 Photo Copyright 2018 Dr. Cailin O'Hara Our bodies are conduits of powerful medicine. How can you tap into yours and activate the healing flow? ↡↡
One modality I use at my practice for patients is cupping. I have a reverence for it- it is sacred to me. Because of this, I think we get otherworldly kinds of results. The word exorcism comes to mind- let's demystify that, though, because it may not be what you think! Cupping is the ancient practice of using suction to dispel yuck and stagnation from the body (mind/spirit, too). The badass flame part is what we use to generate the suction, but the cups aren't hot! Stagnation= blood, lymph, seen and unseen congested energy. Injury? Stagnation. Heartache? Stagnation. Psychological Trauma? Stagnation. Fear? Stagnation. The list goes on. This is what we get to e x o r c i s e. I generally introduce cupping (and gua sha) midway through your treatment program- after you're feeling stabilized and at the point where you ready for the next level of release and elevation. My patients have a reverence for it, too! They'll journal beforehand, set intentions, and take the evening afterward to themselves for rest and clearing. So, yea, not your average cupping sesh. 😊 I would love to help you activate your inner medicine and heal. If you are interested in learning more about cupping or how I use it in my practice, feel free to reach out! I would love to chat with you to see if you are a good fit. I also have a video on my YouTube channel all about it! >> Cupping as an Exorcism
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by Dr. Cailin O'Hara, DACM, LAc, Dipl OM  Think about someone you love. Do you think they deserve perfect health? Happiness? Everything their heart desires? I’m sure you do. I bet you want to see the people you love most absolutely thrive. I bet you can imagine them at their very best, totally joyful and living an incredible life. Close your eyes, and take a minute or two to imagine that. What about you? Can you see that for yourself? ... How would your life change if you believed you deserve perfect health?
Deserve is such a tricky word. For many of us, it implies that we have to earn something, we have to do something, we have to be worthy. According to what standard, though? When it comes to ourselves, we can make a lot of excuses and a lot of exceptions at the expense of our health and happiness. I’ll explain some of those ways in a moment. First, I’ll ask you… What if we prioritized our own wellness like we do the health of our children? What if we prioritized our own wellness like we do the security of our finances or the caliber of the work we do? What is it that you value the longevity and vitality of most? Is it you or something else? In all the healing I’ve experienced personally and in the healing I facilitate for my patients, it always comes back to this: you come first. If you want to thrive, be well, and find the satisfaction of enduring joy, you have to prioritize YOUR longevity and vitality over all else. ... How can it be that we don’t think we deserve good health?
See if any of these statements describe you...
These are some of the thousands of ways that, on a daily basis, you block your innate vibrancy and wellness.
I know this because I’ve done it, I see you do it, and I’ve learned what happens when we stop doing it: We heal. One moment at a time, we can stop all of the self-sacrifice, self-sabotage, self-hate, self-neglect, impatience, negativity, anger and fear. We can create new mental, emotional and physical paradigms for ourselves- ones that actually support us unconditionally. Think about it like this... Even in the worst of conditions, we survive. We are a wildly resilient and adaptive species. But as amazing as that is, it doesn’t have to be so hard. It doesn’t have to be about survival. You deserve perfect health. What that looks like may be different for all of us. But one thing is true for everyone- you can either create the space to heal or create barriers to it. What are you choosing?
by Dr. Cailin O'Hara, DACM, LAc, Dipl OM
In Times of Uncertainty:
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by Cailin O'Hara, MAcOM, LAc, Dip OM
Image Copyright 2019 Sun Tree Healing Arts
If you have experienced something traumatic, it can change everything: your life, your brain, your nervous system, your beliefs. But that doesn’t mean that you’re doomed to live in fear, panic and anxiety forever.
...
...
I want to tell you about one of the most powerful ways you can help heal yourself if you have suffered from PTSD, past abuse or traumatic experiences.
(hint: we all have)
(hint: we all have)
It is an epiphany that I personally experienced… and one that completely changed the way I connect with myself. It showed me the way out of the loop of anxiety and relieving past trauma and into my power and the truth of who I am.
It is the realization of all realizations that I think is key in healing from past trauma. But you have to REALLY feel it. Doing so can immediately shift you out of anxiety-mode (flight or fight) and into a feeling of deep self-compassion (aka reconnecting with YOU).
It is the realization of all realizations that I think is key in healing from past trauma. But you have to REALLY feel it. Doing so can immediately shift you out of anxiety-mode (flight or fight) and into a feeling of deep self-compassion (aka reconnecting with YOU).
Most of us are not even aware that we have been traumatized, that our anxiety is actually a form of PTSD, stemming from past experiences that haunt our subconscious and become wired into our physiology. Anxiety is a response, not a problem. It asks us for our help. But we're afraid of it. It feels terrible. The more we focus on it, the more it seems to grow.
It just spirals out of control.
Anxiety can feel like a foreign entity that lives within us, making us feel unsafe, like we aren’t even safe in our own being. So what do we do? We run away. Sometimes literally, but generally, figuratively. We numb out, we distract ourselves, and we turn away from the feelings.
But it’s the belief that our anxiety is scary, it’s the very act of running away from it, that actually prevents us from really healing and regaining our sense of peace.
It just spirals out of control.
Anxiety can feel like a foreign entity that lives within us, making us feel unsafe, like we aren’t even safe in our own being. So what do we do? We run away. Sometimes literally, but generally, figuratively. We numb out, we distract ourselves, and we turn away from the feelings.
But it’s the belief that our anxiety is scary, it’s the very act of running away from it, that actually prevents us from really healing and regaining our sense of peace.
So, the revelation, the epiphany, the ah-ha moment that can change your life…
It’s just you now.
All of this running, this fighting against ourselves, the squashing of our feelings, the turning away from our own pain… it’s self-abandonment.
It’s just you now.
All of this running, this fighting against ourselves, the squashing of our feelings, the turning away from our own pain… it’s self-abandonment.
The pain you feel is NOW. The fear you feel is NOW. The anxiety is NOW.
But what caused it- those past experiences- are over.
So what does that mean?
It means what you are feeling now is just YOU.
You're feeling how what happened to you affected you, how it hurt you, how it wounded you... THAT is what you’re feeling now: your feelings. This also means that there isn’t anything to be afraid of in the here and now, if you think about it. You are fearing yourself. You are fearing your own broken heart, your own traumatized body.
And the more you push it all away, the worse it can feel.
...
But what caused it- those past experiences- are over.
So what does that mean?
It means what you are feeling now is just YOU.
You're feeling how what happened to you affected you, how it hurt you, how it wounded you... THAT is what you’re feeling now: your feelings. This also means that there isn’t anything to be afraid of in the here and now, if you think about it. You are fearing yourself. You are fearing your own broken heart, your own traumatized body.
And the more you push it all away, the worse it can feel.
...
What's the answer?
Trauma can fragment you.
It can scatter you into pieces. And when it’s over, you are the one that can put you back together. You are the one that can compassionately hold space for yourself, comfort yourself, give yourself the unconditional love you need and deserve. And in no way does it mean that you’re “broken." In fact, I see it as a tremendous source of power.
Trauma can fragment you.
It can scatter you into pieces. And when it’s over, you are the one that can put you back together. You are the one that can compassionately hold space for yourself, comfort yourself, give yourself the unconditional love you need and deserve. And in no way does it mean that you’re “broken." In fact, I see it as a tremendous source of power.
What if you leaned into these wounded parts of yourself?
What if you had a compassionate conversation with them?
What if you imaged yourself holding them, telling them it’s ok, that you love them?
What if you had a compassionate conversation with them?
What if you imaged yourself holding them, telling them it’s ok, that you love them?
...
Trauma is not something you ask for, but it can teach you how to love yourself in a way that maybe nothing else can… and that kind of love can make you unstoppable.
That’s what it has given me.
That’s what I hope it gives you.
Trauma is not something you ask for, but it can teach you how to love yourself in a way that maybe nothing else can… and that kind of love can make you unstoppable.
That’s what it has given me.
That’s what I hope it gives you.
...
other articles you may like
by Cailin O'Hara, MAcOM, LAc, Dipl OM
...
HOW #1:
There's a part of us that is a bully, a tyrant, a critic and even a monster.
It makes us feel like we're never doing enough, that we aren't enough. It coaxes us into over-compromising ourselves, our time and our energy. It convinces us of the worst and sends our emotions (and energy) plummeting. It tells us we're limited and can't have what we want. It scares us into believing our fears.
AKA: We live in chronic states of stress, fear and frustration, which is exhausting, inflammatory and toxic.
HOW #2:
We don't cut ourselves a break.
We don't give ourselves time to rest. We don't bask in the feelings of stillness and recharging. We're afraid we're going to miss something if we don't keep going. We're hard on ourselves if we don't do "enough." We act as if we're machines instead of organisms that need to follow the natural rise and fall of the day, the seasons and the tides of life.
