I wanted to continue writing a bit off from my previous post and roll into a similar topic. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and I do want to write a bit more and focus on our mental health journey together. Ironically, at the end of April, I learned how messed up my central nervous system was and this month, I have been given opportunities to fix it myself and through the help of medical professionals. Above is a photo of what a central nervous system can look like if it’s working properly. All plugs are inserted where they need to go, no loose wires, and things are pristine and all seem to be working with no hiccups. Gaging by the picture, we can assume as a viewer, that this system is working properly. Below, I have posted a photo of what I would assume a central nervous system would look like if it’s ‘off’. It’s exposed, wires are loose and frayed, it’s a mess and tangled, in a single term… it’s a hot mess and could use some work, some TLC. I wouldn’t want to really rely on that plug, or wire system or anything to get my control panel operating.
That’s what our Central Nervous System is all about. It’s comprised of our brain and spinal cord and it really makes up how we move, think, learn and feel. After knowing that, which picture would you rather your central nervous system (*now referred to as CNS) look like in your skin?
It’s not really something you can fix with medication, although some medication can help (ie: antidepressants and anti-anxiety prescriptions etc.) however, there’s much more too it than that. And the beauty of controlling your CNS, your wires, your plugs, is all things you can do at home, on your time, and really, at no cost. You just need the energy and self-love to do it.
Over my weekend in Taos, and during my time with my high priestess and medicine woman, she instructed me on what I can do for myself because my CNS was so far out of whack she couldn’t believe it. And the weird thing was, I felt it – I just didn’t know what it was that was out of whack. I just knew I felt, broken. And after my grand 2 hour Reiki session, she told me I would probably feel the need to move, open up and even nap or sleep when it wasn’t sleep time because we activated some spots that were ‘unhealed’ for a while. So, in a way, I was feeling the feels, but unsure of what it was. I hadn’t slept a good night sleep in months, my memory has been absolutely horrible and I had figured it was because I was lightening up from my years of alcoholism. That’s what everyone was telling me. SO, I went along with it. I was feeling so many things prior to this trip I just felt the need for some body work, a tune-up if you will, so I put myself in the shop. When she gave me my body work diagnosis, it made sense. Then I did some further research. And here’s what I discovered! Does any of this sound familiar to you?
According to Hopkins Medicine, here are the symptoms and feelings of a “sad working” CNS:
- Persistent or sudden onset of a headache.
- A headache that changes or is different.
- Loss of feeling or tingling.
- Weakness or loss of muscle strength.
- Loss of sight or double vision.
- Memory loss.
- Impaired mental ability.
- Lack of coordination.
Now, I can tell you after I saw this list, I had about half of these on a consistent basis. Was this really a broken CNS? Was this something that could be fixed with some tune-up body healing and self-love? What I will say, is that after I got off the table from a very powerful and amazing Reiki session, is that I felt about 20 pounds lighter just from the overhaul of stress from my body being released. I was given the tools to continue the work myself. (not Reiki, that’s hard, but self-love tools that I CAN do myself in times of instant need or stress).
Remember that song we all learn in grade school? The one about how all our bones are connected? (‘The ankle bone is connected to the shin bone…’ – that one). We all know how powerful our brains are and how much they control. The human brain is truly amazing. The spinal cord is the highway for all communication TO the brain. So how magical is it that you can quiet down and control your CNS through a series of easy and basic ‘self-love’ and self-discovery techniques?
Easy ways to improve and “fix” your broken CNS without medication:
- Exercise
- Acupuncture
- Walking
- Sleep
- Sunlight
- Meditation
- Herbal Supplements
- Vagus Nerve Soothing Exercises
- Magnesium
Now let’s do a bit of a deep dive into the above to speak about making things BETTER. And then we will dive deeper to see how that mixes with mental disorders and addiction!
Exercise and walking can go together… even sunlight, so I will lump those three together, but separate if you need or would like to. For me, I like to workout and exercise outside. I like the warm sun beaming down on me. I feel it almost literally charging my inner battery like a solar panel is attached to my back. Whether I am running, power walking, or even just enjoying an afternoon walk with my dogs, getting out and experiencing the Vitamin D soaking into my pores IS truly energizing and soul fulfilling. In fact, the slower, no, the more purposeful I go, the more energized I feel. It’s all about intent in your walking or exercising.
If you have not yet tried acupuncture, it’s not all hype. It works and it’s amazing. It can truly ease the mind, the CNS, and help with health issues. I haven’t visited my acupuncturist in a while, but sitting here writing about it I am missing it to my core. The benefits of acupuncture are plentiful and I encourage you to at least explore the option if you are on the fence about it.
