Ways of Healing
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Containment Healing
When we come under pressure, stress, disease or suffering it is human nature for us to become what we might call "energetically disturbed" i.e. mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually or behaviourally "upset" or "distressed". Often more than one of these human activity systems of ours becomes activated or agitated in response to the situation we are experiencing.
Distressed energy, be it mental, physical, emotional, is not easy to "hold" (be with). We have a range of options for avoiding or transforming these feelings of suffering. One of the ways we can ease our distress is sometimes referred to as "scattering our energy". Scattering our energy often brings short-term relief of our distress, but often does not help us to cope in the longer term nor does it help us to progress our life and relationships constructively.
Some ways of scattering our energy...
- Dumping - unloading our distressed feelings or mental or physical distressed energy onto others. Expressing and sharing feelings is usually healthy, but in "dumping" the recipient becomes a victim and the "dumper" becomes an abuser. The "dumpee" in this situation lacks the authority, insight, self-caring or assertiveness to avoid taking on someone else's feelings that they either do not really want to receive, or that they will find hard to cope with.
- Headless chicken - Headless chickens run around in ill-considered hasty, desperate or panic-driven activity or communication. They act, decide, speak or write "without thinking" i.e. without "presence of mind". An old proverb advises "Act in haste - Repent at Leisure".
- Impetuous courage - precipitous action or decision, even if courageous or powerful, will not usually serve our best interests. One of the 5 wise principles of the self-development martial art called Shotokan karate is "Guard against impetuous courage!" and it is the one that students, especially ambitious or naturally aggressive ones find the hardest to practise. Tempering courage and initiative with wisdom and "good timing" can heighten our effectiveness in situations where we feel strongly about something.
- Over-communication - an old proverb advises "Least said - Soonest mended!" However, when we are stressed or distressed or even just excited, we may easily say too much i.e. divulge more than is prudent, or spread ideas and information to more people than is prudent. More particularly we may "speak our mind" to, or share confidences with, people or situations that will do not receive our thoughts, feelings or confidences in the spirit that was intended.
- Losing the plot! - There are a variety of ways in which our vigorous reaction to, or thoughts and feelings about, a situation or experience can lead us astray from what is real and true. The result can be mis-perception, mis-communication, misunderstanding or misguided action. At worst this can be the road to mental illness and psychosis.
Author: Mike Meredith
Learn the skills of Containment Healing in our Healer Training Workshops
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