AKA: We suppress our ability to thrive and be happy by resisting rest and denying our natural and innate needs.
HOW #3:
Self-compassion is nowhere to be found.
We don't act with compassion toward our personal needs. We don't give ourselves permission to BE ourselves. We don't hold ourselves in unconditional love and support. We put ourselves in uncomfortable positions; we breach our own boundaries. At every turn, we may be compromising ourselves in some way, and thus syphoning our natural energy reserves on a daily basis.
AKA: A lack of self-compassion translates as self-neglect, which takes a toll on our natural energy and vitality.
There's a part of us that is a bully, a tyrant, a critic and even a monster.
It makes us feel like we're never doing enough, that we aren't enough. It coaxes us into over-compromising ourselves, our time and our energy. It convinces us of the worst and sends our emotions (and energy) plummeting. It tells us we're limited and can't have what we want. It scares us into believing our fears.
AKA: We live in chronic states of stress, fear and frustration, which is exhausting, inflammatory and toxic.
HOW #2:
We don't cut ourselves a break.
We don't give ourselves time to rest. We don't bask in the feelings of stillness and recharging. We're afraid we're going to miss something if we don't keep going. We're hard on ourselves if we don't do "enough." We act as if we're machines instead of organisms that need to follow the natural rise and fall of the day, the seasons and the tides of life.
AKA: We suppress our ability to thrive and be happy by resisting rest and denying our natural and innate needs.
HOW #3:
Self-compassion is nowhere to be found.
We don't act with compassion toward our personal needs. We don't give ourselves permission to BE ourselves. We don't hold ourselves in unconditional love and support. We put ourselves in uncomfortable positions; we breach our own boundaries. At every turn, we may be compromising ourselves in some way, and thus syphoning our natural energy reserves on a daily basis.
AKA: A lack of self-compassion translates as self-neglect, which takes a toll on our natural energy and vitality.
...
But remember when I said this is good news?
Here's why...
Here's why...
Rest IS available. Restoration IS available. Healing IS available. Joy IS available.
The thing is, WE have to provide it for ourselves. WE have to make the decisions that benefit us the most, which can mean slowing down, cutting ties that weigh us down, disconnecting for a bit and trusting in our body's and being's miraculous ability to heal. We have to ask ourselves what we need. We have to trust ourselves. We have to put a hard stop to the endless draining of our natural energy reserves on a daily basis and start fueling ourselves with something better.
Only you can make these choices.
The thing is, WE have to provide it for ourselves. WE have to make the decisions that benefit us the most, which can mean slowing down, cutting ties that weigh us down, disconnecting for a bit and trusting in our body's and being's miraculous ability to heal. We have to ask ourselves what we need. We have to trust ourselves. We have to put a hard stop to the endless draining of our natural energy reserves on a daily basis and start fueling ourselves with something better.
Only you can make these choices.
Honor yourself first, and everything will change.
In the final article in this series, I give my best tips for improving your energy and maintaining your natural energy reserves. Check it out.
In the final article in this series, I give my best tips for improving your energy and maintaining your natural energy reserves. Check it out.
...
other articles you may like
by Cailin O'Hara, MAcOM, LAc, Dipl OM
Fatigue.
It's such a common complaint.
Waking up tired after sleeping through the night
Energy crashing throughout the day
Feeling heavy and exhausted
A mental fog that makes it hard to think coherently
An emotional fatigue, like you just can't deal with anything else
Sleep doesn't fill your tank. Food doesn't seem to help. You're too tired to work out or take great care of yourself. You don't feel inspired. Your body aches.
Obviously, there is no single cure for everyone's exhaustion. We're all different.
But for many of us, there's generally one cause, and it may surprise you.
It's such a common complaint.
Waking up tired after sleeping through the night
Energy crashing throughout the day
Feeling heavy and exhausted
A mental fog that makes it hard to think coherently
An emotional fatigue, like you just can't deal with anything else
Sleep doesn't fill your tank. Food doesn't seem to help. You're too tired to work out or take great care of yourself. You don't feel inspired. Your body aches.
Obviously, there is no single cure for everyone's exhaustion. We're all different.
But for many of us, there's generally one cause, and it may surprise you.
...
I've had a long relationship with fatigue.
A bout of mononucleosis landed me in the hospital for a week when I was 16. I was incredibly ill, and the exhaustion lingered for years. Then, the summer I turned 23, I was diagnosed with lyme disease. For months prior, I was so easily fatigued and in pain that I remember crawling up the stairs at night when I'd get home from work because walking was too hard.
Wild, huh?
I'm now in my mid-30s and those days are far behind me.
What being exhausted taught me is a) how to naturally improve my energy levels, b) how to continuously manage my energy levels and c) how to become aware of what is sucking my energy dry.
A bout of mononucleosis landed me in the hospital for a week when I was 16. I was incredibly ill, and the exhaustion lingered for years. Then, the summer I turned 23, I was diagnosed with lyme disease. For months prior, I was so easily fatigued and in pain that I remember crawling up the stairs at night when I'd get home from work because walking was too hard.
Wild, huh?
I'm now in my mid-30s and those days are far behind me.
What being exhausted taught me is a) how to naturally improve my energy levels, b) how to continuously manage my energy levels and c) how to become aware of what is sucking my energy dry.
...
So, what's the #1 thing that's draining your energy?
No, it's not a diagnosis or a life circumstance or an outside force.
Actually, it's you.
I know, that feels like shit to read. And it's easily arguable.
But it's actually really good news.
What I've learned through healing layers of myself and helping my patients as they heal is this: what drains us most is ourselves... and more specifically, our thoughts.
Don't balk. :)
Our thoughts govern everything we choose and do. They are our motivating and driving force, which directly translates as our energy expenditure. It's literally cause and effect: align with a thought, make a decision, expend energy. The problem is, we generally aren't aware of the subconscious thoughts and behaviors that are dictating how we use our energy. We also struggle to understand what we can do about it.
So, I've compiled the top 3 ways you may be draining your own energy AND my 5 best tips for restoring your natural energy levels. Keep reading!
No, it's not a diagnosis or a life circumstance or an outside force.
Actually, it's you.
I know, that feels like shit to read. And it's easily arguable.
But it's actually really good news.
What I've learned through healing layers of myself and helping my patients as they heal is this: what drains us most is ourselves... and more specifically, our thoughts.
Don't balk. :)
Our thoughts govern everything we choose and do. They are our motivating and driving force, which directly translates as our energy expenditure. It's literally cause and effect: align with a thought, make a decision, expend energy. The problem is, we generally aren't aware of the subconscious thoughts and behaviors that are dictating how we use our energy. We also struggle to understand what we can do about it.
So, I've compiled the top 3 ways you may be draining your own energy AND my 5 best tips for restoring your natural energy levels. Keep reading!
...
other articles you may like
by Cailin O'Hara, MAcOM, LAc, Dipl OM
It hits you. You don’t know how long it’s been developing.
You’ve been sinking, emotionally, and you’re less and less able to surface.
You feel a heaviness, like you’re living in a fog.
You keep crying or you can’t seem to cry at all.
No amount of talking about it makes you feel better.
You don’t know what to do, and maybe you can’t even find the energy to try.
It’s oppressive. It’s overwhelming. It haunts you. You can’t shake it.
The thoughts swarm, and they’re all defeating you; they’re negative; a barrage of “what’s the point?” or “I can’t take this anymore” or “no one understands.”
Depression doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you.
It doesn’t mean you’re any less worthy or capable than anyone else.
It’s not necessarily a disease plaguing your brain, either.
YOU ARE HAVING FEELINGS. YOU ARE REACTING TO LIFE.
STEP ONE: ACCEPT THAT.
Whew. Now that the truth has been dropped, let’s keep going…
There is this stigma against being sad, angry or in despair. It’s as if it’s not ok to feel awful. That’s the first problem. Judging these valid emotions as wrong or bad is the starting point to a downward spiral.
Here’s the thing. You’re entitled to feel HOWEVER you feel. Don’t shame yourself. And don’t take it personally if other people shame you, either. They’re just doing the best they can from their frame of mind. And people can be judge-y as F, you know.
It's ok.
Forgive them, keep going.
Depression gets tricky. It’s very convincing, not to mention dreadfully heavy. It pulls you down. It changes how you see everything. The negative thoughts go on and on, one cascade after another, feeding off of each other, until you feel so awful, so wholly inconsolable, that you feel utterly lost.
How can you climb out of this?
First of all, YOU CAN. I promise you that. I have. You can. You may have to more than once, and that’s ok. Keep going. We are SUCH a resilient species! We have no concept of the massive power we possess. Even if you tap into 5% of that power, it’s enough to get you out of the darkness. How? Because each move you make, each negative thought you challenge, each step you take toward feeling better gets you closer and closer to the relief and true peace you seek.
