​Over the past year, we have felt the full range of negative emotions. Now, we should
acknowledge Spring, a time of growth, renewal, of new life being born, and of the cycle of life starting over again. There is a widespread feeling of hope and commitment to something better.
 
Spring is the season of rebirth and hope for a better future. Days are getting longer, coats are getting lighter, colors of the grass and trees are brighter. Red buds, magnolias and tulips are peaking, birds and squirrels seem to be everywhere. Spring is full of energy and promise. It is the season of optimism, and good intentions.
 
“You can’t enter into a new season, until you’re willing to leave the old one!” Joe Joe Dawson
 
This past winter was a season of sorrow, illness and even death. Allow the light winds of spring to wash away the residue of grief. If winter brought on sickness, let the freshness of spring restore us to health and notice the new life and rebirths that surround us. If we experienced silence, invite the birds of spring to bring song back into our lives. If it was a season of hopelessness, let’s connect to the perennial signs of hope.
 
“Today is a new day. Today I can start something new and find that place within. Today I am alive and for that I am grateful. I see love manifest in the miracles of nature. When we understand these natural cycles of death and renewal, we can make space for them in our inner lives and help others through the process of change.” Sheryl Paul, Spring: The Season of Rebirth
 
Rebirth is also happening deep within us. This is a time when our bodies are naturally increasing in energy. It’s like the sap is also flowing through our veins – filled with more energy. 

Spring is the perfect time to increase our efforts on our healing journey.  Maybe it’s time to try something we’ve never tried before or begin a new regimen of healing. The increased energy in our cells which occurs this time of year can actually accelerate our healing process.

We are connected to nature. We go through a major shift with the change of seasons. We are introspective in winter; energy goes inside. In Spring, we experience a rejuvenation – physically, spiritually, and emotionally – we gain new life by going outside; be active and breathe!

We have the opportunity to recharge. We have a chance to open up, just like everything around us. Feel the aliveness that comes into our own personal spirit, which is rooted in the spirit of nature.

“Even nature has hidden lessons for mankind underneath its silent saga. The trees teach us to give without discrimination, the seasons proclaim that time keeps changing for the better and the vastness of the sky bears the amount of love we should hold in our hearts for everyone we come across throughout the day.” Sanchita Pandey, Voyage to Happiness!
 
The early weeks of spring often bring a feeling of restlessness. As hopeful and optimistic as this season is, there is always an element of discomfort in a world of transitions. Change is hard, even when the change is positive, like birthing a new part of ourselves or mastering a new skill. There is an itchiness of psyche that occurs when the old self falls away and the new self hasn’t fully emerged.
 
Kitty O’Meara, a former teacher and chaplain living in Wisconsin wrote the poem, “And the People Stayed Home”. The poem captures the spirit of 2020. It is Timeless. It captures change,
rebirth and discovering a new way. It is full of hope. 

​And people stayed at home
And read books
And listened
And they rested
And did exercises
And made art and played
And learned new ways of being
And stopped and listened
More deeply
Someone meditated, someone prayed
Someone met their shadow
And people began to think differently
And people healed.
And in the absence of people who
Lived in ignorant ways
Dangerous, meaningless and heartless,
The earth also began to heal
And when the danger ended and
People found themselves
They grieved for the dead
And made new choices
And dreamed of new visions
And created new ways of living
And completely healed the earth
Just as they were healed.

​​The poem shows a resignation to being optimistic with words such as “healing” and “dreaming” and “think differently” and “new ways”. These words manifest the change Spring can bring.
 
Sometimes just noticing the change of seasons is enough to facilitate an inner change. Now is the time to ask ourselves, “What is longing to be born?” “What changes and rebirths should I be observing within myself and my family?” “What seeds of new beginnings are resting in the underground caverns of my mind?”
 
It’s Time: Awaken to the joyful song of hope, bringing balance to the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual healing we deserve.

It’s been a year now that we’ve had to live with Covid. The virus has changed our lives. Every day we are inundated with information about the increasing number of cases of the virus and deaths. We’ve been watching, reading and listening to news stories and social media reporting the latest news.

We are learning to understand that although it only looks like one contagion, in reality, it is two. One of them is the novel coronavirus itself. The second contagion is ancient, more intractable, and even more contagious: human fear, which can spread faster person to person than the coronavirus.

It’s not just a metaphor. Fear changes human behavior, for better and worse. As scientists and doctors fight the virus, the next challenge is managing the main driver of this second pandemic —the spread of fear.

