Integrative mind-body medicine is a powerful approach for healing anxiety.
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In integrative mind-body medicine, we treat the person not a symptom. It is a holistic system of health care that considers every facet of who we are. Our body, mind, and spirit all contribute to our health.
When areas of our life come out of balance, often for a long period of time, stress patterns develop (coping mechanisms) which eventually lead to physical discomfort, breakdown, or illness. When it comes to sensitivity and anxiety, integrative health is one of the most effective means of identifying and understanding anxiety from sensitivity. It is one of the only systems of medicine that provides complementary health strategies for taking care of our delicate senses. Why are the senses so important for highly sensitive people? Since we take in more stimuli from our environment our risk and vulnerability is greater. Because we see, hear, and feel more through sensory pathways this increased demand of sensory processing creates anxiety. What do we look for? A marked, or highly observable, exaggerated fear of our environment. Also known as anxiety. Common sensory signs are: abdominal pain, headaches, mood swings, nausea, dizziness, feelings of sensory overload, panic attacks, tension in the muscles, lower back pain, debilitating fatigue, restlessness, anger, susceptibility to flu and viruses, depression, and skin rashes/pimples/sores. |
How are Anxiety and Sensitivity related?
It's different for everyone. That's why understanding your delicate senses is so important for managing sensory overload, taking proper care of your nervous system, and restoring health. Our senses are taste, touch, hearing/sound, smell/olfactory, and sight/vision. In the health science of Ayurveda the mind is considered the sixth sense. Through integrative medicine, which focuses on the mind-body connection we can learn how to manage our highly attuned senses.
HSP's are incredibly unique in that we are highly connected and in-tune with our environment. While our deeper cognitive processing allows us to take in more sensation from our environment, which can be a real positive, it can also be overwhelming.
Psychologist's have attempted to understand the science of the senses and their effects on our health through new advances in research. Through discoveries in understanding the mirror neuron system, sensory gating, and vestibular system. Our acute senses are a wonderful gift when these heightened sensations are recognized and integrated nicely into our lives. Often times, highly sensitive people are unaware of their ability to perceive the subtle differences in their environment, what clinical doctors call, "sensory processing sensitivity."
Understanding Sensitivity and Anxiety
Through the sensory pathways or channels HSP's have a much higher discrimination function for perceiving sensory information. This means a higher level of awareness or internal filter for recognizing and sorting sensory information. When sensitive people are not aware of this more expansive mode of seeing, hearing, and feeling more information as it filters in through the sensory pathways: interoception, proprioception, and vestibular systems, it creates anxiety.
Our toxic environment doesn't help matters. When we are exposed to synthetic chemicals and toxins our body processes them first at the sensory level, then through our organ systems. These detoxification systems help keep us healthy in the face of a barrage of toxic materials. You can read Dr. Hannah Albert's article, Our Toxic World for more detail. When our toxin load is high, we experience health challenges, symptoms, allergies, and sensitivities. That's why we must commit to supporting our body on many levels. There are a lot of things we can do to reduce our toxic load. Some serious symptoms of chronic toxic exposure are: recurrent headaches, muscle aching and weakness, parasthesias and neuropathic pain, recurrent infections, and infertility. There are several disorders that have a clear link to chronic toxic exposure. They are: chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, multiple chemical sensitivity, allergies, asthma, atherosclerosis, and cancer.
We can view this phenomenon on a spectrum of vulnerability.
It's different for everyone. That's why understanding your delicate senses is so important for managing sensory overload, taking proper care of your nervous system, and restoring health. Our senses are taste, touch, hearing/sound, smell/olfactory, and sight/vision. In the health science of Ayurveda the mind is considered the sixth sense. Through integrative medicine, which focuses on the mind-body connection we can learn how to manage our highly attuned senses.
HSP's are incredibly unique in that we are highly connected and in-tune with our environment. While our deeper cognitive processing allows us to take in more sensation from our environment, which can be a real positive, it can also be overwhelming.
Psychologist's have attempted to understand the science of the senses and their effects on our health through new advances in research. Through discoveries in understanding the mirror neuron system, sensory gating, and vestibular system. Our acute senses are a wonderful gift when these heightened sensations are recognized and integrated nicely into our lives. Often times, highly sensitive people are unaware of their ability to perceive the subtle differences in their environment, what clinical doctors call, "sensory processing sensitivity."
Understanding Sensitivity and Anxiety
Through the sensory pathways or channels HSP's have a much higher discrimination function for perceiving sensory information. This means a higher level of awareness or internal filter for recognizing and sorting sensory information. When sensitive people are not aware of this more expansive mode of seeing, hearing, and feeling more information as it filters in through the sensory pathways: interoception, proprioception, and vestibular systems, it creates anxiety.
Our toxic environment doesn't help matters. When we are exposed to synthetic chemicals and toxins our body processes them first at the sensory level, then through our organ systems. These detoxification systems help keep us healthy in the face of a barrage of toxic materials. You can read Dr. Hannah Albert's article, Our Toxic World for more detail. When our toxin load is high, we experience health challenges, symptoms, allergies, and sensitivities. That's why we must commit to supporting our body on many levels. There are a lot of things we can do to reduce our toxic load. Some serious symptoms of chronic toxic exposure are: recurrent headaches, muscle aching and weakness, parasthesias and neuropathic pain, recurrent infections, and infertility. There are several disorders that have a clear link to chronic toxic exposure. They are: chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, multiple chemical sensitivity, allergies, asthma, atherosclerosis, and cancer.
We can view this phenomenon on a spectrum of vulnerability.
