50 Comments

This video made me realize why I need to play guitar and sing every once in a while. It’s to calm my nervous system!

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That’s what keeps me sane!

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Do you play music too?

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I do! I’ve been playing guitar and singing for 45 years.

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Is that right? I have been playing for about 50 years now!

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I’ve never taken it very seriously. I just like to play and sing, and I do a little writing as well. But I’m not good about “practicing.” I play acoustic stuff. It looks like you have a Stratocaster? (It’s hard to tell in your photo.) I have a couple of Martins, a Gibson J-200, and a custom “Kalamazoo Gal,” a Gibson replica built to commemorate the “Rosie the Riveters” of the luthier business.

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It’s not a Stratocaster but a Musicmaster. It was built by Leo Fender in 1961. I don’t play acoustic guitar much.

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I suppose it’s why I stim. I repeat words, or I repeat the same movement over and over again. Although after watching this, I will try to incorporate more breathing.

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This is really great. And topical to work I'm doing surrounding neuro-plastic pain/mind-body connections. Anyone dealing with chronic pain might be interested in this, and his book (The Way Out). He has a pain clinic in L.A. that does remote therapy. So far they are amazing. https://www.tmswiki.org/forum/painrecovery/

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I am very familiar with Alan Gordon and the TMS Wiki. It changed my life!

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It’s changing mine too. :)

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I’m glad to hear that. It *is* actual brain science!

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Nice- similar to EMDR therapy.

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I've had people recommend EMDR, I've never tried it though.

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I like the old fashioned way... going for a walk in the wilderness.

According to Dr. Kelly Brogan, the brain is only as healthy as what we feed it, literally and figuratively.

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Thank you … I just tried it. Amazing, it worked. Great tool…something everyone can use in these times.

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Sure works! Tricks to calm the nervous system are priceless

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Ignatia in homeopathy pellets is a definite go to for nervous dysregulation as well.

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good for grief, as well.

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Celia - your article brought up a memory from many years ago about binaural beats:

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320019

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Thanks!

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interesting

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I learned this breathing technique from a "hypnotist" who was my last ditch effort to quit smoking many years ago. It was the only thing that EVER worked for me. I had to use it many times a day, and could do it wherever I was for months until the stress of addiction finally wore off. I am going to add the snaps and clap for stress in general!

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Great find! I like these body connection hacks because it opens us up to things that we blocked away in the shadows.

Qi gong is great too and I enjoy this guy's way of doing it

https://youtube.com/@HoldenQiGong?si=NtWxxKbSscV0EdX9

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thanks for Qi Gong the link. I enjoyed watching some of his videos and want to explore this more.

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Great video. We all could benefit from this simple technique. As this world spins out of control we can take control of our own bodies.

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I can’t snap my fingers. Never have been able to, now I’m even more dysregulated

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I use this with my autistic students and now the rest of the class does , too! ❤

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You made me smile - thanks for your levity and humor. :) But if you can't snap, as long as you do something with or to your left and right sides alternately, it counts. some people here had great ideas. i can't snap my fingers either, due to blowing out my thumb joints from lifelong labor and working with my hands.

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If you can't snap your fingers, clap 3 times. See if that works

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That would be two handed ..left brain right brain (such as the finishing clap) Thanks for the suggestion though

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Yes, very good. Another excellent post, Celia. The brain does like rhythm which is why the Gregorian chants are so appealing. Thanks again!

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Thank you for sharing this.

I’ve discovered also that breathing has been the key to any anxiety. Took a while...

I used to breath in for as long as possible.. counting as you breath in....say count to 10 or more, then breathe out slowly.

I’ll try this next time I have a mini panic attack. The problem I have is the second breathe. When in panic mode, that second breathe isn’t as easy as it looks.

I thought possibly my method of breathing and the click, click, clap could also work, an option if you’re like me.

I’ll try it next time.

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I was told about a 4-7-8 breathing rhythm that really helped me for a long time.

I came across 'Shaking Medicine' and have played with the idea of it in my own way with consistent great results.

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