Posts Tagged ‘Naomi Schaeffer Draper’
2021 October 27, 13:42-16:00; 20:28-23:11; Oct. 28, 16:11-16:40; Oct. 29, 21:54-23:12; Oct. 30, 15:01-16:59 Blog Post #609
Dear Reader,
I wish you total wellness.
If not for shingles and postherpetic neuralgia which led to the past 12 months of reading and rereading books and listening to lectures about pain and our brains … I wouldn’t have learned why I experience pain and other unpleasant signals when there is no new injury to a body part.
After receiving COVID-19 vaccine … I experienced occasional pain signals in my right knee and in my right shoulder blade, then, dull headaches, and, my two front teeth felt weak. The knowledge I have gain about pain signals helped me understand what could be happening and how I could help myself feel better.
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I have learned from webinars and the workbook
TRANSFORMING THE BRAIN IN PAIN: NEUROPLASTIC TRANSFORMATION
written by Michael H. Moskowitz, MD & Marla D. Golden, DO http://neuroplastix.com that …
“We only experience pain when the electrical signals reach the thinking part of our brains.”
“This is why general anesthetics work – by separating the thinking conscious brain from the automatic survival brain. During anesthesia, the survival part of the brain stays active, but, the perceptive part of the brain is turned off.”
“The brain doesn’t just receive information from the body, but sends directions back out to tell the body what to do.” (page 4 in workbook)
“The brain ‘reads’ everything going on in the body 30 times a second for an entire life.”
“Acute pain is an alarm going off in the brain that signifies danger and/or damage to the body…. ” (page 10)
“Persistent pain … signals sets up an endless loop between body and brain, inflammatory processes become chronic, anti-inflammatory processes are overwhelmed and the nerve cells dedicated to pain increase up to five-fold.” (page 10)
“Acute pain helps with survival, while persistent pain transforms danger into misery.” (page 10)
I have learned … from Clinical Scientist / Professor Lorimer Moseley https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p6sbi_0lLc that…
“Pain is our most sophisticated protective device.”
“The term ‘neuroplasticity‘ refers to the adaptability of our nervous system. The other side of neuroplasticity is sometimes called ‘the dark side’.”
“You can experience SEVERE pain but have NO damage.”
“You can experience NO pain but have severe damage.”
“Pain depends on how much danger your brain THINKS you are in, not how much danger you are really in.”
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As I was saying … after receiving COVID-19 vaccine … I experienced occasional pain signals in my right knee and in my right shoulder blade, then, dull headaches, and, my two front teeth felt weak.
According to https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/mrna.html Updated Oct. 18, 2021
mRNA Vaccines
According to https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/viralvector.html Updated Oct. 18, 2021
Viral Vector Vaccines
[....]
In Step 2. Next, the cells display the spike protein on their surface, and our immune system recognizes that the protein doesn’t belong there. This triggers our immune system to produce antibodies and activate other immune cells to fight off what it thinks is an infection. This response is what your body might do if you got sick with COVID-19.
mRNA Vaccines and Viral Vector Vaccines have this in common – “… activate other immune cells to fight off what it ‘thinks’ is an infection.”
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I know that my brain records my experiences throughout my lifetime … and that pain depends on how much danger my brain THINKS I am in, not how much danger I am really in.
Also, I understand why my brain would send me “danger signals” (my knee, shoulder blade) after vaccination if my immune system “thinks” there is an infection in my body.
Why my two front teeth? I’ve never sustained injury there. Have I experienced pain there? Yes I have! For three years during my teenage years, my teeth were tortured once a week when the orthodontist tightened the wires. The front teeth needed the most “straightening” (they did sustain “injury”). Even though that was 45 years ago, my brain remembers the pain!
To communicate to my teeth, my knee, my shoulder blade, and my temples … that I have not sustained new injuries … I put my hand on each body part and also tell my Brain “I have not injured myself.” Voila! Pain signals go away. Beautiful Brain (I call “BB”) wants to protect Body, therefore BB occasionally sends signals, and, it’s up to me to “talk back” (communicate).
Today (October 31, 2021), while enjoying my walk, I felt an itchy stinging pain on left elbow, then the signals flowed down my arm. I applied firm comforting squeezes on those areas with my right hand. The pain went away.
Then today (November 3, 2021, 13:44) I felt a sharp pain on LEFT upper arm where vaccine would have entered BUT I had received the vaccine on my RIGHT arm.
Beautiful Brain sending me “false alarms”.
