A Detox Deep Dive

 

Next, I had a Qi Gong session.  The instructor emphasized the importance of grounding our feet for strength.  Since my reconstructive foot surgeries in the early 2010’s, I haven’t spent much time with bare feet, with advice from my surgeon that I need support of certain shoes and orthotics.  Yet at the end of this session, I walked differently; I felt strength rise from my feet. I’ll be doing more grounding.

I then had a blood infusion filling me with all sorts of goodies – I end up having three throughout the week for my immune system, my liver and mineral deficiency.  You see, I am exhausted.  The doctor says my bodily symptoms are indicative of high stress.

I caught a throat infection in Ireland that would not go away and so I have salt therapy where I am in a room infused with salt air.  It helps my breathing pathways.  At the end of the week, I am 95% recovered.  I should include that I arrived here during a 7-day course of amoxicillin.  When you are as depleted of physical energy as I was, one needs help on several levels.

It’s been quite a year and one of the reasons I haven’t blogged in a long while. I didn’t have the energy nor the words.  Now, with my dear husband’s blessing, I do.  He was diagnosed with prostate cancer last autumn. And unfortunately, it had metastasized into his pelvis and a spot in his upper spine that is common for prostate patients.  This meant he couldn’t simply have his prostate removed, which in turn, meant he went from curable to treatable.  It is now something we must live with.

The good news is that prostate cancer in men is as common as breast cancer in women meaning that both are given more research funding than other types of cancer.  This is a blessing because my husband’s treatment combined both hormone therapy and radiotherapy.  The result is that his cancer is barely detectable.  He hasn’t had a cancer symptom.  The treatment has had its effects, but they are manageable.  And aren’t we fortunate to live currently where science has advanced to this stage for so many of us.

I won’t lie. It took some time with a help of a psychologist to gain the flexibility and resilience I needed to muster a perspective to go forward with a clear direction around living with cancer.   Together my husband and I have decided to live with a razor focus on joy.  Out with the distraction and noise of toxic people.  We no longer have room for them in our lives.

My afternoon at the medical spa ends with a body massage, then a tummy massage from my doctor (Viva Mayr’s emphasis is on gut health), an infrared sauna, a swim and a walk along Lake Worthersee.  I am in beautiful Carinthia, Austria.

On the final day of my detox, I completed what I hope will be the last edit of my memoir.  The publishing company I am working with has sent the last two versions with several grammatical errors.  The first time they converted my words to American English which is not my voice.  Then there were silly things like missing quotations, not using bold font where needed, etc.  It’s been an annoying task having to re-read over the difficulties of my young life.

Having said that, I read my manuscript again, closely.  I changed a few things for clarity’s sake and had a few more insights into the patterns and psychology of my dysfunctional family.  I chose to complete the last edit on the last day of my physical detox (no sugar, caffeine or alcohol).  Writing my memoir has been a deep detoxification of emotion I have carried with me for far too many years.  Many memories had been suppressed in my subconscious and through my writings they became conscious providing me with the chance to cleanse my mind.  And oh boy, it feels good!

From the incomparable Maya Angelou, “Recognize your worth.  Walking away from harmful dynamics is an act of self-preservation, not failure”.

Hallelujah!