But while we are receiving guidance to protect our physical health, like washing our hands, social distancing, etc., we are being given very little guidance to address our mental and emotional health.  The fear pandemic surrounding the coronavirus is global, and while I am not minimizing the seriousness of the virus, fear is making us more susceptible to its potential spread.  We need emotional tools to keep our immune systems strong to combat the disease.

A published model of how disease spreads in a population is called the “coupled contagion” model. It includes two contagions: the disease itself, and the other, fear of the disease.
​
One hundred years ago most humans experienced two distinct waves of the "Spanish flu," separated by just over four months. The second wave of the disease has long been a mystery. It is considered unlikely that the second wave was a new viral strain, produced by mutation. Instead, it’s more likely that the wave was triggered by human behavior, and, in particular, by contagious fear.
 
Fear is the normal survival instinctive reaction to danger. It allows us to guide our choices and our actions to avoid taking excessive risks for our health and our lives. However, we all don’t have the same sensitivity to danger. Some of us tend to underestimate it and go ahead no matter the risk, while others are much more reserved - some, even paralyzed - by fear.
 
When we are faced with a life-threatening crisis that has an uncertain outcome, it is natural to feel worried, vigilant, and even panicky. If the crisis cannot be resolved in a reasonable amount of time, we may begin having trouble sleeping, experience headaches, feel tense and nervous, and become subject to other health problems. 

Infectious outbreaks have shaped the psyche of humanity for millenia. Epidemics and pandemics propagate fear and erratic behavior and, long after they are over, remain entrenched within the global psyche. It is referred to as ‘behavioral immune system’.
 
Since humans are a social species that evolved to live in large groups, the behavioral immune system modified our interactions with people to minimize the spread of disease, leading to a kind of instinctive social distancing.
 
It has been found that fear of disease can influence people’s attitudes to immigration. When we fear contagion, we tend to be harsher and less accepting of strangers. 

Anxiety about the unknown (such as the risk of Covid) can hyperactivate the fear center in the brain called the amygdala. It acts like a trigger-happy alarm that interfaces with the stress system that keeps our body and mind on high alert for as long as we are feeling anxious. Research shows that the mere suggestion of danger, even if it never occurs, is enough to trigger the amygdala and activate the stress response. This is what keeps people awake at night.
 
Although psychological stress is not pathogenic per se, the damage it causes to the body’s cells triggers an immune response that makes us more susceptible to a foreign pathogen. Chronic activation of the stress systems can damage our cells and upset many of the body’s immune functions.
Over-worrying about Covid can increase our vulnerability to viruses by creating an imbalance in immune function. This is because the immune system reacts to multiple breaches on immunity, the way that airport security reacts to multiple breaches in safety, by escalating the response. Although it is important to be prepared during this pandemic, we need to avoid panic.
 
Excessive anxiety about Covid can trigger an immune response that increases inflammation and readies the immune system’s equivalent of special forces. But too much inflammation does more harm than good; it deregulates immune function, increasing our risk of a viral infection.

Remember our immune system depends on what we eat, how we exercise and detox, but also our thoughts, feelings, attitudes, and emotions. We need the balance of mind, body, and spirit to maintain a healthy immune system.
 
Every challenge has within it the seed of an equal or greater benefit. But before we can experience these benefits, we need to find that seed, nourish it, and let it bloom in our minds. Ask yourself, “What possible gift could there be for me because of this challenge?”

Sometimes, it’s easy to feel that circumstances are greater than we can handle, and that they have the power to control our lives. However, the secret to maintaining unshakeable peace is to realize that we have the power within us to choose presence and happiness. No matter what’s happening around us, we can create harmony with our circumstances, so that we no longer feel like the universe is working against us.

“Every time your fear is invited up, every time you recognize it and smile at it, your fear will lose some of its strength.” Thich Nhat Hanh

Fear is essential to our survival in times of danger and should be followed as a means of taking appropriate action. However, when fear becomes intense and persistent—interfering with daily life—it needs to be addressed. So, what can be done to help mitigate our fears? 

​It has been proven that nasal breathing leads to better overall health. It makes sense, given that the primary defense to airborne viruses is in the nose and not the mouth. Breathing through the nose can support the body’s natural resistance to viral infection.
 
Usually, anxiety begins with short breaths which cause negative reactions in our body and can become an anxiety attack. Controlling our breathing overcomes these outbreaks. I cannot emphasize enough the power of the breath.
 
When we’re dealing with fear or anxiety, the first thing to do is take time out for physical activity requiring deep breathing which can help protect the immune system from the effects of stress.
 
