Stress Relief – Week 3

Week 3 was stable. Physical symptoms from previous weeks have leveled off and no new symptoms have revealed themselves. My son and I rode the bike to school only one day during week 3. I tried a new route, focused on my breath, making sure to breathe -- I think I was holding my breath during the difficult parts of our previous rides -- and the ride was still challenging but manageable. I experienced some stress as my son continues to adjust to his new schedule at school. But I have noticed having a brighter outlook and a little more patience than before.
My read through of MF’s has added a small step to my protocol. On page 196 (chapter 5), she suggests starting every session with point 0 especially when tired or weak. Previously, I had been ending with point 0. Now I start and end on this spot.
Also, I read about point 124 in chapter 5. Point 124 is part of my stress relief protocol and the only point that has been consistently painful. Point 124 on the left side of the face (the side that has hurt) corresponds to the spleen. I found this interesting because I got a massage from a Reiki master in July and the spleen was the one deficient spot she mentioned. I plan to have some blood work done soon and will ask them to check my iron levels.
During the course of the week, more of the points on my forehead were somewhat painful when stimulated. This brought to mind the Principle of the Opposite Effect mentioned on page 15. I’m not sure I understand this principle very well. But I think MF is suggesting that we focus on painful spots, working them until they no longer hurt. And that we spend very little time on spots that do not hurt. So the pain should almost guide us. She says that overworking points that do not hurt could bring about a worsening of symptoms. This made me think of my “healing crisis” of week 2. I wrote that during week 1 many of the points on my forehead felt really good to stimulate, so good that, although my sessions were short, I may have overdone it. If anyone has a better understanding of this principle, please comment.
I enjoy reading about new points on the blog but without a visual at hand, the information doesn’t really sink in. Goal for the week: leave one of MF's charts near the computer for quick reference while reading.

Stress Relief – Week 2

Week 2 was all about slowing down although not for the reasons I’d expected or hoped. I was throwing up Friday night and woke up the next day with pain in my lower back. I can’t figure out what would have caused it except maybe a build up of lactic acid from the bike riding. The nausea subsided by Saturday morning but my back was out of commission through Monday. Since points for the lower back are already included in my daily protocols, I did not work any additional points to deal with the pain. I did take ibuprofen though. Despite the throwing up and back pain, the weekend was oddly relaxing. I don’t think I’ve ever spent as much time on my couch. It was strangely effective stress relief. I didn’t leave the apartment for 3 days and didn’t stress about meals or anything else. And my son had many unopened birthday presents to keep him entertained. I know with foot reflexology they talk about “healing crises” where your body has an adverse reaction to a session as it starts to rebalance itself. I thought of my weekend as a healing crisis and just kept hoping to maintain some of the ‘relief’ it brought.
We didn’t ride the bike at all during week 2 and I actually made it to work on time. I also looked into getting a new bike that would be easier and maybe faster to ride.
I tried a few different tools this week – my knuckles, a bobby pin, and a pen. The most effective, as Marie-France suggests, was the pen. I realized some of the issues I was having with awkward points during Week 1 were attributable to the tool I was using. It’s glass and slides easily; I didn’t have the same problem with the pen. But I experimented with working points according to Marie-France’s direction chart in the book anyway.
Point 124 on the left side of my face continued to be painful during the first half of Week 2. The pain diminished during the second half.
I now carry a print out of the frog on the face image. I am armed if any new ailments approach!
Goal for the week: continue with my second read through of Marie-France’s book.