Sleep. 5 little letters, but man, those 5 little letters can be very tricky if you have never been a sound sleeper. My husband and (thank goodness) my son are perfect sleepers. The second their heads hit the pillow, they are out for good. Me on the other hand, not so much. So when I DO sleep, I do recognize the importance of some good shut eye and it takes a lot for me to get there. In the last few weeks, few months actually, as my own body is going through some magical and spiritual changes to fix my CNS, I feel sleep is the most important thing. To achieve better sleep, it is recommended that you sleep in a completely dark room (using light-blocking curtains and even covering electronic sources that emit light), keeping the room slightly cold (between 68-70 degrees F – although I personally like it cooler than that, my dogs emit heat like no other!), and finally, have an unstimulating final few minutes of wake time; meaning reading, eating and watching TV should all be done in another room. Your bedroom should only be for sleeping and sex.
Meditation. I’ve written about this before, but some people find this more difficult than others, especially when trying to soothe the mind and clear stressful thoughts. Turn on quiet and non-stimulating music, meditation music, or chakra healing music. They also have guided mediations if you feel inclined to do so, because if you have struggles focusing on your breath, sometimes hearing a calm voice is good for guidance. The 2-1-4-1 breathing technique can help as well. Breathing in for 2, hold for 1. Breathing out for 4, hold at the bottom for 1 (and repeat).
Herbal Supplements and Magnesium – I am going to roll these two into one. Now, this is my own personal opinion so take it as you will, but I do sense a difference in my own whole self when I take true herbal supplements than ones packed with words I cannot pronounce. I really like to go the true herbal, and natural route for my supplements and vitamins. Depending on your age, sex and what you are wanting and needing for your body will determine what you should take. Usually a great multivitamin will suffice. Don’t overdo it on the amount you take either. But do make sure you are getting what you need for your daily percentages to stay healthy. Magnesium has great benefits alone, including not only bone health and helping with blood pressure but also improving depression and anxiety and mood (even sleep)! It can also help with constipation and improve PMS symptoms, improve energy function and ease nerve function. (It’s kind of a one stop shop supplement for both men and women, especially as you look at all the benefits!) This is one you want to make sure you are getting 100% of your daily value of each day along with your healthy diet to help it along! And, speaking of nerve function… next on the list…
Vagus Nerve Soothing Exercises. What in the world…? Yes. You might do this without even knowing you are doing it, or might be around someone that does it (and it might get on your nerves – or is that just me??) but these exercises are part of pretty much everyone’s regular day to day activities.
Sounds of vibrations like humming, singing, or even gargling. Your vagus nerve is actually one of your longest nerves (cranial) running from your brain to your large intestine. That’s right, basically half the length of your entire body! Did you actually know you have 2? Yes! A left one, and a right one, and you guessed it, one runs down the left side of your body, and the other down your right. But what does this nerve actually do, and what can soothing exercises help? Great question.
When the (either one) vagus nerve gets aggravated, it can cause psychological stress, physical stress or even an infection on a person. And because this nerve is connected to the brain, it’s incredibly important that the nerve not get damaged or inflamed because of the psychological component. Up above I referenced that children’s song about the bones connecting to each other. The vagus nerve is just like that. This nerve is the magical nerve of the body that has so much power over nearly everything you do. It’s connected to just about every part of you. From neck pain, to abdominal pain and bloating, to brain fog, to heart rate and everything in between.
Ways of soothing the pain of a compressed vagus nerve and doing exercises to strengthen the nerve can range from seeing a chiropractor, to cold water immersion (or an ice pack), to singing and humming (as mentioned above). Deep breathing can help as well as meditation and mindfulness.
**There is so much useful and interesting information on the Vagus Nerve I highly recommend you read more into it because it is so deep and you can definitely go down the rabbit hole with this one!
I encourage each of you to take some time to evaluate your Central Nervous System. Take some time to think and feel yourself. To sit with yourself. To see what feels right, and what doesn’t. To sit with your thoughts. What sounds right, and what doesn’t.
Write everything down, the goods, the bads. The “yummies” and the “yuckies”. Then see where and more importantly HOW you can possibly fix and correct those bads into goods. What might work for those crossed or ripped wires. It’s hard to process things like this. But once you sit and do the work, you will be not only in a better place for it, but a better PERSON for it. A calmer person, and a more relieved person. That’s my goal every day. Will you make it yours?
The goal of these blogs is to set intentions and to manifest a beautiful and purposeful life! To find beauty in the ugliest of places and to find light in the darkest.
Come with me on this journey as we discover a pathway to healing, health, purpose and joy!
And remember: Don’t take life too seriously, no one gets out alive!
Awaken Your Soul's Potential 