“Deep breathing can help intense situations feel less threatening. Deep breathing brings awareness which will help us breathe mindfully,” said Juli Fraga, a clinical psychologist.
The following protocols demonstrate the power of the breath and how utilizing deep breathing can calm us.

QiGong, TaiChi, Yoga and/or Meditation activate deep breathing and take our minds away from negative thoughts, thus strengthening the immune system. The purpose of Qi is to establish and maintain health.
 
These practices activate the life force ‘energy’ (Chi or Qi). When Qi flows it brings ‘healthy’ energy to every cell. Qi is like water moving in the body; when water does not flow, it becomes stagnant. Stagnation of Qi is the cause of all disease, circulation of Qi is the cure of all disease. The purpose of Qi is to establish and maintain health. When the Qi is right, the body/mind is right.
 
The physical activities of walking, jogging, biking, etc., outdoors require not only deep breathing, but also uses our brains differently. These exercises cause our brains to release more of the happy chemicals — the endorphins! This helps switch our fearful thoughts to clearer thinking, overcoming our fear. We can achieve naturally, what many prescription drugs do artificially.

Press pause: read a book; listen to music, a podcast, or an audiobook, make a cup of chamomile tea; take a bath with calming bath salts. Or…just unplug! (The TV, phone, tablet, and computer.)
 
Eleanor Roosevelt said: “You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along. You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”
 
And, then we have John Lennon who sums it up: “There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love. When we are afraid, we pull back from life. When we are in love, we open to all that life has to offer with passion, excitement, and acceptance…Evolution and all hopes for a better world rest in the fearlessness and open-hearted vision of people who embrace life.”
 
How are we going to allow the ‘fear pandemic’ to affect our lives? That decision is for each one of us to make! Our quality of life depends on it.

 
Disclaimer:
(If you have tested positive for the coronavirus or think you may have contracted it, please consult your physician before considering the options above.)
 
I am not advocating any particular Alternative technique. I ask that you keep in mind that all the information given is just my web research. It is only meant to give you the basic history and knowledge to hopefully whet your desire to learn more by doing your own research. One must do ‘due diligence’, researching more information than I am able to provide here in order to make a knowledgeable, individual and personal decision as to which route to follow.
 
References:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/healing-stress-the-inside-out/202003/your-panic-is-increasing-your-risk
https://theconversation.com/anxiety-about-coronavirus-can-increase-the-risk-of-infection-but-exercise-can-help-133427
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/act.2019.29223.jha
https://reallifecounseling.us/overcome-fear-and-anxiety/
https://www.verywellfit.com/exercise-and-stress-relief-1231199

​February is always about love…the love month!
 
How do we communicate Valentine’s Day when we cannot get close to each other?
 
We know about love of spouses, parents, children, family, friends, pets, and even ourselves.
 
However, in this crazy world we are confronted by the fact that we have not seen much love during the past year. Somewhere amidst the turmoil of the pandemic, Covid statistics, social distancing and the lack of human touch, love has become scarce. Wearing masks that hide our facial expressions and feelings is contrary to what we need to connect to each other.
 
We have become separate in our thinking: families, friends, towns, cities, states and even countries are approaching the pandemic with different strategies. We now see only the differences. Children are being brought up afraid to touch or be near grandparents. We are told we put others in danger if we don’t follow the Covid protocols. We have lost touch with our humanness and inner connection to Love.  
 
Touch is fundamental to the human experience. It is an essential component of socio‐emotional, physical, cognitive and neurological development in infancy and childhood. An important form of nonverbal communication throughout life.

The absence of love may not cause us to die, like the absence of food, water or oxygen. But inside, something else dies. And it may be the reason someone chooses to give up, emotionally or physically.

As we practice social distancing to prevent the community spread of Covid, platonic physical touch among friends and colleagues is off limits. Hugs, high-fives, friendly pats on the back or anything that breaches the six-foot rule are now taboo. The scarcity of love in our society is becoming more and more evident.

If we haven’t figured it out yet, physical contact with another person is very important. Whether we’re among those who need multiple displays of affection daily or those who simply need a hug per week, human contact is one of our basic needs. It’s a soothing way for us to signal safety and trust. Without it, our physical and mental centers are thrown out of whack.
​
When touch is limited or eliminated, people can develop what is termed touch starvation or touch hunger. Touch hunger impacts all facets of our health and has been associated with increases in stress, anxiety and depression. 
 
We are wired to touch and be touched, so it’s stressful for us to not experience physical contact.

​When physical contact becomes limited—or, in some cases, eliminated—people can develop a condition called touch starvation.

