How to holistically heal...when you're feeling exhausted & just surviving

First aid healing

Experience this Newsletter in all its online glory. Go here

---

In this edition…

1. HEALING: When you're feeling exhausted & just surviving

2. REVERENCE: For the little energy you have (reverence is the deep respect & attention to the things that truly impact healing)

3. EXPLORING: Energy drains (exploring is the journey into the deeper work, meeting the parts, wounds, and survival strategies that keep us small, stuck, and suffering with persistent symptoms & feelings)

1. HEALING: When you're feeling exhausted & just surviving

By the time patients come to see me, many are navigating the complex and often exhausting landscape of chronic symptoms and stress. They are deeply entrenched in an energy-depleting cycle, wearied by the ceaseless quest for healing—a journey marked by trial and error, often met with the disheartening sentiment of "been there, done that." My patients are not just fatigued by their symptoms, the persistent pain, and discomfort, but also by the weight of their own narratives and those imposed by others. They find themselves drained by the confusion and lack of support that pervades their quest for well-being. The absence of clear direction amplifies their exhaustion, as does the uncertainty and fear that shroud their path to healing.

This profound tiredness that comes not only from physical symptoms but from the emotional and psychological toll of seeking relief in a landscape where answers and understanding seem elusive needs to be validated. We need to address the weariness of being lost in a maze of medical advice, contrasting opinions, and the often solitary journey of seeking health. For those who feel they have exhausted all avenues, I hope this newsletter offers a sanctuary—a place to rest, reflect, and gather strength.

You see, the journey you have been on has ignored the heart of this exhaustion, recognising that the path to healing is as much about mending the spirit and mind as it is about treating the body. Symptoms and diseases are a call to explore beyond their physical dimensions, to understand the underlying emotional and psychological layers that contribute to your state of health. By embracing a holistic approach, you'll discover the interconnectedness of your symptoms with your overall life experience, leading to insights that can illuminate your path to healing.

For many who find themselves weary on their healing journey, a first-aid approach is offered as a means to create the necessary energy to move forward. I term this "first-aid healing," an essential step for those feeling overwhelmed and depleted, questioning how to meet the challenges ahead without the capacity or capability to proceed through the fog of weariness.

First-aid healing is about addressing the most immediate needs of the mind, body, and spirit, providing quick, accessible support to stabilise and prepare for the deeper work of healing—such as cleansing, detoxing, resetting gut health, balancing hormones or adopting a gluten-free diet. It recognises that before one can engage with the complexities of their healing journey, there must be a foundation of strength and resilience to build upon.

This approach centres on simple, yet profound, practices that can replenish energy reserves and restore a sense of balance and peace. These may include grounding techniques, breath work, gentle movement, hydration, nourishing foods, energising supplements & herbs and of course rest—basic yet critical elements often overlooked in times of stress and fatigue. The goal is to cultivate a nurturing environment for the self, where healing can begin from a place of nourishment rather than depletion.

First-aid healing asks of us to adopt a mindset of self-care as a priority, not a luxury. It challenges the notion that pushing through exhaustion is a virtue, advocating instead for listening to our bodies and responding with kindness and compassion. By acknowledging our immediate needs and addressing them, we not only create the energy needed to continue but also affirm the importance of our well-being on this journey.

How does one meet it all if one doesn't have the capacity or capability?

By recognising that healing starts with the most basic acts of self-care, by granting ourselves permission to attend to our needs, and by understanding that this initial step of first-aid healing is not just preparation but an integral part of the healing journey itself. It's about creating a solid foundation from which one can explore deeper healing practices with strength, clarity, and a renewed sense of purpose.

**** To read more about the underlying causes and contributing factors of low energy and chronic fatigue, go here. Below, we will continue our understanding of first-aid healing by having reverence for the little energy we do have, by protecting it, cultivating more, and exploring other things that may be draining your energy.