I can only share with you what has helped me and my patients. But remember, we are all different. We all need an approach that fits us uniquely. SO, start by feeling for what it is that YOU need. There are so many people out here, including me, waiting for you to show up seeking help. But you have come find us.
When I was 13, I was in a downward spiral no one could stop. Really. Thankfully, when it was just about too late, I found the help I needed (let's call it divine intervention), and it woke me up to that 5% of my power. I never felt that low again. I saved myself, and it was just the beginning of my journey to feeling whole and happy. I can report to you that decades later, I continue to discover greater happiness and wholeness.
No one will advocate for you like you can. No one knows what you need. Only you do. Somewhere inside, you intuitively know what you need. You HAVE to follow that. Sometimes it means you need to make a HUGE change, like move to a new state, get a new job, leave a relationship, travel. Sometimes it means you make a lot of little changes until your life totally transforms, like taking up meditation, weekly therapy sessions, joining a group, etc. Maybe you need to do both of those things.
You must change that negative spiral frame of mind that seeps in like poison, though. The best way to do that is to GET a different perspective. Literally. GO get it. The best way to do that is to ASK for it. Meditation can help you find it. Prayer can. Going for a drive can. Reading a book on the topic can (books have changed my life, my health and my mind for the better pretty epically). The way you are currently seeing things is just ONE way. You can see them differently.
As the brilliant late Dr. Wayne Dyer said:
“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”
So, climb out of the hole. Look for any glimmer of light and follow it. You may feel like a speck in this world, but we are ALL connected, we are ALL powerful, and we ALL have INCREDIBLE gifts to offer one another. We need yours.
You’ve been sinking, emotionally, and you’re less and less able to surface.
You feel a heaviness, like you’re living in a fog.
You keep crying or you can’t seem to cry at all.
No amount of talking about it makes you feel better.
You don’t know what to do, and maybe you can’t even find the energy to try.
It’s oppressive. It’s overwhelming. It haunts you. You can’t shake it.
The thoughts swarm, and they’re all defeating you; they’re negative; a barrage of “what’s the point?” or “I can’t take this anymore” or “no one understands.”
Depression doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you.
It doesn’t mean you’re any less worthy or capable than anyone else.
It’s not necessarily a disease plaguing your brain, either.
YOU ARE HAVING FEELINGS. YOU ARE REACTING TO LIFE.
STEP ONE: ACCEPT THAT.
Whew. Now that the truth has been dropped, let’s keep going…
There is this stigma against being sad, angry or in despair. It’s as if it’s not ok to feel awful. That’s the first problem. Judging these valid emotions as wrong or bad is the starting point to a downward spiral.
Here’s the thing. You’re entitled to feel HOWEVER you feel. Don’t shame yourself. And don’t take it personally if other people shame you, either. They’re just doing the best they can from their frame of mind. And people can be judge-y as F, you know.
It's ok.
Forgive them, keep going.
Depression gets tricky. It’s very convincing, not to mention dreadfully heavy. It pulls you down. It changes how you see everything. The negative thoughts go on and on, one cascade after another, feeding off of each other, until you feel so awful, so wholly inconsolable, that you feel utterly lost.
How can you climb out of this?
First of all, YOU CAN. I promise you that. I have. You can. You may have to more than once, and that’s ok. Keep going. We are SUCH a resilient species! We have no concept of the massive power we possess. Even if you tap into 5% of that power, it’s enough to get you out of the darkness. How? Because each move you make, each negative thought you challenge, each step you take toward feeling better gets you closer and closer to the relief and true peace you seek.
I can only share with you what has helped me and my patients. But remember, we are all different. We all need an approach that fits us uniquely. SO, start by feeling for what it is that YOU need. There are so many people out here, including me, waiting for you to show up seeking help. But you have come find us.
When I was 13, I was in a downward spiral no one could stop. Really. Thankfully, when it was just about too late, I found the help I needed (let's call it divine intervention), and it woke me up to that 5% of my power. I never felt that low again. I saved myself, and it was just the beginning of my journey to feeling whole and happy. I can report to you that decades later, I continue to discover greater happiness and wholeness.
No one will advocate for you like you can. No one knows what you need. Only you do. Somewhere inside, you intuitively know what you need. You HAVE to follow that. Sometimes it means you need to make a HUGE change, like move to a new state, get a new job, leave a relationship, travel. Sometimes it means you make a lot of little changes until your life totally transforms, like taking up meditation, weekly therapy sessions, joining a group, etc. Maybe you need to do both of those things.
You must change that negative spiral frame of mind that seeps in like poison, though. The best way to do that is to GET a different perspective. Literally. GO get it. The best way to do that is to ASK for it. Meditation can help you find it. Prayer can. Going for a drive can. Reading a book on the topic can (books have changed my life, my health and my mind for the better pretty epically). The way you are currently seeing things is just ONE way. You can see them differently.
As the brilliant late Dr. Wayne Dyer said:
“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”
So, climb out of the hole. Look for any glimmer of light and follow it. You may feel like a speck in this world, but we are ALL connected, we are ALL powerful, and we ALL have INCREDIBLE gifts to offer one another. We need yours.
...
other articles you may like...
by Cailin O'Hara, MAcOM, LAc, Dipl OM
Do you struggle with anxiety?
Can you feel it? That fervent pace of spring is here. Now's a good time to talk about anxiety and how we overwhelm ourselves.
Let me tell you, I GET IT. Anxiety was once my enemy. I was the teenager on Zoloft, Paxil, Buspar, Xanax. I had no idea what my anxiety was or what to do with it. In my mid-twenties, I began learning meditation. Everything changed. I found ways to understand myself and what I needed. I made friends with my feelings. I felt better. And it was just the beginning!
Anxiety is a big red flag saying HELP!
It's a part of you that needs your help.
So, check out this video where I talk about how I treat anxiety, panic and stress. Share it with someone you know if they're struggling. Let's spread the word about the power of Chinese medicine and acupuncture for the treatment of anxiety, stress and mental health.
(And also check out the little clip from February where I explain why depression can rise in the spring.)
Can you feel it? That fervent pace of spring is here. Now's a good time to talk about anxiety and how we overwhelm ourselves.
Let me tell you, I GET IT. Anxiety was once my enemy. I was the teenager on Zoloft, Paxil, Buspar, Xanax. I had no idea what my anxiety was or what to do with it. In my mid-twenties, I began learning meditation. Everything changed. I found ways to understand myself and what I needed. I made friends with my feelings. I felt better. And it was just the beginning!
Anxiety is a big red flag saying HELP!
It's a part of you that needs your help.
So, check out this video where I talk about how I treat anxiety, panic and stress. Share it with someone you know if they're struggling. Let's spread the word about the power of Chinese medicine and acupuncture for the treatment of anxiety, stress and mental health.
(And also check out the little clip from February where I explain why depression can rise in the spring.)
| | |
Stop Anxiety with this technique
So if you watched the video, you heard me explain that anxiety is completely normal. It is! But it can become an overwhelming spiral. Here's how you can stop it in its tracks.
Close your eyes and try this breathing exercise.
If you've been in recently, I may have taught this to you. If not, here's how it goes:
(count in your mind, not aloud)
As you are doing this breathing technique, you can also draw an imaginary box in your mind. Here's a video to help with that or ask me at your next session.
So if you watched the video, you heard me explain that anxiety is completely normal. It is! But it can become an overwhelming spiral. Here's how you can stop it in its tracks.
Close your eyes and try this breathing exercise.
If you've been in recently, I may have taught this to you. If not, here's how it goes:
(count in your mind, not aloud)
- Breathe in as you count to 4
- Hold your breath and count to 4
- Breathe out as you count to 4
- Hold your breath and count to 4
As you are doing this breathing technique, you can also draw an imaginary box in your mind. Here's a video to help with that or ask me at your next session.
...
Other articles you may like...
by Cailin O'Hara, MAcOM, LAc, Dipl OM
I’ve sat with hundreds of bereaved clients and patients facing circumstances in which there was no possibility of a positive outcome. I've also experienced it myself.
Sometimes we just don't get a happy ending to a chapter of our lives.
This is an aspect of life... the loss, regret and even tragedy. It’s real. It really happens. It's what I help so many of you through at Sun Tree.
But here’s the thing- we keep going. Everyone is truly doing the best they can. I never cease to be in awe of the resilience we all possess.
It has become my mission to help you cultivate that resilience, to remember who you are... not only DESPITE what has happened, but BECAUSE of it.
Resilience isn't about denying your pain or your life circumstances; it’s not about forgetting or avoiding. It’s also not about being happy all the time. It's more about transforming your pain into power, compassion and wisdom. It's about continuing to strive to live your best life because you know that there is more good to come and you want it.
We're all in this together. We can all be here for one another as support and love. Let the difficult things you go through soften you so you can be a source of light for others.
Your resilience is that light.
Sometimes we just don't get a happy ending to a chapter of our lives.
