Recovering from Shell Shock

[Bunny Berry]

So, as most of you know, I lost my job last week. It was unexpected, but I am getting over the initial shell shock, and am starting to really look FORWARD to the idea of endless possibilities.

My body feel like it's been through a major trauma. Everything hurts.

I have a herniated disc at L4/L5 that flares up big time during stress. Luckily I haven't felt like stress eating (uh. wow, I've come a LONG WAY).

Can anyone recommend nutritional supplements, aromatheraphy, exercises, stretches, books, music, etc that have helped them in the past get over the shell shock of a major life event?

Beckett and I made a couple of flax seed socks last night, and I have been warming them up in the microwave, and using them on my lower back, neck, and over my eyes.

I'm emerging. And one thing I am determined to do is to add more relaxation into my new life!

[karen]

Here are my suggestions, Bunny. Hugs to you!

1. Get a tube of rescue remedy and keep it with you, apply as needed. Or you can get the flower essence tincture. Or both! Rescue Remedy: A cream that contains the Bach flower remedies of Impatiens, Clematis, Rock rose, Star of Bethlehem and Cherry Plum. Comforts, reassures and calms where upsetting news is heard or a startling experience has occurred.

2. Consider homeopathy. Here is one remedy for shock:
Ignatia: The remedy Ignatia may suggested if there is great sensitivity and nervousness after hearing bad news. The mood is often highly changeable, and the person may feel drained and numb with a desire to be alone. The person may sigh and have the sensation of a lump in the throat. One dose (about a thimble full of pellets) of 200C strength.

3. Lower back issues are all about the fear of the lack of money and support. I'd be so happy to give you a nice long massage and reflexology session, but I'm way up north! Maybe on my next road trip. In the meantime, if you have a good massage therapist, it is a great stress reliever, pain reliever.

4. Aromatherapy: Essential oil of rose. 1 drop on your heart every night before bed or as needed.

5. Affirmation: “I lovingly integrate this experience and am in perfect balance and harmony.” Or something that resonates with you to this effect. Write it. Meditate on it. Say it. Sing it.

6. Processing the information. It's great to verbalize all that you are experiencing. Journaling is great, but when the experience is so new, it is great to go someplace quiet and alone and really vocalize your stream of consciousness. Let nothing hide! Being an actor, you'll probably be better at this than most.

7. Yoga/TaiChi. Get a dvd from the library for free and try different ones out. Or join a class if you feel motivated.

8. Bellydancing. Take a class - Very empowering!

9. Meditate. http://www.dhamma.org/ and practice loving kindness - with others and yourself.

10. Herbal infusions of oat straw tea. During times of stress, your body has different needs. For restful sleep, oat straw is a wonderful and gentle nourishing herb high in calcium.

11. Natural Calm is a powdered magnesium product. Also take at night before bed. Find your best dosage by starting small. Take with a Vitamin D. All of the above work synergistically.

12. Your B vitamins will be depleted in times of stress, so consider a round of B complex or a good multi during the next month to keep your reserves up.

13. Lean into it. Use game theory: ask yourself what is the WORST possible outcome from this situation? People try to avoid this and keep the fear locked up and festering. Be honest and think of what would be the worst that could happen and what would you don in that case? Once you've realized that you can manage anything that happens, move into the positive mindset that all will be fine. And it will.

14. Visualize. This is a perfect time to call in exactly what you want for yourself and your family. You can't leap a chasm in small tiny jumps - you need one giant leap - and sometimes the universe puts us in a slingshot!

15. Laugh. A LOT. It is important to move into the lightness. Hormones released when laughing are vital. If you really don't feel like it, then give it your best shot and fake it until you make it, hun.

16. De-clutter as much as possible, then 10% more! Sounds like with your garage sale you are already on this....

And remember....God doesn't give us what we can't handle.

Love and metta,

Karen

[robyn]

Hey Bunny! Glad to hear you're getting over the shock and trying to get back to something this side of "normal". It really is a shock to lose your job like that but it's also a great opportunity to transform yourself. Lately I've been reading Marianne Williamson and Dr. Wayne Dyer. They are wonderful authors to turn to when you're trying to transform your life. "The Four Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz and Iyanla Van Zant's "One Day My Soul Just Opened Up" we also very helpful to me when I was going through a similar situation. "The Alchemist" by Paul Coelho is also a great read. I know this is going to be a wonderful time for you Bunny!

[Denise Wagner]

There are alot of excellent suggestions on here! One of the best ones I can think of to add to the above is to visit here often!! This is one of the best support groups! Everyone is so kind and understanding and full of a wealth of information!! It helps to talk to others who have been through the same thing and can relate to what you are going through.

[Linda Ann]

Bunny have you tried yoga or meditation? After a severe depression after my fathers death, those helped. Also keep connected to people who love you.

[leslie]

Ok, I KNOW everyone will say Yoga. I have yet to find a yoga routine that excites me/relaxes me/ or whatever. Not that I don't like yoga...I love yoga. I just don't live close enough to a class to attend so I need to find a good video.

Pilates is great for my back. I had stopped doing it while I was trying to find something else, but I've started back up again. I've only been back on it for a week and I'm already standing taller. Why did I quit? It's hard to feel good about anything when your back hurts.

Tomorrow I am sending you the package with the You Can Heal Your Life companion book. I'll look and see what else I have.

