H-SAD
Building Sensitivity and Presence during Holidays
24 December 2022
“to live a conscious life we need to refine our listening.” j. o’donohue
Zabeth and I just returned from a hike around these Berkeley Hills neighborhoods. On our walk we talk and I do alot of processing. Rather she listens more to me digress and ramble and seemingly bring my disparate world back together after a long spell of listening. I can get lost sometimes and it is helpful to have her by my side. This walking talk was about my struggle with H-SAD or better known only by me as:
“Holiday Seasonal Affective Disorder.”
I added the Holiday.
Often our patients find holidays and anniversaries of life and death overwhelming. These emotions enhance the bodily pain that we see them for. Much of our traditional modalities do little to lessen the suffering.
I believe it is necessary to listen to ourselves and our needs as much as to our patients. When we are in tune and able to appropriately hold our well being we then transmit that out into the world, to our patients and clients.
Personally, I carry deep sorrow during these times. It has rarely been a wonderful time for me and so I have often walled myself off to the good cheers. This investigation of my own frailties in my life is a good reminder that others may be carrying more in their emotional “well” than they can manage.
The capacity to let go of needing to “do” something in a session versus “being” with someone, quite possibly, is the tool we carry forward during the Holiday seasons:
The presence of another as Witness.
I want to wish everyone Happy Holidays and Glad Tidings and Love’s Presence as we arrive in this prosperous year of the Water Rabbit. As my kids would say, “Merry KissMoose.”
A Clinical Pearl
Before you start your clinic day, take a long minute to:
Notice any bodily sensations that are arising.
Take a few breaths and listen to your unconscious mind, the body, to tell you what is arising through the felt sensations.
Breathe a few more times until there is a sense of calm and peace. Calmness and Peacefulness.
This 60 seconds will set your electrical magnetic ground for the morning to what is to arrive for your day. You are ready!