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HEALING THOGHTS
I would like to consider an awareness I have long had and open it for thought and debate. It is well documented that healing occurs in stages 3 & 4 of sleep and during parasympathetic elicitation in awake skilled relaxation (alpha/theta states). This is a time of memory consolidation, increase in human growth hormone, detoxification, immune system regeneration, neurotransmitter replacement, tissue repair and neural house cleaning.
When we are in stress mode or sympathetic dominance these restorative activities are greatly restricted or shut down entirely.
I also know that patients that are in late stage parasympathetic dominance (stress breakdowns) often report the inability to connect with their spiritual centers. I have worked with many devout people who felt their God had abandoned them (or could not connect to their inner self) when they were in a profound stress mode - especially true of people with anxiety disorders and other high arousal disorders.
We also know that humans are endowed with the gift of healing. A cut soon is gone, often major illnesses are only a memory as the body brings the full force of healing into play. However when we are under stress load or have an arousal disorder: (IBS, TMJ, CFS, anxiety, IC etc..) or any physical or psychiatric condition the ability to heal is greatly restricted.
We also know that many meditators and those who practice skilled relaxation report profound spiritual awareness, intuitive realizations and altered states of spiritual connection.
We know healing occurs in the parasympathetic state (relaxation response), but why. Why would being in the alpha/theta state elicit healing and peace of mind. Here is my question: what if these states allow us to step out of day to day, mindless arousal and enter into the place of universal energy - our inner self, source, or God presence or what ever cosmology fits our belief system.
It could be that as we peel away the layers of everyday distractions, self imposed demands or major life disruptions that we reach a source of healing/inner connection that lies below the dross of everyday consciousness.
I also know that people that report loss of self and spiritual connection regain it as the nervous system heals and returns to normal....and that many people who learn to enter the parasympathetic state report a spiritual connection for the first time.
Perhaps the old adage that the "Physician Treats While God Heals" is true. I am not suggesting that we anthropomorphize our higher power into a being that we supplicate for healing, as much as how we may learn to connect with that which is always available.
It may be that a profound alpha/theta/relaxation/parasympathetic state is the doorway to reconnect to a source greater than we know...and not just simple relaxation. It could be that during skilled relaxation or meditation the shift in consciousness we feel when we are in the zone is actually us connecting with a source greater than ourselves...and from which all healing occurs.