A Writer’s Best Friend: An Osteopath…

Have you ever had a treatment from an Osteopath? Wait…what? No? Well, if you’re a writer like me who spends a good portion of the day sitting at a desk, body parts can get a little stiff, and over time can actually get ‘programmed’ into being ‘stuck’. Neck stiffness, back and shoulder aches, and even hips hurt after putting in a good day of writing. Yes, I get up to move and stretch after a set amount of time (around 20-30 minutes), but the stiffness and pain lingers long after the book is finished. So what can you do to ‘deprogram’ those muscles and get balance back your body? An Osteopath can help you with that!

In essence, Osteopathy is a holistic form of healing which emphasizes the interrelationship between structure and function of the human body. Osteopathic Manual Practitioners believe that human illnesses are rooted in problems with the musculoskeletal system, and that hands-on manipulation can solve these problems and effect a cure by harnessing the body’s own healing potential. No drugs. No excruciating exercises. No sweat.

Sign. Me. Up.

So how does osteopathy work? The following techniques are used to get to the ‘root’ of the patient’s problem, and to help the patient enjoy a pain-free (or almost pain-free) life:

Myofascial Release is a manipulative treatment that attempts to release tension in the fascia (connective tissues surrounding the muscles, bones, nerves, and organs) due to trauma, posture, or inflammation. Trust me, some of us writers need TLC when it comes to our posture!

Muscle Energy Technique is based on the principle of reciprocal inhibition, a theory that explains that muscles on one side of a joint will always relax to accommodate the contraction of muscles on the other side of that joint when indirect pressure is applied. This technique is usually utilized in order to lengthen shortened or spastic muscles, to improve weakened ligament and muscle strength, and to improve range of motion.

Oscillatory Osteoarticular Release involves gently moving two joint surfaces to reduce muscle spasms, ease neurological irritations, assist in joint mobility, and help reduce pain and discomfort. This technique allows the body to relax and prevents it from activating protective mechanisms like muscle spasms.

Counterstrain is a manual therapy technique, meaning the osteopath uses only his or her hands to treat muscle and joint pain and dysfunction. This is an effective but extremely gentle technique because its action for treatment moves the patient’s body away from the painful, restricted directions of motion.

Cranial Sacral Therapy originates from a concept explored in the 1900s by Osteopath Doctor William Sutherland that the bones of the cranium move amongst each other and can create pressure on the brain. In this technique, the role of an Osteopath is not to forcibly correct the body, but rather to encourage the body to correct itself, which leads to a more fundamental change and often disappearance of chronic symptoms.

Ligamentous Articular Release is a manipulative technique in which the goal of treatment is to balance the tension in opposing ligaments where there is abnormal tension present. This treatment modality aims to reset the balance point of the joint complex and relieve any abnormal tension causing a variety of symptoms including pain and abnormalities in balance.

Jeff Parker getting ready to manipulate me.
In a GOOD way!

I’ve been treated for almost a year now, using a few of these awesome techniques by my Manuel Practitioner, Jeff Parker, and have no doubt in my body and mind that this healing avenue works wonders. Since visiting Jeff, my knee pain has subsided 90% (I’ve got severe osteoarthritis in my left knee due to a sports injury), and he’s taken care of some nasty back spasms due to a soft tissue injury. Though my body fights me on some issues (neck stiffness and shoulder pain from my writing career) it’s starting to ‘deprogram’ itself and looks for the balance I need. Nature, after all, always seeks balance.

Have you ever had a session with an Osteopath? If so, what was your experience like? If not, then, if you’re suffering with body pain, I urge you to check an Osteopath out in your area. It may be just what the doctor ordered. Would love to read your input and comments. Cheers, and thank you for spending time with me by reading my blog!

Writers Coping with Stress…

No one in life gets a free pass on stress. It’s like our shadow, following us around, sometimes huge, sometimes small, and thankfully sometimes not there at all. We writers face stress all the time in the form of looming deadlines, writer’s block, research, misbehaving characters, editing and revising, finding time to write, not enough money flowing to the author, and so on. We get so caught up in life (which is truly the messy bits), that we forget to take a breath, and let go.

Stress is our body’s alarm system telling us that there are new changes and demands in our environment. Stress is also a natural response when there are big changes in our lives. Unfortunately, stress can drain our body and mind, making it difficult to focus on other things – like finishing writing that freaking book! In the long run, all we can do is our best.

So how might you do your best?

Increase your activity – especially in pleasurable activities and tackling your list of tasks and responsibilities. Sometimes it’s just a matter of getting out of your seat to stretch, or taking a walk that will release the cork.

Goalsetting – Break long-term goals down into short-term and attainable goals. I know life can get (and does get) in the way of your writing goals. Moving. Publisher closes. Death in family. Parent in hospital. It’s taken me almost two years to complete the next installment of my time travel series. Go with the flow or you’ll be swept away. You need goals to keep you from going under. Plus, they will keep you sane while the hurricane is blowing you around in different directions. Remember: This too shall pass.

Mental Imagery – Imagine yourself successfully coping with a situation, and do a mental rehearsal by envisioning yourself doing the task successfully. This works great for athletes, so give it a try!

Being assertive – Stick up for yourself while being respectful of others. Block off time for you to write or your goals will never be reached. Use “I” statements rather than “you” statements. This sets up your boundaries for others to respect.

Deep breathing 101 – Relaxed breathing is slower and deeper than normal breathing, so when things get crazy, take a mental step back and try this:

·         Close your eyes, sit comfortably, scan your body for tension

·         Breathe from your belly, not chest

·         Your stomach should move out as you breath in, and out as you breath out

·         Breath out any anxiety, tension, or pain

·         Count from 1 to 8 slowly as you breath:

·         One – breathe in

·         Two – breathe out

·         Three – breathe in

·         Four – breathe out

·         Five – breathe in

·         Six – breathe out

·         Seven – breath in

·         Eight – breath out

Feel better? Works for me always! I even do this breathing exercise in the car. So in the future, if life gets too messy and those words aren’t making it to the page, then remember to take a deep breath and relax, and know you’re going to do your best to get you through this stressful time in your life.

How do you cope with stress as a writer? What are some of the strategies you use to defuse stress? Would love to read your comments! Cheers and thank you for reading my blog!