Levels of Healing
Healing is a journey. A journey, which like life, progresses through stages or levels. Although each life and each healing path is unique, there are similarities between our experiences because of our shared humanity.
On the physical level our bodies undergo healing changes involving muscle tension, posture, flexibility, stability, awareness and breath due to the mind/body connection. On related mental/emotional levels we may experience changes in areas of self-image, inner clarity, adaptability, and being more anchored to our natural internal rhythms so we have a lower likelihood of being thrown off course by external events.
There are three general levels of healing which we support people in progressing through while under our care. How far each person chooses to go will be up to them, depending upon their personal goals. Most people who enter a course of care with us are concerned about a particular symptom or health problem. Usually there is an underlying pattern of internalized tension from an old injury and/or an accumulation of life’s stresses, which perpetuate the symptoms. The symptoms however, will often be decreased or resolved before the spine has been restored to its full flexibility, health and stability. Levels One and Two work towards these goals or restoring the health and balance of the spine and autonomic nervous system and Level Three progresses into Wellness care.
Level One
The first level of healing sets the stage for change. Our brain organizes our body and mind in terms of patterns. A pattern is something that is repeated or continually generated. We have patterns of posture, muscle tension, breathing and movement. We have patterns of speech, gesturing, thinking, perception and response. Most of our patterns we learned unconsciously from past experiences and other people. The vast majority of patterns are initiated by a part of the brain that is below our conscious awareness. This is why it is so hard to change habits and other patterns. In our examination we identify patterns of posture, muscle tension, stress, inflexibility and alignment that many people are not aware of.
The first level of healing, which is approximately the first 24 visits helps you to feel and become more aware of these patterns, which is the first, and an essential step to changing them. It is a change at the levels of both the body and brain. As you become increasingly aware of your body, your breath, and where you are holding tension, the natural wisdom and intelligence of your body begins to be mobilized to initiate the healing process.
Through our work together you will begin to develop strategies for releasing these patterns involving a self initiated deepening of breath, subtle movement, stretching and the generation of a “relaxation response” (the opposite of the “fight or flight” stress response). Your body will be experiencing one or more of these healing/releasing responses during the adjustment itself. While in this relaxed state the light touch adjustment can help your spine to release and re-align without forcing it. The repetition of the visits as part of our treatment plan for you allows these strategies to begin to develop into a new internal “pattern” of self-awareness, self-correction, rebalancing and healing.
Establishing these new patterns is necessary in order to facilitate changing of the old patterns in a way that will be more lasting. As you progress through the first level you will find that these new patterns will allow you to use these healing strategies in the rest of your life in between visits in order to continue to dissipate tension and help you to respond to stress in a healthier and more effective way. Attempting to change the way the body is functioning without your awareness and participation can lead to a change that is more temporary because without a change at the level of the brain, which is the ultimate pattern generator, the old patterns may re-establish themselves.
Changes in Awareness
The changes in awareness that happen most dramatically in Level 1 and are refined in Level 2, involve an overall body awareness that is generally not cultivated in our culture and is in fact discouraged. Most of us are taught that the rational mind is thought to rule and be the source of all of our valuable information, and our bodies’ needs and impulses need to be controlled and subservient. Most of us end up as adults being fairly disconnected from subtle sensations involving breath, position or posture, muscle tension levels and other internal sensation which may give us valuable information about what our bodies needs are and offering guidance about how to better take care of ourselves. In level 1 we are cultivating this awareness so the desired changes will occur as a result of internally generated impulses and motivation, in combination with our input, which supports the direction of and powerfully enhances the process.
It is during this first level that the pelvis, lower back and often the neck will increase in their balance and flexibility. The flexibility then ascends up the spine with continued care. Most people experience between 50% to 100% resolution of their initial symptoms, during the first level of healing.
Level Two
In level 2 there is a continued progression of flexibility up the spine into the middle and upper back. The entire rib cage, shoulders and chest become more flexible and breathing becomes even easier and deeper. There is a continued refinement of body awareness and the ability to release tension and move oneself out of a stress response. If some degree of symptomotology is still present at the end of level 1 there is usually continued improvement in level 2. Stability is developing and practice members usually report that if they have an exacerbation or "flare up" it usually is of a lower intensity and they recover from it much more quickly. Level 2 is complete when the spine has regained its maximum flexibility and postural alignment.
It is not unusual that as structural and neurological patterns are being released people will report feeling happier, less anxious and depressed, better ability to handle stress and more ease in mental focus and increased creativity. These quality of life changes when combined with the physical changes makes the healing experience a very holistic one.
Level Three
Level 3 is Wellness Care. The purpose of wellness care is to maintain and deepen the experience of wellness attained in levels 1 and 2. Practice members who choose to participate in wellness care have found the treatments very helpful in counteracting and releasing the physical and emotional effects of the stress that has become a part of our daily lives.
The frequency of visits in wellness care is self determined, and will depend upon the daily level of stress encountered and what the practice member feels would be helpful as part of a healthy self-care lifestyle.
Wellness care is shortsidedly not considered to be "medically necessary" by most insurance companies, so it is not covered, but we offer affordable self-pay wellness plans and family plans for continuing care.
Original stained glass art in the treatment room made by Dr. Deborah's father.
Print of the painting "Ecstasy" by Maxfield Parrish hanging in the treatment room. This painting symbolizes the joy and freedom it is possible to experience in your body.
The water fountain and original artwork add to the healing atmosphere in the treatment room.
Network Chiropractic of Acton
