Emotional Stress Release (ESR)

Emotional stress is an undeniable contributor to our symptoms or diseases. Stress disorganizes our body’s ability to heal itself. Whereas herbs can help rebuild damaged tissue or stimulate the return to better function, if the underlying emotional stress is not regularly dis-charged or released, a major contributor to our problem remains as an eroding undercurrent, which may lead to an early demise.

An Analogy: From birth to present we have experienced and recorded events in our body many traumatic.  The interpretations of these traumas are like tormenting burrs in the reactive part of our brain. We both perceive life and react to life accordingly.   Often we don’t realize or recall the events in our past that have produced these tormenting thoughts but on a daily basis we react according to the impressions that these have made on us. These burrs or torments play an important role in forming our attitudes towards ourselves, towards other people, towards life and towards situations.  For example, one who comes from poverty may be overly stressed by money, even though as an adult he has acquired much wealth. Perhaps at a young age he heard his parents argue about the lack of money and these remain as vivid memories or burrs which affect his behavior and reactions to money as an adult. He would need to discharge the torment causing the painful emotions about the lack of money.

So, how is this done?

There is both a physical and mental/spiritual aspect to discharging these negative stressors.

Hand positions for Emotional Stress Release. Note how the fingers wrap the forehead.

Physical: Hands to the forehead as shown. Although any position is suitable, it is best to begin by relaxing on a bed, face up with pillows on both sides of your head to support your raised arms. Rest the arms on the pillows, elbows bent and place the pads (not tips) of your fingers on your forehead, as shown.   The finger pads should be resting on the forehead without pressure in order to feel a pulse.  (It is a natural response to place one’s hand on the forehead in stressful times – because we intuitively know it de-stresses us.)   Breathe deep relaxing breaths while contacting these points, putting your attention to what your fingers are feeling.  We are looking for a pulsing sensation to develop under the finger pads. This may take 2 to 10 minutes. Often the pulses will come and go on one side then the other. Keep contacting these points until you feel synchronized pulses on both sides that don’t quit.  After the pulses are nicely synchronized, then you are ready for the next aspect of de-stressing. (After several trials if you still can’t feel these pulses, go on to the next step anyway. You will still receive some benefit.)

Mental (Spiritual): While your finger pads are still sensing the synchronized pulses on your forehead, pick one current stressor in your life to de-stress from.  That can be an event, a relationship a past trauma, etc.  Note what happens to the nicely synchronized pulses with that thought – they disorganize – just like what happens to the rest of your body with that stressful thought!  That’s OK.  Stay with it.  Hands still in place.   You want to keep thinking about that one current stressor until the synchronized pulses return.  Note the absence of the normal stress pangs in your body as you feel the pulses on your forehead return.

If it was an event, sequence through it, recalling the sounds, smells, images, feelings, environment, etc.  Continue breathing deeply as you wait for the synchronized pulses to return.  (During this wait, people of faith can ask God for insight/counsel regarding the stressful aspects of the relationship/event, by simply asking, “God, what did You want me to know or see here?  How do You look at this?  How should I look at this?”  Then keep thinking about the stressful aspects of the event and listen.). If people are involved make certain to forgive and release any offense against you by everyone involved.  After you have processed every hurtful aspect of the one event, finish with a deep relaxing breath. You are done when you can think about the event without causing the synchronized pulses to leave or disorganize.  For traumas that have many facets or people involved, it may be best to divide it into smaller parts.   I recommend taking one event/part each night and doing this every night. I do.  You’ll be amazed – and it is cheaper than the herbs you need to fix the damage done by the stress!! Many people report that they sleep better too.

This emotional stress release technique may be applied to upcoming events about which you are apprehensive, current situations which are presently stressing you and past events which are most likely responsible for current physical and emotional problems. Just work with one event per session. As childhood experiences come to mind, take time to release them with this technique. (More direction on how to process these things is found in my free book  Spiritual Disciplines for Physical and Emotional Healing).  You will find that you begin to react to situations differently – in a more rational and peaceful manner, AND there will less disorganizing effects on your tissue.

Don’t underestimate the usefulness of this technique. Researchers have studied and documented the effectiveness of this procedure (see below)  but it won’t help you unless YOU DO IT.

©Pat Block ND 2007

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