Living Well with HIV: From Stress to Serenity, via my iPod?

by TeddyG

Listen up, skeptics!

Anyone who thinks the mind-body connection is bogus needs to give me a chance to explain. I’ve been a worry maniac lately: Should I start HIV meds? Will I ever meet Mr. Right? Is my new career going to work out? I’m telling you, everything goes to hell when I’m in emotional distress. My stomach bloats and churns, my energy drains and I can’t work out as well, and my whole quality of life suffers--all because I’m thinking destructive, fearful thoughts.

Anyway, let’s talk mind-body. From my experience, there is no doubt we have different energy centers (chakras, if you want to get specific) in our body that have recorded and stored a lot of our emotional and physical life information. I can't remember who said “Your biography is in your biology,” but it makes sense to me.

For example, that bully who taunted you relentlessly in the seventh grade or the abuse you endured from a parent may be in the past, but the memories still live in your cells and can create chemical reactions in your physiology regardless of how far in the past they occurred.

"I’m a major player in my health and future and what I think and feel (or don’t feel) really does matter."

In truth, this stuff is pretty solid science.  If you don't buy it, just check out the likes of Candace Pert and Bruce Lipton and decide for yourself. It was also explained in an entertaining way in the “What the Bleep” movie. For me in the past year especially, this knowledge has provided the ammunition I needed to take at least some emotional control over my condition, mindset and confidence that I’m a major player in my health and future and that what I think and feel (or don’t feel) really does matter. It’s empowering, and I can feel my whole body come alive with excitement when I ponder this.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not floating around in the clouds of La La Land all day, thinking that happy thoughts magically make everything all right, but I’ve greatly opened up my mind and heart throughout this ordeal and am certain stuff like guided meditation can have a profound and positive affect on health and immune function. If you look in a microscope, you know we’re not just slabs of meat, because every cell in our body is moving, shifting, communicating and regenerating every second of our lives.

My confidence grows when I see studies like this that now prove the effect of mind on the body on immune function, so there’s definite science backing me up here.

Anyway, despite all these goodies, I labored through an uninspired workout today, my mind doing more lifting than my body; but I was determined to do some cardio and did go for a run. With the blood finally flowing, I cooled down by listening to a quick 2-minute snippet of a Deepak Chopra meditation, which basically prompts your mind to focus on the body’s unlimited potential to heal (I’m paraphrasing below, but you get the idea):

Now have awareness in your whole body...pure consciousness, intelligence, bliss, infinite organizing power, healing potential, in every cell of the body…

Does this sound hokey or life-saving? All I know is, I swear my body aligns every time I listen to this. I love the idea of infinite healing intelligence doing its thing. It feels real, and I can feel my stomach lighten, the energy flow, and my confidence and self- acceptance expand. I had a few moments of ‘things are really OK,’ and it was awesome.

What do you think? Is this just the ‘placebo affect’ via my iPod? Have you had any experiences with guided meditations that help you feel this kind of connection and well being? Or do you find yourself muttering “this guy doesn’t have both oars in the water?"

Regardless of where you stand, I welcome your feedback, leave a comment below! See you next time...

Comments

[Hawi Moore]

Very useful

[nganga]

thanks for sharing