Asim Shah, M.D., professor of the Menninger Department of Psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine, says; “When someone is touch starved, it’s like someone who is starved for food. They want to eat, but they can’t. Their psyche and their body want to touch someone, but they can’t do it because of the fear associated with, in this case, the pandemic.”

Touch starvation increases stress, depression and anxiety, triggering a cascade of negative physiological effects. The body releases the hormone cortisol as a response to stress, activating the body’s “flight-or-fight” response. This can increase heart rate, blood pressure, respiration and muscle tension, and can suppress the digestive system and immune system—increasing the risk of infection.

Due to social isolation and the stress and anxiety around Covid, many people are suffering silently from touch starvation.

“People who are stressed or depressed, because of lack of touch, will have problems sleeping. Every single medical disease including heart attack, diabetes, hypertension, asthma—every single physical disease—is altered if you are more anxious, more depressed or if you have more mental health issues,” Shah said.
​
He added, “going an extended period without positive physical touch can even lead to post-traumatic stress disorder.”

​Our skin is the largest organ in the human body, covering us from head to toe.
Positive human touch is an integral part of human interaction. Whether it’s a warm embrace, a reassuring hand on the shoulder or one arm linked through another, physical contact is a large part of how we show concern and establish camaraderie with friends and loved ones.

When we hug or feel a friendly touch, our brains release oxytocin, a neuropeptide involved in increasing positive, feel-good sensations of trust, emotional bonding and social connection, while decreasing fear and anxiety responses in the brain at the same time. For this reason, oxytocin is affectionately known as the “cuddle hormone.”

When a child is born, touch is how they bond with their mother. Our wiring system has touch integral throughout our bodies.

Our desire for physical contact starts at birth. A mother of a premature baby in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit), is asked to hold the baby on her chest a few times a day. We know this bonding, this human touch, is important for the growth of that child.

A study in 2013 found that touch was the most important nonverbal behavior in the nursing profession when treating older patients: “In old age, the tactile hunger is more powerful than ever, for it is the only sensuous experience that remains."

As adults, touch helps regulate our digestion and sleep, and even boosts our immune systems. Hugging can help our bodies fight off infections, according to a 2014 study conducted by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University.

For some people, Covid restrictions meant staying at home with loved ones. For many more, these restrictions meant being isolated and alone for weeks or months with no physical contact with family members.
​
As the nation grieved in the days after the attacks of September 11, 2001, strangers embraced and held hands to give and receive the ancient comfort of touch.
 
In the pandemic year of 2020, though, millions of people were fighting the coronavirus by withholding touch. The result has been a global experiment in ‘touch starvation’, the full outcome of which will not be known for years. Touch is an important ingredient in the human experience, and the lack of touch can affect physical and emotional wellbeing.
 
“In the absence of love, we begin slowly but surely to fall apart.” Marianne Williamson

Dr. Field, the author of “Touch”, calls touch “the mother of all senses,” and when she asked clients what specific touch they missed the most, the answer was identical for everyone she interviewed: hugs.
 
Biologically this speaks to the primary importance of touch in life, over and above the other senses. In fact, touch is the one sense that you cannot live without. When you think about it, that’s the one thing every person on this planet has in common: some degree of tactile sensation.

Michelangelo is quoted as saying: “To touch is to give life.”

While nothing can wholly replace the benefits of positive human touch, virtual alternatives can help alleviate the effects of touch starvation. We have to be creative in finding ways to take the place of touch. Take a moment to think about it.
If one sense is lost, areas of the brain get rewired processing other senses. We’ve all heard of cases of people who are blind, who have developed above normal hearing and other senses as compensation.
We have to learn how to use our other senses to make up for this loss. Wearing masks does not allow facial expressions to be seen. We have to rely on our eyes to show our compassion, understanding and love. Using our voices, we can choose friendly and loving words for our colleagues or neighbors. Locking eyes tenderly with an elbow knock can express deep feelings.
We can have almost the same impact if we connect by video chat—whether it’s FaceTime or Zoom.  We may not be able to engage in physical touch, but we need to learn to experience our love for each other through our other senses.
 
“The ONE thing that links us all regardless of culture, language, geography, sex, etc. and the ONE thing that we cannot live without – is TOUCH. Understanding this at its most foundational level is a huge key to health, happiness, creating a sense of connectedness with others, and forming lasting relationships. Compassionate touch is one of the most profound influencers of empathy and developing connections and relationships with others.” -- (Drew Hume, “You Cannot Live Without Touch”)