a psychosomatic disease. So the question I gave my Psychologist was, "How is it possible for the Subconscious Mind to temporarily bypass physical damage to the nervous system." She said it is not possible. And yet she just witnessed it happen.
I told her that I know the answer. It is how spiritual healing is accomplished every day, and I am such a healer. (I am an 11th Degree Rosicrucian). She immediately made me promise to share my wealth with her when I figure out how to permanently cure Parkinson's.
That afternoon, I was scheduled to phone in for a Group Therapy session. I got busy with other things and lost track of the time. I went to call in and my phone was dead. But I still had time to drive back down to the VA and attend Group in person. I am so glad I did! I finally got to meet our two Transgender Care Coordinators in person, and three other trans veteran women. The meeting went well but I was concerned about the body language the other ladies were exhibiting. They were clearly uncomfortable even though they were "regulars" to the Group.
They participated in the activities, I just wish there was something I could do to help them relax and understand that they were in a safe place. Maybe as we get to know each other better, things will loosen up.
Overall, it was a good day. I like good days.