[Dawn]

hi. i have not been on in a while. im sorry about your job. i def feel for you and your family, my husbad was out of work 4 months and it was so hard. we are just starting to catch up.....so good luck. and god bless....
i do mediate alot since then and it does relieve some stress. im sorry tthat is all i have for you...

[Meredith]

Wow, RawFu'ers are so knowledgable and intelligent! What an incredible community......I second the Rescue Remedy. It has helped me in the past with anxiety over crummy job situations. And I would say RUN, do not walk, to your nearest yoga class.
I love you, Bunny!
Hugs, Meredith

[Tiffany]

Bunny, if you try yoga at home I highly recommend the video series by Wai Lana of the same name. She films the poses out in nature so it is really peaceful. Her website is wailana.com

[Denise Duffield-Thomas]

I recommend the Raw Yoga DVD - I got mine from Shazzie in the UK, but I guess David Wolfe will have it, considering that he makes an appearance.

[Debi]

Bunny,Glad to hear you are up and about. I totally feel your pain as I too went through this about 8 years ago. Lots of good ideas regarding Bach Flower Remedies, yoga, Tai Chi, massage.... I'm going to suggest that if you can that you try to get some acupuncture as well. Acupuncture works really well for stress and for shell shock! It definitely helped me when I went through my shell shock. And of course I truly believe the community support you have here will definitely help you. We are here for you as you go through all of the emotions that are associated with this loss. Being able to use this as an avenue to release your emotions will be healing as well. Take care Bunny, sending you love and prayer

[Lauren]

Hey Bunny! I hope you get the chance to read all this, cause it's a lot! :) Anyway, I am a pro at this! Living with Crohn's and staying hospitals for 8 days at time close to once a year can really leave a damper on life. When I get out of the hospital I can barely walk and being poked and treated like a lab rat really isn't great for the psyche. But staying positive is numbero uno! Not to get weird on you but I am a pretty religious Catholic, so faith always helps me. If you believe in God, Jesus, Buddha, or as Kris Carr says Elvis it doesn't matter. Just having a higher being can help get you through.

I am huge aromatherapy fan- Lavendar is a great relaxer. I use the oil as perfume and I buy the Avalon Organics brand Lavender lotion (they actually sell a huge bottle of it at my Target, look for it next time). It's vegan, all natural, nothing synthetic.

Music therapy is great. I love Enya! It might seem weird at first, but her voice just calms me. Makes me feel good. My new favorite is IL Divos new cd. Most of it is in other languages, but there voices are so sexy and calming (not to mention themselves!).. anything classical is nice. I listen when I am driving or on the computer. Whenever I need to feel happy.

Yoga is wonderful! I enjoy classes better (I am dying to go, but I am just not strong enough to do it yet after my last flare). But they make great DVDs you can do at home. Another thing they sell at Targer or Walmart. I know they have Giam ones at Target that are great.

Nutritional supplements- Flaxseed oil is suppose to help with depression as is St. Johns Wort, but I would check with you doctor first.

I also find walking is peaceful for me. I have a treadmill and I Tivo all my shows so I stay occupied. But if the weathers right, get outside! Vitamin D is very important, get some sunshine (or a supplement).

Hmm.. what else... Oh I like to stretch myself out when I wake up in the morning and before I go to sleep. Just get on the ground and stretch your arms, legs, back, anything. Take 10 deeeep breaths in the morning before you get out of bed and at night before you go to bed, you will see how different you feel right away. You can do it anytime of day when you start to feel sad or negative and it will make a difference.

Lifting weights can make you feel impowered and strong, start with 5lbs, do a few reps during TV time, you'll feel good when you see the muscles you've built!

That's about it. I haven't read any other posts so I am sorry if I repeated anything! You're so wonderful and you will get through this, one day at a time! Big Hugs! Feel free to email me with any other questions: [e-mail]

[Rosie]

Pranic Healing! This has been extremely helpful in my life. As a matter of fact, I took a basic course on this over the weekend.
It can be used to help remove dead energy from for physical pain, desease and or life traumas. PRANIC HEALING is a comprehensive system of subtle energy healing utilizing “prana” in balancing, harmonizing and transforming the body's energy processes. “Prana” is a Sanskrit word that means “vital life force.” This invisible bio-energy keeps the body alive and healthy. In acupuncture, this subtle energy is called “chi.” It is also called “ruah” or the “breath of life” in Hebrew.

Pranic Healing is a simple yet powerful and effective method of energy healing. It is based on the fundamental principle that the body is a “self-repairing” living entity, which possesses the innate ability to heal itself. Pranic Healing also works on the second principle that energy can be projected from one person to another. As a result, the healing process can then be accelerated by increasing the life force or vital energy on the affected part of the physical body.

Pranic Healing is the process of influencing this natural life force to bring about a healthier physical body. Pranic Healing is applied on the electromagnetic field also known as aura, which contains the mold and blueprint of the physical body. This bioplasmic body absorbs life energy and distributes this to the organs and glands. Diseases first appear as energetic disruptions in the energy field before precipitating as ailments in the physical body.

Pranic Healing practitioners realign the whole energy system to help initiate specific biochemical changes to accelerate the body's innate ability to prevent and alleviate a wide spectrum of physical, emotional and psychological ailments.

Pranic Healing is actively used and practiced in over 80 countries and numerous healing centers around the world. These applications in health and disease situations have significantly helped millions of people globally as they apply proper and intelligent use of pranic energy into their lives