This is an aspect of life... the loss, regret and even tragedy. It’s real. It really happens. It's what I help so many of you through at Sun Tree.
But here’s the thing- we keep going. Everyone is truly doing the best they can. I never cease to be in awe of the resilience we all possess.
It has become my mission to help you cultivate that resilience, to remember who you are... not only DESPITE what has happened, but BECAUSE of it.
Resilience isn't about denying your pain or your life circumstances; it’s not about forgetting or avoiding. It’s also not about being happy all the time. It's more about transforming your pain into power, compassion and wisdom. It's about continuing to strive to live your best life because you know that there is more good to come and you want it.
We're all in this together. We can all be here for one another as support and love. Let the difficult things you go through soften you so you can be a source of light for others.
Your resilience is that light.
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Other articles you may like...
by Cailin O'Hara, MAcOM, LAc, Dipl OM
"Love yourself!" "Heal the world!" "You can do it!"
Sounds like BS, maybe? All of that self-help, New Age mumbo jumbo, blah blah blah.
Actually, it's true. Let me tell you why.
Sounds like BS, maybe? All of that self-help, New Age mumbo jumbo, blah blah blah.
Actually, it's true. Let me tell you why.
The way you feel about yourself affects everything you do, say and create.
The way you feel about yourself is rooted in your beliefs. Beliefs create your thoughts, which inform your decisions. Your decisions create your life path, one choice at a time. If you believe you are less than, unworthy, not good enough, not lovable, flawed, it will negatively affect the decisions you make. You will limit yourself, your potential and the positive impacts you can have on the "world"... aka all of us that need you, your gifts, your unique perspective.
You are limitless. It is your beliefs that tell you otherwise.
Beliefs are changeable. Starting right now, you can begin telling yourself a different story and exploring different perspectives. You are not fixed, stuck nor limited at all. You are limitless, fluid and ever-changing. If you begin challenging your current beliefs that seem to hold you back, you then give yourself the FREEDOM to experience NEW and more empowering perspectives. And hint: choose the perspectives that make you feel happiest because they likely mirror who you really are.
As you expand past old limitations and useless beliefs, you tap into what you can really do. You discover the inspiration to make significant changes not only in your own life but in the life of others. You can create a positive momentum forward for all of us by a) letting go of what whatever has been holding you back unnecessarily and b) doing whatever it is that you do best.
As you expand past old limitations and useless beliefs, you tap into what you can really do. You discover the inspiration to make significant changes not only in your own life but in the life of others. You can create a positive momentum forward for all of us by a) letting go of what whatever has been holding you back unnecessarily and b) doing whatever it is that you do best.
What you focus on will grow. What are you paying attention to?
So, here's the key. This is why the way you feel about yourself can affect the health of the world... through the POWER of your focus. If you are fixated on the negatives, the problems, the lack, the injustice, it becomes your default operating mode. This can create BIG blind spots so you can't see all of the good you possess, all of the good around you, all of the good you can offer and create. You are literally standing in your own way.
Focusing solely on the negative aspects of something will limit you from seeing the good, the potential, the myriad ways to make things better.
Focusing solely on the negative aspects of something will limit you from seeing the good, the potential, the myriad ways to make things better.
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Can you see why the way you feel about yourself is so important? The world really does need YOU, just as you are, to make the positive difference that you're here to make.
If we can all do this, one by one, we have the power to heal ourselves, our lineage and ultimately, the world.
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Other resources you may like...
by Cailin O'Hara, MAcOM, LAc, Dipl OM
You will find it necessary to let things go
simply for the reason that they are heavy.
-C Joybell C
So much talk about "letting things go." It gets old, doesn't it? Google it. You'll find a million articles on the topic. You're told to let go of the past, of people, of feelings, of memories...
"Shed the old layers of yourself."
"Let go of what doesn't serve you."
"Move on."
It has become a cliché.
"Shed the old layers of yourself."
"Let go of what doesn't serve you."
"Move on."
It has become a cliché.
Tell me... have you really let that thing "go" and fall away, never to be thought of again?
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...
One of my favorite mentors and teachers held up a dry erase marker in class one day, opened her hand, and let it drop to the floor. She said that's how it easy it is to let something go.
It did look easy... and abrupt. Shocking, actually.
Here's the thing... all of that stuff that you're trying to let go of is part of your story. It's woven into your history, your body, your mind. It's created new emotional landscapes within you, new beliefs, new understanding.
Everything that has brought you to this exact moment might not still be here in its obvious form, but aspects of it resonate within you always... aspects that you have chosen to keep.
It did look easy... and abrupt. Shocking, actually.
Here's the thing... all of that stuff that you're trying to let go of is part of your story. It's woven into your history, your body, your mind. It's created new emotional landscapes within you, new beliefs, new understanding.
Everything that has brought you to this exact moment might not still be here in its obvious form, but aspects of it resonate within you always... aspects that you have chosen to keep.
What you take with you is your choice.
...
...
I have one thing to add to the sea of articles on this topic of "letting go." And it's not about cutting things out of your life or forgetting things you can't forget or pretending something doesn't affect you anymore.
Actually, it's about embrace.
Embrace every detail, all the minutia, that has brought you to this exact moment. Some of it will be miraculous, some disastrous, some heart-warming and some unbearably painful. And you know what? THAT'S OK.
All of it, everything that came before this very moment, is over now. It's only your attention to it, your memory, the reminders, the persistent trains of thought, that keep it "alive" in the here and now, and THAT'S ALSO OK.
Actually, it's about embrace.
Embrace every detail, all the minutia, that has brought you to this exact moment. Some of it will be miraculous, some disastrous, some heart-warming and some unbearably painful. And you know what? THAT'S OK.
All of it, everything that came before this very moment, is over now. It's only your attention to it, your memory, the reminders, the persistent trains of thought, that keep it "alive" in the here and now, and THAT'S ALSO OK.
So what do you do now?
...
...
...now that you're embracing this inconceivably intricate web of a life you've lived that has created you just as you are? Perhaps it's a web that's tattered in spots, difficult to look at, confusing in its weave... how do you "let go" of what "doesn't serve" you?
My suggestion: look at it.
Let it come. See whatever details come into view. Allow yourself to really feel whatever reveals itself; look curiously and openly at all of these experiences and relationships and feelings you've lived. And ask yourself one question.
My suggestion: look at it.
Let it come. See whatever details come into view. Allow yourself to really feel whatever reveals itself; look curiously and openly at all of these experiences and relationships and feelings you've lived. And ask yourself one question.
"What did this teach me that I want to take with me?"
The real choice you have is what you take with you from here.
Choose whatever feels lighter, whatever feels like relief, whatever helps some of the weight fall away like the ease of opening your hands and letting it go.
It doesn't mean it's gone.
It will likely come up again in your mind or your life in some new but familiar way. And again, take the time to really look at it. Consider what it has to offer this time around. Ask what you can learn from it to help you be a better you. And then, when you're ready, release it once more with genuine gratitude and let yourself move on.
Choose whatever feels lighter, whatever feels like relief, whatever helps some of the weight fall away like the ease of opening your hands and letting it go.
It doesn't mean it's gone.
It will likely come up again in your mind or your life in some new but familiar way. And again, take the time to really look at it. Consider what it has to offer this time around. Ask what you can learn from it to help you be a better you. And then, when you're ready, release it once more with genuine gratitude and let yourself move on.
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Other articles you may like...
The effects of picking yourself apart
by Cailin O'Hara, MAcOM, LAc, Dipl OM
"Disease" refers to a harmful condition or process that interferes with normal functioning- physically, emotionally, mentally.
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I spent too much of my early life belittling, berating and diminishing myself in my thoughts, behaviors and choices. It took a significant toll on my health.
Over the past decade or more, I have worked diligently to reverse that pattern.
And I have.
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Over the past decade or more, I have worked diligently to reverse that pattern.
And I have.
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How do you talk to yourself?
How do you feel about yourself?
What are the stories you’re telling about yourself, your value, your abilities?
Who do you believe yourself to be?
What do you believe you can and cannot do?
How do you feel about yourself?
What are the stories you’re telling about yourself, your value, your abilities?
Who do you believe yourself to be?
What do you believe you can and cannot do?
The Cruel Voice
I think we all have an aspect of our minds that is callous, cruel or unsympathetic. It argues for our limitations, our weaknesses, our failures. It affirms our fears and picks us apart until we’re nothing but a pile of rejected fragments, totally severed from the truth of who we are and our innate worth.
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I think we all have an aspect of our minds that is callous, cruel or unsympathetic. It argues for our limitations, our weaknesses, our failures. It affirms our fears and picks us apart until we’re nothing but a pile of rejected fragments, totally severed from the truth of who we are and our innate worth.
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I believe kindness and compassion toward ourselves is the basis of healing and having the life we want most.
