Fearing Fear

“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself” - FDR. 

These words suddenly came to me tonight as I worked through overwhelming emotions. Contact with a close relative triggered panic and fear, threatening to send me into a funk. It was the feeling of these emotions that made me panic even more, not about the issue, but about feeling anger, fear... anger, and, yes, anger, oh, and also fear. I realized I had a choice: undo months of work or keep going, and not go into the fear. I called on snippets from self-help books, especially Marianne Williamson (who I admire), who said to walk in the direction of love, not fear. (Not verbatim, hence no quotes.) And Caroline Myss, who explains we're on the right path if we don't betray ourselves, which means the same thing.

So, I stopped my madness, collected myself, and repeated: "If I walk in the direction of love, I will love myself, believe in myself, and keep going."

FDR's quote became iconic because it perfectly captured a universal truth. We all know fear is learned, insidious, and easy. Learning love is harder, because it makes us accountable. Fear lets us off the hook; love doesn't. Anyway, I'm now softer, tired, and less angry and fearful. I know what to do: continue to love myself.

Why talk about fear in an acupuncture blog? Because fear, like most emotions, plays out in our bodies. Our energy constricts if love isn't at the forefront. We feel it as pain and experience its manifestation in relationships. It's no good.

Acupuncture has been practiced in China and other Asian countries for thousands of years. It is often used to relieve chronic pain, such as lower back pain, neck pain, and arthritis.

How can acupuncture help? By stimulating points and releasing constriction, emotions can be guided out. A shift can be perceived.

This needs a good practitioner willing to guide your emotional life and a patient willing to be guided.