A new study showed that a stress management program can help people contain an illness.
The American Academy of Neurology published a study of 121 people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) who participated in a course of 16, 50 minute sessions over 5 – 6 months. Each person spent time with a therapist, exploring positive coping mechanisms – including relaxation techniques, healthful and social activities — along with elective sessions (such as fatigue, anxiety and pain management).
HOLDING STEADY
77% of the participants not only felt less stressed, but the study also showed a halt in the progression of the disease (meaning there were no new lesions or brain damage). This is encouraging news. We can, to some extent, play an active role in our well being when managing an illness.
However, once the training ended, so did each person’s practice with their new found skills. And with it, so ended the positive effects of the training. What happened?
GROUP HUG
While further studies are needed to explore the reversal, we could speculate.
Having support through a difficult period is, in many ways, its own good medicine. Losing a support system eliminates an important variable in managing illness: nurturance. Learning the skills wasn’t enough to sustain a continued wellness practice. The shared experience of community may have played a strong part in everyone’s stress reduction. Along with stress management skills, community AND continuity seem to make for a better balm.
Healing is impossible in loneliness; it is the opposite of loneliness. Conviviality is healing. To be healed we must come with all the other creatures to the feast of Creation. ~Wendell Berry
Shhhh…listen. There is one word that can improve all of our lives immediately: communication. It begins with listening. It takes patience, and courage, to live in the quiet space of listening to understand. It is a discipline. It is not easy to let go of entrenched habits, our words and demeanor are tools of self protection…but we are sunk when we use them as weapons. Who is brave enough to become an active listener — and hear what’s being said?
The ancient story of the Tower of Babel offers one explanation for the linguistic and cultural differences of the human race and the subsequent conflicts arising in the “confusion of tongues”. The city of Babel united humanity with one language. In time, humility and reverence were lost. In their vain glory the people began to construct a tower that would reach heaven to show their power. In their arrogant and egocentric behavior, they began to fight with one another.
The tower of power manifested the worst of human traits. God was fairly miffed at the mess the people had made, and took away their ability to communicate by creating different languages. The communication button was reset…everyone had to begin again. People disbursed across the earth, split into separate factions. Instead of learning cooperation, all communication broke down, conflict and chaos ensued. And here we are, in modern times, where it seems we are still harvesting those bitter fruits.
In Chinese philosophy, shin, the word for mind, is represented by the character for heart. In Taoist & Zen thought this means higher awareness comes from thinking holistically, encompassing logic and emotions. We need to talk — and we need to listen. With intelligence, with compassion. Our dear friend, Maria Seddio, at Corp Talk, teaches the mantra: “conversation is the cure”. Simple, but not simplistic. Healing will only come through a calm, compassionate and rational discourse.
Here are some tips for you. Start with the next voice you hear:
Be clear in what you say.
Let it be more of a dialogue, and less of a monologue.
Honor the other person. Really hear what is being said, don’t just wait for your turn to speak.
Don’t make judgments about a person or a situation based on limited information. Even better, don’t judge.
A solipsistic world view is a closed system. Expand your consciousness: let go of your “truth”.
Listen, listen, listen.
The world is in crisis. Do you have the courage to communicate? Listen, and speak, as if your life depended on it. It does.
The aim of better listening is not to hear more, but to hear more clearly, especially the call toward consciousness. ~David Hykes
TanDao Wellness 