The Inherent Beliefs
We often aren't aware of how cruel our beliefs about ourselves are... nor how much they are limiting us or creating misery in our lives. If you're stuck in negative self-talk, you certainly won't be guiding your life in the best direction. You won't feel your best, either.
In order to dismantle negative self-talk, you need to dig up and throw out the inherent, underlying beliefs you hold about yourself that are generating your negative thinking.
Furthermore, your body is listening to your thoughts. So, what beliefs do you hold about yourself and how is this impacting your health? I can assure you that if you don't give a shit about yourself, your body will suffer.
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We often aren't aware of how cruel our beliefs about ourselves are... nor how much they are limiting us or creating misery in our lives. If you're stuck in negative self-talk, you certainly won't be guiding your life in the best direction. You won't feel your best, either.
In order to dismantle negative self-talk, you need to dig up and throw out the inherent, underlying beliefs you hold about yourself that are generating your negative thinking.
Furthermore, your body is listening to your thoughts. So, what beliefs do you hold about yourself and how is this impacting your health? I can assure you that if you don't give a shit about yourself, your body will suffer.
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I believe that self-neglect, both physically and emotionally, breeds disease.
The Overcoming
Earlier in life, before I knew better, I believed this voice. It sent me down some dark roads.
Here's one example:
Before I was even 10 years old, I was critiquing my body constantly. I’d stare in the mirror and pick myself apart. In a few years, I was virtually devoid of love or concern for myself. Self-disgust and feelings of unworthiness fueled an eating disorder that nearly killed me. I survived quite triumphantly, finding a spark of love for myself that was there all along. The first thing I said while recovering in my early teens was this:
I knew the way out of that hell… and I wanted to show people that were suffering the way.
This was decades ago. I absolutely love my body now. My belly is happy, not flat. My thighs are strong, not disgusting. My stature is petite, not insignificant. And nothing about my worth stems from my body. In fact, my body has become my best friend because it always lets me know how I’m feeling and what I need. I treasure it and give thanks to it every single day.
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Earlier in life, before I knew better, I believed this voice. It sent me down some dark roads.
Here's one example:
Before I was even 10 years old, I was critiquing my body constantly. I’d stare in the mirror and pick myself apart. In a few years, I was virtually devoid of love or concern for myself. Self-disgust and feelings of unworthiness fueled an eating disorder that nearly killed me. I survived quite triumphantly, finding a spark of love for myself that was there all along. The first thing I said while recovering in my early teens was this:
I knew the way out of that hell… and I wanted to show people that were suffering the way.
This was decades ago. I absolutely love my body now. My belly is happy, not flat. My thighs are strong, not disgusting. My stature is petite, not insignificant. And nothing about my worth stems from my body. In fact, my body has become my best friend because it always lets me know how I’m feeling and what I need. I treasure it and give thanks to it every single day.
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So, if you aren’t already, I’d recommend you start being gentle and kind toward yourself.
Talk to the sad and rejected aspects of yourself. Treat your suffering like you would if you were tending to someone you deeply love. Until you start forging that kind of relationship with yourself, your suffering will continue. Why?
Because it will only be you who saves you.
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Talk to the sad and rejected aspects of yourself. Treat your suffering like you would if you were tending to someone you deeply love. Until you start forging that kind of relationship with yourself, your suffering will continue. Why?
Because it will only be you who saves you.
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Other articles you may like...
by Cailin O'Hara, MAcOM, LAc, Dipl OM
“Sometimes the hardest part of the journey is believing you're worthy of the trip.”
Do you feel easily defeated?
Do you give up? Do you allow a set back or someone else’s opinions to hold you apart from what you want? Do you lose faith in yourself or give up on your dreams if things aren’t going the way you wanted them to?
Do you know what this stems from?
A lack of self-worth.
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Do you give up? Do you allow a set back or someone else’s opinions to hold you apart from what you want? Do you lose faith in yourself or give up on your dreams if things aren’t going the way you wanted them to?
Do you know what this stems from?
A lack of self-worth.
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This dawned on me today.
It’s been stewing in my mind for a while; now it’s a full-blow epiphany.
(You see, I'm an entrepreneur, and running a business is an unending process of self-evaluation. You need to check your limiting, negative beliefs and constructs so you can actually achieve what you’re aiming for… and that goes for everything, business-related or not. However, because the success of your business is mandatory in order to live a good life, you will care BIG TIME about how you influence it. And, because your business is impacted by your thoughts, feelings, beliefs and lifestyle, you learn to be seriously accountable for all of those elements. If you’re in a funk or self-sabotage mode, your business will let you know because it will likely suffer.)
It’s been stewing in my mind for a while; now it’s a full-blow epiphany.
(You see, I'm an entrepreneur, and running a business is an unending process of self-evaluation. You need to check your limiting, negative beliefs and constructs so you can actually achieve what you’re aiming for… and that goes for everything, business-related or not. However, because the success of your business is mandatory in order to live a good life, you will care BIG TIME about how you influence it. And, because your business is impacted by your thoughts, feelings, beliefs and lifestyle, you learn to be seriously accountable for all of those elements. If you’re in a funk or self-sabotage mode, your business will let you know because it will likely suffer.)
But, back to you and your resilience.
You can want something. You can dream. You can plan. You can take action. You can get up over and over again in the face of failure. But if you aren’t really committed to what you’re striving for, if you don’t deeply believe in yourself, if you feel easily defeated… then it’s possible that you don’t value yourself, your talent, your time or your needs. At least, not fully, not wholly, not in the ways that will keep you on the path to joy and satisfaction and success.
This is not to say that you just charge ahead, ignoring boundaries or red flags, and become egotistical and defiant. In fact, it actually means that you become more allowing, more trusting, more perceptive, more patient.
How? You know what you want.
And you believe in yourself.
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You can want something. You can dream. You can plan. You can take action. You can get up over and over again in the face of failure. But if you aren’t really committed to what you’re striving for, if you don’t deeply believe in yourself, if you feel easily defeated… then it’s possible that you don’t value yourself, your talent, your time or your needs. At least, not fully, not wholly, not in the ways that will keep you on the path to joy and satisfaction and success.
This is not to say that you just charge ahead, ignoring boundaries or red flags, and become egotistical and defiant. In fact, it actually means that you become more allowing, more trusting, more perceptive, more patient.
How? You know what you want.
And you believe in yourself.
...
Signs that you believe in yourself...
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So, what is the dream you’ve been chasing or neglecting?
What kind of improvements are you seeking in your life?
Do you let others or your own past experience dictate how/when/if you will have what you want?
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What kind of improvements are you seeking in your life?
Do you let others or your own past experience dictate how/when/if you will have what you want?
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Years ago, I read and re-read the book, "What is your Self-Worth?" by Cheryl Saban.
One quote from the book still repeats in my mind often:
"If you don't value your own worth, no one else ever will."
Whatever you’re working toward- relationships, goals, career, health, emotional balance, etc.- think about why you want it, what it means to you and how it aligns with your values. Really reflect on that. And know that you’re more than worthy of all of the good that will come to you. If someone doesn’t like you, oh well. If someone tells you you’re not good enough, that’s their issue. Be your own best friend, trust your process, and don’t lose sight of what you want to create in your life.
It’s what you’re here to do.
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One quote from the book still repeats in my mind often:
"If you don't value your own worth, no one else ever will."
Whatever you’re working toward- relationships, goals, career, health, emotional balance, etc.- think about why you want it, what it means to you and how it aligns with your values. Really reflect on that. And know that you’re more than worthy of all of the good that will come to you. If someone doesn’t like you, oh well. If someone tells you you’re not good enough, that’s their issue. Be your own best friend, trust your process, and don’t lose sight of what you want to create in your life.
It’s what you’re here to do.
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Other articles you may like...
by Cailin O'Hara, MAcOM, LAc, Dipl OM
Image Copyright 2018 Sun Tree Healing Arts
Does it ever end?
We can remember a loss from a decade ago and cry as if it was happening at that very moment. Or we can experience a loss that is incredibly painful at the time but then it somehow fades into a vague memory with little emotional impact.
Grief.
Shock.
Tragedy.
Trauma.
Stagnancy.
Disbelief.
Detachment.
Regret.
Resentment.
Denial.
Anger.
Despair.
Apathy.
Panic.
Grief has so many facets, but the heart of it is loss. How do we process loss?
How do we keep going?
How do we keep going?
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Personal Grief Stories
I thought I’d tell you a bit about me. I’m full of light these days, a positive influence and thinker, my own best friend with deep wells of self-love and compassion. But I’ve spent years cultivating this life, this mindset, this heart-space, this self-approval and personal power. (I’ll spend the rest of my life cultivating it as well.) Here are some grief experiences that actually helped me be a better version of myself.
