This was the first full session with the new therapist. We went over some additional background info and discussed what I had been doing in my sessions. She then hooked my up to sensors that measured temperature, breathing, and electrical impulses. As breathing regulates and temperature increases, the impulses should decrease. The tie in for that is that if the impulses can be reduced, pain can be reduced because pain is a spike in the impulses.
The goal is to get your hand temperature above 95. The breathing is 4-5 slow breaths in and then 4-5 slow breaths out trying to keep a steady rhythm. For the impulses, you want to be able to take them from a level of 6 to 2 or less. I was able to achieve all of those, which, I suppose, shows how much control I do have when I take the time to focus. It was an interesting feeling as well. It wasn’t a sleepy or tired feeling at all. I felt very centered and that I was able to settle the runaway thoughts that generally flit through my head.
Each week I feel more focused and that I am more comfortable with the method. However, I have to be mindful of what I need to do daily. It isn’t something to just pick up and use occasionally. It has to be part of my daily life and I have to practice to maintain the level I have reached thus far. Without practice and making the body remember what it feels like to be in that state, it is easy to lose it.