saraeli said...
Has anyone here tried a mind-body approach to healing from chronic Lyme disease?
Please note this is different from mindfulness, although it can incorporate mindfulness. This is an approach often used for trauma and chronic pain, made popular by Dr. John Sarno. It relies the concept of neuroplasticity, meaning the brain can re-wire itself, and we can guide how it does so. People find it useful for pain and other chronic illnesses, including migraines, autoimmune disorders, anxiety, degenerative disc disease, irritable bowel disease, and fibromyalgia. The idea is that your conscious thoughts can help to carve out new neural pathways, circumventing the old ones that perpetuate symptoms. The science behind it is well-established.
I have been using an app called Curable that employs a mind-body approach and can be done at one's own pace and from home. It uses brain re-training exercises, writing exercises, meditation, and education mini-podcasts. I enjoy it and find it helpful, but I'm curious how far-reaching the effects might be for an illness that has at least some basis in active microbial infection. I know many on this forum will disagree, but I believe that the wellness of the whole-body terrain is responsible for healing Lyme, not simply killing microbes, which makes me want to include the mind-body approach as a prong of my treatment.
I am hoping for feedback from people who have tried this approach. What did you find were the limits of its effectiveness? Were there any successful elements that surprised you? Thank you!
I’ve been doing this the last two months, via a book called “Switch On Your Brain” and the corresponding program “21-day brain detox” by Dr. Caroline Leaf. She discusses neuroplasticity through a Christian lens and the program is deeply Bible-based.
It’s been incredible. Mentally (Spirit-wise, not necessarily brain-wise/fog etc) I feel amazing. I was sure I’d need a psychologist to help me deal with PTSD from lyme. There are several LL counselors near me but the same as LLMDs - no insurance, $300 an hour. I found this book and it’s been perfect.
Basically, it takes 21 days to remove a toxic thought and replace it with a healthy one, 63 to make a habit of it. So you work on one specific issue for 21 days, and repeat the cycle twice.
One of my issues I decided to work on was SLEEP. I realized, as I’d start feeling anxious and panicked every single night as we settled down to watch tv, that I was having anxiety attacks about
BEDTIME! All the sleepless and terrifying nights spent fighting babesia flares, air hunger, palpitations, panic attacks, 911 calls, had built up in my mind to make going to bed an uncertain and scary experience. Insomnia is a HUGE part of Lyme and a huge detriment to healing. I realized for me, it had become a fear of sleep!
I HAVE NOT SLEPT THIS WELL IN YEARS!
Maybe this program coincided with a turn in my health and worked together really well, or maybe this program is just THAT GOOD, but within days I was sleeping better, and I have had restful sleep 90% of the last month!
The other issue I’ve worked on is changing my attitude and forgiving the people who have said ignorant and enraging things to me about
Lyme - you know the ones we’ve all heard :
“Have you gotten a second opinion?”
“You just need to have a baby to keep your mind off your sickness.”
“It’s all in your head.”
“Aren’t you better yet?”
“I didn’t know your were still sick.”
“You can’t be still sick, antibiotics kill all the bacteria.”
“I know this, I’m a doctor.”
Believe it or not, I now feel much more compassion for ignorance rather than rage, and that is also helping me tremendously.
My Chinese Medicine is still going well - I hit a plateau with the Stupidest Weather Ever Recorded (constant warm-cold fronts changing almost daily and the wettest year on record) and the full moon, which is why I’m having my first “Babs” Night of Insomnia and Panic in a long time, and thus, back in the forum after several months’ hiatus.
But I do believe working on the mental aspect has had an incredible impact on my healing. I even got a few days’ break from brain fog and depersonalization - I got a precious glimpse of getting my life back, enough to keep me going through the relapses.
Other people have also said they notice a change in me, which I think is hugely encouraging considering the invisibility of this disease.
Highly highly recommend a neuroplasticity program!