1) UNCOVERING PAST TRAUMA
I’ll save the story for another time, but I uncovered past trauma while in medical school. It was absolute hell. It was a dissociating kind of grief that would pull me to the ground in a sobbing heaviness I couldn’t stop. I felt like I was dying of grief. I could feel it in my skin, my bones, my blood. So much of my life started making sense as I felt this upwelling of unbearable pain. I had been carrying it for decades, unknowingly, but it was actually the root of so many physical and emotional symptoms I had experienced up until then.
WHAT I LEARNED
It taught me quite personally how the body stores trauma. If you touched me in a certain way or if I heard certain words or sounds, I’d be transported back in time and frozen in an emotional hell. Thankfully, Chinese medicine can explain these phenomena and body memories in empowering and clarifying ways. Better yet, it can treat the very roots of it. What I’ve gone through and since healed now helps me to hold compassionate space for traumatized patients in a way I never would have understood otherwise. And through my practice of Chinese medicine, I can work with you to safely unlock the frozen patterns and memories caused by trauma.
(Book: Treating Emotional Trauma with Chinese Medicine)
I’ll save the story for another time, but I uncovered past trauma while in medical school. It was absolute hell. It was a dissociating kind of grief that would pull me to the ground in a sobbing heaviness I couldn’t stop. I felt like I was dying of grief. I could feel it in my skin, my bones, my blood. So much of my life started making sense as I felt this upwelling of unbearable pain. I had been carrying it for decades, unknowingly, but it was actually the root of so many physical and emotional symptoms I had experienced up until then.
WHAT I LEARNED
It taught me quite personally how the body stores trauma. If you touched me in a certain way or if I heard certain words or sounds, I’d be transported back in time and frozen in an emotional hell. Thankfully, Chinese medicine can explain these phenomena and body memories in empowering and clarifying ways. Better yet, it can treat the very roots of it. What I’ve gone through and since healed now helps me to hold compassionate space for traumatized patients in a way I never would have understood otherwise. And through my practice of Chinese medicine, I can work with you to safely unlock the frozen patterns and memories caused by trauma.
(Book: Treating Emotional Trauma with Chinese Medicine)
2) ACCEPTING TRAGIC LOSS
My second story is one of tragic loss. You know, those shocking tragedies that have no good ending... it’s that kind of story. I won’t tell the tale in detail, but I’ll tell you what it has created: a legacy of light, particularly for your benefit.
I became intimately familiar with tragic loss after working for a few years at an emergency veterinary clinic in Portland, Oregon. Horrible things would happen to beloved pets; pet owners would come in frantically with said beloved pets- and sometimes, there was nothing we could do. Then it was my job to walk our clients through the euthanasia, death, and after-care process. It taught me a tremendous amount about navigating tragic times, but not until it happened to me did I understand how it felt.
In 2017, after a year of massive change and loss, my partner's beloved cat, Daphne, died in a tragic event the day that I moved into his home. Earlier that same day, we had to euthanize his dog who was failing from cancer. Six months prior, I had to urgently euthanize my sweet dog on Christmas morning. It was too much for me and my partner to process and became the foundation for which our relationship would end.
WHAT I LEARNED
Grief is not one single feeling. It's an overwhelming array of emotions we experience as we process loss. When the loss is tragic or shocking, it can be even harder to console ourselves or make sense of what has happened. This kind of experience taught me a whole new level of acceptance. It wasn't until I was able to accept what happened that I could truly reconnect with myself and heal. Now, it seems that the loss of Daphne lives on in me as a legacy of healing for others. Working closely with grieving patients has become one of my specialties.
...
My second story is one of tragic loss. You know, those shocking tragedies that have no good ending... it’s that kind of story. I won’t tell the tale in detail, but I’ll tell you what it has created: a legacy of light, particularly for your benefit.
I became intimately familiar with tragic loss after working for a few years at an emergency veterinary clinic in Portland, Oregon. Horrible things would happen to beloved pets; pet owners would come in frantically with said beloved pets- and sometimes, there was nothing we could do. Then it was my job to walk our clients through the euthanasia, death, and after-care process. It taught me a tremendous amount about navigating tragic times, but not until it happened to me did I understand how it felt.
In 2017, after a year of massive change and loss, my partner's beloved cat, Daphne, died in a tragic event the day that I moved into his home. Earlier that same day, we had to euthanize his dog who was failing from cancer. Six months prior, I had to urgently euthanize my sweet dog on Christmas morning. It was too much for me and my partner to process and became the foundation for which our relationship would end.
WHAT I LEARNED
Grief is not one single feeling. It's an overwhelming array of emotions we experience as we process loss. When the loss is tragic or shocking, it can be even harder to console ourselves or make sense of what has happened. This kind of experience taught me a whole new level of acceptance. It wasn't until I was able to accept what happened that I could truly reconnect with myself and heal. Now, it seems that the loss of Daphne lives on in me as a legacy of healing for others. Working closely with grieving patients has become one of my specialties.
...
Here’s what you can try for yourself if you’re facing dark times...
1) Stop running.
Distracting yourself, keeping busy, avoiding your feelings, numbing yourself, etc., are behaviors that only prolong your suffering and prevent true healing in the long run.
2) Listen to yourself.
What are you feeling? What do you need? Cultivating a compassionate and nurturing relationship with yourself is mandatory for true healing, but too often it’s avoided. To get your feelings to quiet down, you actually have to look at them and develop a compassionate relationship with them. It’s only you; don’t be scared.
3) Seek help.
We can’t heal alone. We aren’t solitary beings. We need support. Therapy, books, bodywork, herbs -and of course Chinese medicine!- are all wonderful options. If you ask for help, it will show up. Keep an open mind.
4) Permission to feel like shit.
Only you can give yourself permission to feel your feelings. Let yourself feel the pain- this will allow it to move through you and eventually out of you. Resisting your feelings forces them to grow. We aren’t machines. We’re living beings with ebbs and flows, and we absolutely must honor that in order to heal.
Take care of yourself.
-Cailin
Distracting yourself, keeping busy, avoiding your feelings, numbing yourself, etc., are behaviors that only prolong your suffering and prevent true healing in the long run.
2) Listen to yourself.
What are you feeling? What do you need? Cultivating a compassionate and nurturing relationship with yourself is mandatory for true healing, but too often it’s avoided. To get your feelings to quiet down, you actually have to look at them and develop a compassionate relationship with them. It’s only you; don’t be scared.
3) Seek help.
We can’t heal alone. We aren’t solitary beings. We need support. Therapy, books, bodywork, herbs -and of course Chinese medicine!- are all wonderful options. If you ask for help, it will show up. Keep an open mind.
4) Permission to feel like shit.
Only you can give yourself permission to feel your feelings. Let yourself feel the pain- this will allow it to move through you and eventually out of you. Resisting your feelings forces them to grow. We aren’t machines. We’re living beings with ebbs and flows, and we absolutely must honor that in order to heal.
Take care of yourself.
-Cailin
by Cailin O'Hara, MAcOM, LAc, Dipl OM
Copyright 2018 Sun Tree Healing Arts
When you’re in pain, you want to the know the way out of it… as quickly as possible. But how do you know what will work? What’s the right thing to do?
The Flow
How I Treat Pain
How I Treat Pain
If you’re seeking “alternative” treatments for pain, you likely have many questions. I will explain how I treat pain in my practice and what you can expect if you come to see me for help.
1) We start with an in-depth consultation and evaluation.
This means I ask you questions about your pain, how it started, what you’ve tried. But I also ask you about all other systems as well- digestion, moods, lifestyle, sleep, energy, etc. This way we can capture the whole picture of your current health and well-being.
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2) I utilize tongue and pulse diagnosis.
Feeling the pulses and evaluating the tongue are diagnostic methods in Chinese medicine to further explore physiology, imbalance and emotional states. I also dial in with my intuition while feeling pulses (which seems to be one of my superpowers) and can detect pain pathways, emotions and other important aspects of your health.
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3) I evaluate your posture and musculature.
Your structural alignment, or lack there of, reveals where imbalances lie that can contribute to, or even be the root of, physical pain. I observe your posture, alignment and tension patterns in your muscles to better understand what is implicated in your pain. I also help you to become aware of these imbalances so you can begin gently correcting postural problems on your own.
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4) I devise your treatment.
After the consultation and evaluation, we have a clear idea of how to get started with your treatment and care. I consider your overall health, based on our findings, and diagnose your pain patterns using Chinese medical theory. In your diagnosis, I will also include any other symptoms or complaints you may have. This means that treatments will not only alleviate pain but also help heal other underlying imbalances. (Bonus! Who doesn’t like more energy and better sleep, anyway?)
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5) Treatment.
Your treatment is tailored very specifically to you. With this medicine, there is no one size fits all treatment for pain. I’m also a less is more kind of provider. So, this means that I choose the most effective treatments while remaining minimal in intensity (aka gentle, soothing, relaxing treatments are my style; painful and intense are not). During treatments, I will use some combination of my treatment offerings including acupuncture, Acutonics tuning forks, cupping, gua sha and sound healing.