In no way am I saying that retraining my brain is easy work. I am still a newbie. I am happy to report that I’ve developed a new attitude — I look forward to each new day. For me, this is BIG
I am forever grateful to everyone who cares about me and encourages me to continue helping myself heal.
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My “Get to Wellness Kit” is growing
Norman Doidge: Brain’s Healing Energies on YouTube https://youtu.be/ifYcE4-eI_s Dr. Doidge talks about our brains, pain, Dr. Michael Moskowitz, Moshe Feldenkrais (Physicist, Black Belt, Healer), electrical circuits, chemistry, light, sound, vibration, brain-body connection.
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Continue using Feldenkrais techniques that Naomi Schaeffer Draper, M.S. Physical Therapist had taught me.
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Continue using the workbook TRANSFORMING THE BRAIN IN PAIN: NEUROPLASTIC TRANSFORMATION by
Michael H. Moskowitz, MD and Marla D. Golden, DO
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Refer to the 10-page guide from Dr. Danielle Rosenman who coached me.
My job is to interrupt pain and other unpleasant signals by using any of the seven modalities or a combination of them.
Dr. Rosenman adds: “Smile for yourself and talk out loud to your Brain.”
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Continue practicing techniques I learned from Dr. Amy Grace Lam http://amygracelam.com
Recently Dr. Lam gave me links to demonstrations of “tapping” to rid pain and other unpleasant symptoms.
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Many years ago, I had learned this “tapping” technique also known as Emotional Freedom Technique from Loduskia “Dusky” Pierce, MFT
http://www.duskyswondersite.com/ Dusky says: “Mind/body approaches such as EMDR and Emotional Freedom Technique are scientifically proven methods that we might use to address trauma or deep emotional wounds.”
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Continue practicing listening to my Body http://www.mariechristinecornet.com/ Marie-Christine Cornet (now in France), Chi Nei Tsang and Somatic Experience practitioner, says: “Connecting to your body and its wealth of intelligence and wisdom is the portal to living Life deeply and authentically.”
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Go see Stephanie Doucette, M.S., L.Ac., Dipl. OM, California Licensed Acupuncturist and Clinical Herbalist. She is nationally certified as a Diplomate in Oriental Medicine and practices integrative orthopedic therapy, bringing together acupuncture, deep tissue massage and manual orthopedic techniques to treat neuromuscular injury and chronic pain.
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Continuing using the book Five Elements, Six Conditions – a Taoist Approach to Emotional Healing, Psychology, and Internal Alchemy by Gilles Marin. Gilles is the Founder and Director of the Chi Nei Tsang Institute and School of Taoist Healing Energetics, California, USA https://www.chineitsang.com and Co-directeur de l’institut de Chi Nei Tsang, Nice, FRANCE chineitsang.marin.free.fr
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Watch and listen (again) Clinical Scientist / Professor Lorimer Moseley https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p6sbi_0lLc
Professor Lorimer Moseley says: “Brain is the most trainable we’ve got!” https://people.unisa.edu.au/lorimer.moseley
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(Addendum November 4, 2021)
Continue using the 2 books written by Norman Doidge, M.D. for inspiration (Thank you, dear Loduskia “Dusky” Pierce, MFT, for having Dr. Doidge’s book on your shelf many years ago)
The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science (translated into 26 languages)
Dr. Doidge’s second book – The Brain’s Way of Healing: Remarkable Discoveries and Recoveries from the Frontiers of Neuroplasticity (translated into 19 languages so far)
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About shingles and postherpetic neuralgia
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/postherpetic-neuralgia/symptoms-causes/syc-20376588 says:
“Postherpetic neuralgia is the most common complication of shingles. The condition affects nerve fibers and skin, causing burning pain that lasts long after the rash and blisters of shingles disappear.
The chickenpox (herpes zoster) virus causes shingles. The risk of postherpetic neuralgia increases with age, primarily affecting people older than 60. There’s no cure, but treatments can ease symptoms. For most people, postherpetic neuralgia improves over time.”
I am forever grateful to the excellent care that “Country Doctor LaH” and her precious Gracie gave me during my illness.
I am forever grateful to everyone who cares about me and encourages me to continue helping myself heal.
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As I write … I am running the movie ONLY WHEN I LAUGH (screenplay by Neil Simon; starring Marsha Mason, Kristy McNichol, James Coco, Joan Hackett; continuity by Joan Samson). I love stories about the protagonist’s taking control of her/his own life, in spite of . . . . The mother-daughter storyline – Wow!
