“Oooooh that’s a flesh wound! ” Perception and Bowen Therapy

Oooooh that’s a flesh wound ! Perception and Bowen therapy

An injury, sprain, strain or break with pain, immobility and tears is more than just a flesh wound.   It challenges a person in more than the physical dimension extending into their capacity to work/ play, eat, sleep and socialise.

Perception of an injury is unique to the individual and as a Bowen therapist I value hearing the client’s viewpoint as it orients my work.

Factors that influence pain perception include:

• Dehydration
• Social influences eg social isolation can intensify pain for some
• Culture eg stoicism,
• How much you understand of what is happening
• Self confidence in asking for what you need
• Body awareness
• Expectations
• Distractions from pain
• Reward at the end of pain eg childbirth a baby
• Anxiety and fear
• Previous experiences of pain and injury

Diminishing your perception of an injury delays seeking help. Even Bear Grylls after adventures in extreme terrain on return home to the U.K. seeks his Bowen therapist for care.

Bowen treatment is wholistic covering above and below an injury.   The body compensates in response to injury  for example a twisted ankle can compound with a sore shoulder, realignment occurs with Bowen therapy.

Self care

Self care encouraged in Bowen therapy includes: applying cool packs to areas of pain, bruises, sprains and strains.   Though not with open wounds.

Drinking adequate volumes of water and consuming anti – inflammatory foods such as: ginger, pineapple, fish oil, turmeric provide internal support.

External support extends to creating a relaxing environment consider music, scents, textures, level of lighting. There is a direct relationship with fear / anxiety causing adrenalin (the flight and fight hormone) to rise and increase pain.   Adrenalin levels increase with bright lights, harsh sounds and foreign smells. For example often labouring women would come to the hospital and labour would stop. Their adrenalin levels spiked and their body perceived it unsafe to birth there until their anxiety levels dropped.

Worry, fear and expectations contribute to this flight and fight pattern. Discussing your concerns with a healthcare professional can reduce anxiety and thus pain.   No question is too silly if it’s keeping you awake.

Humour: comedy and good company positively reduces stress and pain levels.   This resilience skill is demonstrated in these TED talks relating to recovery from injury.   Sports injurys TED  talk http://blog.ted.com/2012/11/28/7-powerful-stories-of-recovery-after-injury/

As the knight in the Monty Python Holy Grail movie demonstrated as he yelled “It’s just a flesh wound…” . Its your perception and action that counts as you battle another day.

Cindy is my Kelpie dog who would not release the ball in her mouth to another dog.  The other dog pulled the ball away and tore Cindy’s mouth. It looked like “a flesh wound ” but I perceived it to be more.  She immediately had plastic surgery on what my nephew calls her smile extension .  Cindy received Bowen and Jin Shin Jyutsu in recovery phase.  I am grateful that she is back running with me.