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5) Home recommendations and treatment plans.
I often recommend simple things you can do at home or throughout the day to help ease your pain (Epsom salt foot soaks are a favorite). I also explain my recommended number of treatments, expectations for our progress, and anticipated results.
In general in my practice:
In general in my practice:
- Severe pain, acute: 1 treatment every 3-5 days for 3-5 treatments and then reassess.
- Long-term pain, chronic: 1 treatment weekly for 6-8 total treatments and then reassess.
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6) What you can expect.
Most pain significantly reduces after a couple of treatments. Sometimes it’s 1-2 treatments and we’re done! For others, it can be weekly sessions for 4-8 weeks. Often, patients will come in monthly after that or as needed if pain flares. If we don’t make the progress I expect with our treatments, I reconsider your diagnosis and may need to refer out for imagining or a second opinion.
I’m always amazed how well this medicine works to treat pain. I also love how the treatments themselves don’t hurt and are, in fact, very relaxing. It’s a win-win scenario! If you're in pain, give Chinese medicine a try.
Releasing Held Traumas
by Cailin O'Hara, MAcOM, LAc, Dipl OM
Spooky title, huh? Don't freak out and cancel your next appointment. :)
You’re going to be surprised how obvious this is after I explain.
You’re going to be surprised how obvious this is after I explain.
TRUTH:
Some of the darkest, most intense cup marks I have seen were not on patients with pain but patients with significant past emotional trauma.
Some of the darkest, most intense cup marks I have seen were not on patients with pain but patients with significant past emotional trauma.
According to Chinese medicine, this makes perfect sense.
But you may wonder how emotions are related to your body.
Allow me to explain.
...
But you may wonder how emotions are related to your body.
Allow me to explain.
...
Emotional Imprints
STEP ONE:
Something happens to you that is jolting, shocking, upsetting, painful, etc.
(physically or emotionally)
STEP TWO:
It then creates an imprint in your physiology… a true shock to the system, if you will.
STEP THREE:
Your systems become blocked, impaired, sluggish.
(We refer to this as “stagnation” in Chinese medicine.)
STEP FOUR:
If nothing is done to move this stagnation, it continues to accumulate.
STEP FIVE:
You experience worsening physical and emotional symptoms.
STEP SIX:
You’re fed up and ready for legit healing.
STEP SEVEN:
You come to see me, and we opt for cupping.
STEP EIGHT:
I use a gentle, sliding method and we analyze the color and severity of the markings.
(the marks are not painful, FYI)
STEP NINE:
In a few days, you report feeling “brand new,” like a weight has been lifted off of you.
So, what does cupping do?
It moves stagnation.
...
Something happens to you that is jolting, shocking, upsetting, painful, etc.
(physically or emotionally)
STEP TWO:
It then creates an imprint in your physiology… a true shock to the system, if you will.
STEP THREE:
Your systems become blocked, impaired, sluggish.
(We refer to this as “stagnation” in Chinese medicine.)
STEP FOUR:
If nothing is done to move this stagnation, it continues to accumulate.
STEP FIVE:
You experience worsening physical and emotional symptoms.
STEP SIX:
You’re fed up and ready for legit healing.
STEP SEVEN:
You come to see me, and we opt for cupping.
STEP EIGHT:
I use a gentle, sliding method and we analyze the color and severity of the markings.
(the marks are not painful, FYI)
STEP NINE:
In a few days, you report feeling “brand new,” like a weight has been lifted off of you.
So, what does cupping do?
It moves stagnation.
...
Past Hurt, Be Gone!
Cupping pulls up the gunk just hanging out and accumulating in your system so that your body can clear it out. You might feel crummy after the treatment because your body is working to detoxify the gunk. But in a few days, it’s gone.
You’re no longer carrying those remnants of whatever was causing the stagnation.
Whatever has happened to you emotionally may be significantly impacting your physical health. It may show up as physical pain, fatigue, digestive issues, headaches, PMS… you name it. We carry past pain with us, often unknowingly, and it colors our health, relationships, decisions and the way we see the world. Sometimes you don’t have to psychoanalyze your past trauma to death… you just have allow yourself to let it go.
...
You’re no longer carrying those remnants of whatever was causing the stagnation.
Whatever has happened to you emotionally may be significantly impacting your physical health. It may show up as physical pain, fatigue, digestive issues, headaches, PMS… you name it. We carry past pain with us, often unknowingly, and it colors our health, relationships, decisions and the way we see the world. Sometimes you don’t have to psychoanalyze your past trauma to death… you just have allow yourself to let it go.
...
TRUTH:
An exorcism simply implies that we’re calling something up and out of your being that doesn’t serve you. Be gone, stagnant energy, past hurts and aching pain!
An exorcism simply implies that we’re calling something up and out of your being that doesn’t serve you. Be gone, stagnant energy, past hurts and aching pain!
Chinese medicine is fan-freaking-tastic for alleviating emotional trauma, stress, anxiety and depression. And I happen to specialize in those things. I understand it personally and professionally, and I also know how to overcome it.
So, if you want to try something new, something profoundly effective and surprisingly gentle, you know where to find me.
-Cailin
So, if you want to try something new, something profoundly effective and surprisingly gentle, you know where to find me.
-Cailin
by Cailin O'Hara, MAcOM, LAc, Dipl OM
“Why do you so earnestly seek
the truth in distant places?
Look for delusion and truth in the
bottom of your own heart.”
-Ryōkan
I’m becoming increasingly aware of the fraudulence in the healing and healthcare industry.
(Fact: Instagram accounts dressed up in fancy branding do not equate to truth or to your healing.)
(Fact: Instagram accounts dressed up in fancy branding do not equate to truth or to your healing.)
| ... You see, I’ve got a thing for truth. I have the feels, big time, for authenticity. |
And now, as I have shifted from long-time patient/student/seeker to (still all of those things and...) provider/teacher/discoverer, my perspective is much keener.
Total Bullshit, except...
I used to be that person spending hundreds+ on supplements/providers each month.
(aka, I moved in with my mom in my 20s because my healthcare was more expensive than rent)
I used to look for someone or something to take away my symptoms.
I used to follow certain diets, demonize foods, seek perfection.
I used to think there was one answer that would solve my problems.
I used to think I was lost and that someone else needed to find me.
I have since learned that was all total BS... except the lost part.
...
I was definitely lost.
Lost in negative belief systems, lost in fear, lost in giving away my power, lost in other people’s opinions, lost in a web of a lack of self-compassion, lost in past trauma, lost in physical pain, lost in exhaustion. It wasn’t that I needed anyone else to find me. What I needed were legitimate healers and inspirers to help me WAKE UP, reconnect with myself and set out on the true path back home to me, my power, my light.
(aka, I moved in with my mom in my 20s because my healthcare was more expensive than rent)
I used to look for someone or something to take away my symptoms.
I used to follow certain diets, demonize foods, seek perfection.
I used to think there was one answer that would solve my problems.
I used to think I was lost and that someone else needed to find me.
I have since learned that was all total BS... except the lost part.
...
I was definitely lost.
Lost in negative belief systems, lost in fear, lost in giving away my power, lost in other people’s opinions, lost in a web of a lack of self-compassion, lost in past trauma, lost in physical pain, lost in exhaustion. It wasn’t that I needed anyone else to find me. What I needed were legitimate healers and inspirers to help me WAKE UP, reconnect with myself and set out on the true path back home to me, my power, my light.
No One Saves You
Along the way, here are some (personal) truths I’ve discovered…
1) Healing doesn’t have to be complicated or precise
...although, that doesn’t mean it isn’t sometimes total hell and other times complete bliss. It does mean, however, that you don’t need to drop all of your money on fancy contraptions, supplements, claims, etc.
2) No one ever saves you
...you are your own healer. All of your power to heal is actually WITHIN you; it’s most likely just dormant. Find inspiring people that light you up and help you activate the epic-ness that you are. Before you know it, no matter what your symptoms or struggles, healing begins.
3) Everything you seek is already within you
...this is actually the quest you’re on. You’re searching for your way back home to yourself, your health, your truth, your inherent worthiness, your love. Everything you’re looking for- the relationships, the feelings, the experiences, the well-being- is actually the act of you discovering and reclaiming parts of yourself. You are looking for familiarity in your outside world because that is how you find yourself. Why? Because the truest resonance that you seek, that feeling of total alignment and joy- that is who you are.
1) Healing doesn’t have to be complicated or precise
...although, that doesn’t mean it isn’t sometimes total hell and other times complete bliss. It does mean, however, that you don’t need to drop all of your money on fancy contraptions, supplements, claims, etc.
2) No one ever saves you
...you are your own healer. All of your power to heal is actually WITHIN you; it’s most likely just dormant. Find inspiring people that light you up and help you activate the epic-ness that you are. Before you know it, no matter what your symptoms or struggles, healing begins.