Learn How Smart Your Body Is. Through Biotransformation
The Mind Body Method
Our bodies are smart and resilient. Through biotransformation processes, we usually transform toxicity quickly and the body comes back into balance. There are three automatic functions our body uses to trasform toxins: cleansing, purification, and detoxification that we can support and help our body adjust to most any form of environmental toxicity - these are not only chemicals, compounds, and substances that are toxic. Feelings, moods, and stress from other people in our environment affect us as well.
Inspired Health and Wellness (IHW) uses a completely different form of integrative mind-body medicine than most health coaching programs. It is not a detox, weight loss program, or diet. It is a supportive, kind, and fully integrative program specialized to work with your unique sensory differences. With a narrow focus on healing the sensory challenges sensitive people often experience, the mind-body method allows a much needed break to process whatever issues may be on the surface to restore optimal wellness.
On an IHW plan, you will be learning how your sensitives directly affect your life, well being, and health. It is designed to be supportive, energy enhancing, and grounding. You'll be adding things into your life like ancient Ayurvedic sensory techniques, energy psychology, visualization, relaxation, body movement/body therapies, and expressive art.
In addition, we'll work together to find a palate of fresh, organic food which include everything from dark leafy greens, alkaline fruits and vegetables, gluten-free grains, sweet root vegetables, micro-nutrients and pro-biotics that support each of your organ systems to help restore your senses and rejuvenate your overall energy for maintenance of health.
Our bodies are smart and resilient. Through biotransformation processes, we usually transform toxicity quickly and the body comes back into balance. There are three automatic functions our body uses to trasform toxins: cleansing, purification, and detoxification that we can support and help our body adjust to most any form of environmental toxicity - these are not only chemicals, compounds, and substances that are toxic. Feelings, moods, and stress from other people in our environment affect us as well.
Inspired Health and Wellness (IHW) uses a completely different form of integrative mind-body medicine than most health coaching programs. It is not a detox, weight loss program, or diet. It is a supportive, kind, and fully integrative program specialized to work with your unique sensory differences. With a narrow focus on healing the sensory challenges sensitive people often experience, the mind-body method allows a much needed break to process whatever issues may be on the surface to restore optimal wellness.
On an IHW plan, you will be learning how your sensitives directly affect your life, well being, and health. It is designed to be supportive, energy enhancing, and grounding. You'll be adding things into your life like ancient Ayurvedic sensory techniques, energy psychology, visualization, relaxation, body movement/body therapies, and expressive art.
In addition, we'll work together to find a palate of fresh, organic food which include everything from dark leafy greens, alkaline fruits and vegetables, gluten-free grains, sweet root vegetables, micro-nutrients and pro-biotics that support each of your organ systems to help restore your senses and rejuvenate your overall energy for maintenance of health.
Medicine for your senses, choose yours wisely.
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Experiment with Essential Oils (EO)- essential oils are a safe, natural, and side-effect free way to minimize absorption of toxins. Through their anti-bacterial, insecticidal, anti-inflammatory actions they offer a whole host of benefits for the highly sensitive. Learning how to use oils are an easy and painless way to bring harmony and balance, infuse your spaces with beauty, and to bring the healing qualities of nature more directly into your day-to-day life. Using essential oils is one of the best ways to reduce stress and start with safe experimentation with what elements your body loves best for sensory healing.
For example, do you like the warmth of peppermint for digestive health? Or maybe hints of licorice and anise? You might like the subtle citrus notes and flavors of orange, lemon, or lime for bringing clarity and sharpness to your focus and attention. For spiritual renewal try frankincense, myrrh, or palo santo. Here are a few easy suggestions to try EO's. Take a nightly bath infused with beautiful cleansing ingredients such as Epsom salts (magnesium), raw apple cider vinegar, or essentials oils for relaxation, restoration, and revivification. Instructions: Add a few drops of essential oils along with some Epsom salts to your bath water. Body scrubs: Use an essential oil with Dead Sea salts, Himalayan salts, or Epsom salts. Read how to create your own Bath and Salt Scrubs from Herbalist, Elise Krohn. Instructions: Add a few drops of essential oils to a cup of salt. Rub the mixture vigorously over the skin then let it rest. Rinse off in the shower. Essential Oils for Baths/Scrubs: Cardamom, Clary Sage, Roman Chamomile, Jasmine, Lavender, Lemon, Orange, Rose, and Tangerine. 
Rose Water has delicious, beautiful, exotic and ancient healing properties for the senses, mind, body, and spirit. Roses have been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years. They are known for restoring balance, increasing positivity, and relaxation - letting go of cares/worries. The physical constituent parts of the plant make it a major skin cleanser, helps with anti-aging, and when using the distilled water of roses (with zero chemicals added) it can be sprayed directly on the skin as a natural toner and cellular rejuvenate.
Rose water benefits:
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Easing body aches and pains
Buchu Oil has an antiseptic quality that is useful for rheumatism and arthritis, helping the body remove excess toxins and fluid. It helps release retained water, aids weight loss, and can also be used to reduce inflammation of painful joints. For maximum benefit, blend buchu oil with other essential oils. Try cedarwood, frankincense, myrrh, jasmine, ginger, lavender, lemon, neroli, orange, palmarosa, patchouli, rosewood, sandalwood, and ylang-ylang. Buchu oil benefits:
Moringa Oil (Ben oil) is infused from the seeds of the Moringa oleifera tree also known as the drumstick tree. Moringa oleifera has an abundance of phyto-nutrients. Phyto-nutrients are natural chemical agents that help protect plants and trees from germs, bugs, and outside threats. Most plant-based foods contain phyto-nutrients of some kind. They can be found in fruits, vegetables, and even whole grains.
Moringa oil benefits:
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