3) Everything you seek is already within you
...this is actually the quest you’re on. You’re searching for your way back home to yourself, your health, your truth, your inherent worthiness, your love. Everything you’re looking for- the relationships, the feelings, the experiences, the well-being- is actually the act of you discovering and reclaiming parts of yourself. You are looking for familiarity in your outside world because that is how you find yourself. Why? Because the truest resonance that you seek, that feeling of total alignment and joy- that is who you are.
...
Let’s keep things simple.
Let’s keep things true.
Let’s look for what feels good to us.
Let’s resist the urge to categorize things as the “perfect” diet/method/trend/supplement/etc.
Don’t give your power away.
Don’t believe in things outside of yourself over the truth that’s within you.
I promise you, from one soul to another, it is YOU that is the perfect body/being/image.
The thing is, it’s up to you to believe it.
Let’s keep things simple.
Let’s keep things true.
Let’s look for what feels good to us.
Let’s resist the urge to categorize things as the “perfect” diet/method/trend/supplement/etc.
Don’t give your power away.
Don’t believe in things outside of yourself over the truth that’s within you.
I promise you, from one soul to another, it is YOU that is the perfect body/being/image.
The thing is, it’s up to you to believe it.
by Cailin O'Hara, MAcOM, LAc, Dipl OM
“It is always the false that makes you suffer, the false desires and fears, the false values and ideas, the false relationships between people. Abandon the false and you are free of pain; truth makes happy, truth liberates.”
- Nisargadatta Maharaj
I often talk with my patients about their truth: what’s true for them and not true for them. It’s an empowering topic, and it’s incredibly clarifying.
Investigating your truth connects you with who you really are, which then starts flipping on the switches of your innate ability to heal.
Uncovering your truth is your greatest medicine. It is alignment in the most perfect sense of the word… alignment with yourself at the soul level.
Investigating your truth connects you with who you really are, which then starts flipping on the switches of your innate ability to heal.
Uncovering your truth is your greatest medicine. It is alignment in the most perfect sense of the word… alignment with yourself at the soul level.
...
Truth as Medicine
We all have the innate ability to heal from just about anything. The body is absolutely brilliant in its intelligence, resilience and downright magical nature. Your body is you. You are your body. It is not all that you are, certainly, but it is a physical manifestation of you. Think about that. How do you feel about your body? What does it reveal to you? Do you embrace it or hate it? Do you tell it to shut up with all of its noisy symptoms or do lean into the cachophony and ask what it needs?
And… how does this relate to your truth?
And… how does this relate to your truth?
Truth bomb: |
Your body is the perfect tool to communicate to you what it is that you need, what serves you, what excites you and what has just got to go. I wrote a workbook for this topic, actually, because it’s so damn important to me. I often describe it as “jumping ship” on yourself when you choose to ignore your feelings, needs, pains, etc. It’s self-abandonment, and it steers you on a course of a shitty life, if you ask me.
No one will honor your truth or your worth if you don’t.
And all of this relates to medicine. To me, everything can be medicine- everything can point you back in the direction of healing, embodiment, wellness, wholeness. All you have to do is allow it. And once you start gaining some clarity on the deepest truths of who you are, you’ll find medicine (aka healing) everywhere you look.
...
Truth as Home
It was when I began learning how to turn inward, explore the truth of who I am and connect with myself through compassion that my physical symptoms began to disappear.
Music is medicine, as most of us know. I became strongly invested in this investigation of our personal truths when I took a songwriting class in Portland (that I also hope to bring to the Phoenix area) called “Songwriting as Truth-Telling.” The heart of the class was learning how to be honest in your songwriting without judging the content. We would each share a song every class, listening to each other's work with one single intent: listen for what you like. Then we would give positive feedback if we felt so inclined. It was beautiful. It changed how I connected with myself, my songwriting, my words and an audience.
Truth-telling unlocked me in many ways, dove me deep into my vulnerability and helped me to start moving out all of the internal clutter and baggage I’d been carrying.
This class was medicine for me and matches precisely how I practice medicine: let’s look for the good, for what we like, what serves us and what we need.
When you turn your attention to those things, miracles happen.
When you turn your attention to those things, miracles happen.
...
The truth of who you are lights up in all directions, illuminating the best path for you to take in any given moment. In fact, these lights are like a beacon calling you back home.
They say home is where the heart is… and your home, truly, exists within in you in your deepest truths.
They say home is where the heart is… and your home, truly, exists within in you in your deepest truths.
~Cailin
Moving Past Fear and Into Your Own Power
by Cailin O'Hara, MAcOM, LAc, Dipl OM
"Feel the fear and do it anyway."
If you have followed along this far, you have read Part 1 and Part 2 of this series that shed light on how I work with anxiety, grief and healing past trauma. This final article will give you some guidance on how you can overcome these feelings and experiences.
How do you heal what an experience has done to you?
You certainly aren't who you were before it happened.
Who are you now?
What do you do with the fear, the pain and the grief?
You certainly aren't who you were before it happened.
Who are you now?
What do you do with the fear, the pain and the grief?
The only way through it is through it.
It would be a relief if something could just take away how terrible you feel after a traumatic experience, but life doesn't work that way. And I would argue that going through the healing process can be one of the best and most empowering things you'll ever do for yourself.
It would be a relief if something could just take away how terrible you feel after a traumatic experience, but life doesn't work that way. And I would argue that going through the healing process can be one of the best and most empowering things you'll ever do for yourself.
...
Going Through It...
Here are the 4 essential steps you can take to help you move past fear and into your own power.
1) Seek out a qualified counselor
| Find someone that you enjoy talking to because if you don't have a good connection, it's a waste of your time. You won't feel safe and comfortable opening up to someone you don't particularly like. A counselor who is a good fit for you can make your journey "through it" a much easier and enlightening one. |  |
2) Get in your body
| If you're experiencing difficult emotions or haunting memories, it can be very overwhelming. Generally people disconnect (often unintentionally) from themselves, their bodies, their environments and/or their relationships as a way to cope with these overwhelming feelings. You may get stuck in a flight-or-fight response, feeling perpetually on edge that something horrible is about to happen. You may also experience flashbacks that cause you to lose touch with where you are and what's happening around you. |  |
...
Anything that you do mindfully will help you reconnect. This means that you give 100% of your attention to whatever you're doing. This art of focusing will help you to relax and quiet your nervous system so you can come back into the present moment.
Ways to get back into your body...
Yoga/Tai Chi
Exercise/Movement
Meditation
Acupuncture
Wash the dishes :)
Yoga/Tai Chi
Exercise/Movement
Meditation
Acupuncture
Wash the dishes :)
3) Read helpful books and articles
| Books are rich with information that you may find comforting, inspiring and empowering. To know that you are not crazy or alone in your struggle gives you the momentum to move through your difficult emotions. Check out your local library! |  |
Some Book Recommendations...
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk
The Body Remembers: The Psychophysiology of Trauma and Trauma Treatment by Babette Rothschild
Reinventing the Body, Resurrecting the Soul by Deepak Chopra
Minding the Body, Mending the Mind by Joan Borysenko
The Places that Scare You by Pema Chodron
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk
The Body Remembers: The Psychophysiology of Trauma and Trauma Treatment by Babette Rothschild
Reinventing the Body, Resurrecting the Soul by Deepak Chopra
Minding the Body, Mending the Mind by Joan Borysenko
The Places that Scare You by Pema Chodron
4) Cultivate Self-Compassion
| Developing a deep sense of compassion for yourself will take practice, but I promise you it is mandatory if you truly want to heal. Compassion means you learn how to soothe yourself. It means you're kind to yourself above all else. It means you don't make life worse for yourself by telling yourself negative things, stressing yourself out or putting yourself in unhealthy situations. |  |
What does self-compassion look like?
Resting when you're tired
Soothing yourself with a bath when you're overwhelmed
Cancelling plans you aren't interested in
Listening to your needs
Resting when you're tired
Soothing yourself with a bath when you're overwhelmed
Cancelling plans you aren't interested in
Listening to your needs
...
Really simple stuff, right?
Most of us have this awful tendency to downplay our needs and our worth. If you have past trauma, this may be your tendency most of the time. You need you, above all else, in order to heal. So step up, be your own hero, and take the best damn care of yourself that you can. You will be amazed at how comforting it will feel when you finally treat yourself with the respect and love that you always deserve.
Most of us have this awful tendency to downplay our needs and our worth. If you have past trauma, this may be your tendency most of the time. You need you, above all else, in order to heal. So step up, be your own hero, and take the best damn care of yourself that you can. You will be amazed at how comforting it will feel when you finally treat yourself with the respect and love that you always deserve.
...
Other articles you may like...
Author
Dr. Cailin O'Hara, DACM, LAc, Dipl OM, is a nationally board certified Doctor of Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, herbalist and coach. She is based in Phoenix, AZ.
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