ONLY WHEN I LAUGH is based on the play THE GINGERBREAD LADY by Neil Simon.
Taking control of one’s own life! Taking control of one’s own body! Taking control of one’s own thoughts!
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Taking control of my own life! Taking control of my own body! Taking control of my own thoughts!
Thank you for reading this blog post: “Beautiful Brain remembers old pain experiences, relays signals after shingles, after vaccination,” says author Teresa Jade LeYung.
For other posts related to our Beautiful Brains, Pain, and Neuroplasticity in my blog https://lovemadeofheart.com/blog … If you look at right side of screen, you’ll see the category “Beautiful Brains Neuroplasticity”. Please click on that category to get all my blog posts pertaining to the topic.
I wish you total wellness!
Sincerely,
author Teresa Jade LeYung in Paris 2018, photo by Sasa and Nan
Story Consultant and Photo Historian Teresa Jade LeYung says: “I love helping writers identify the themes in their manuscripts to hook readers, and, build and fortify their platforms before and after publication. Reach out, not stress out.”
Love Made Of Heart ®
Dear Reader,
Three people I care about inspired me to blog about this topic. Do you get pain flare-ups? Your hands, knees, or your back?
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What I do when I experience a flare-up and my right hand hurts:
This works every time! Body and Brain need the conversation.
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After practicing neuroplasticity these past 12 months and remembering that “Pain is our most sophisticated protective device,” says Professor Lorimer Moseley, and, my knowing how to use Feldenkrais techniques… I fully understand why my brain and my body must communicate with each other for optimal benefits.
What I do when I experience out-of-the-blue pain in my knee:
This works every time! Body and Brain need the conversation.
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You might want to watch Brain/Pain scientist / physiotherapist Professor Lorimer Moseley who delivers fascinating facts about pain with humor -
“TEDxAdelaide – Lorimer Moseley – Why Things Hurt” https://youtu.be/gwd-wLdIHjs 14 minutes, 32 seconds
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Curious about Moshe Feldenkrais and the miraculous techniques?
Chapter 5 Moshe Feldenkrais: Physicist, Black Belt, and Healer
Healing Serious Brain Problems Through Mental Awareness of Movement
Chapter 6 A Blind Man Learns to See
Using Feldenkrais, Buddhist, and Other Neuroplastic Methods
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Learn about what is happening in the brain during acute pain and persistent pain – visit Dr. Michael Moskowitz’s and Dr. Marla Golden’s website http://neuroplastix.com Look at the graphics.
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For other posts related to our Beautiful Brains and Neuroplasticity in my blog https://lovemadeofheart.com/blog … If you look at right side of screen, you’ll see the category “Beautiful Brains Neuroplasticity”. Please click on that category to get all my blog posts pertaining to the topic.
I wish you and your Beautiful Brain safety, kindness, excellent health.
Sincerely,
Teresa Jade LeYung
Story Consultant and Photo Historian Teresa Jade LeYung says: “I love helping writers identify the themes in their manuscripts to hook readers, and, build and fortify their platforms before and after publication. Reach out, not stress out.”
Love Made Of Heart ®
Story Continuity/Theme Consultant Teresa Jade LeYung’s Blog Post Number 600; Part 3 of first trilogy on our Beautiful Brains -
2021 January 11, 22:55 — January 12, 00:10; January 12, 22:18–23:28; January 13, 14:14–15:10; 17:44–19:27; 19:56–22:36
California USA
Story Continuity/Theme Consultant Teresa Jade LeYung says: “Look what happens when persistent (chronic) pain pathways take over the other brain functions – impacting my emotions, problem-solving, memory, creativity, and …”
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All graphics in this blog post are from Michael H. Moskowitz, MD & Marla D. Golden, DO
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When Beautiful Brain is not producing pain -
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When Beautiful Brain is producing acute pain –
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When Beautiful Brain is producing persistent (chronic) pain -
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According to Dr. Michael Moskowitz, Dr. Marla Golden, Dr. Norman Doidge, Dr. Danielle Rosenman -
There are 9 areas in the thinking brain (actually a few more, because some are on both sides of the brain) that control our personal experience of pain and discomfort. This is where pain signals are received. Normally, only 5% of the nerve cells in the brain process pain. In persistent pain, 15-25% of the cells of the entire brain are involved! The actual map of the brain has changed, with an increased part of the map given to pain. This is because the pain areas get bigger, stealing nerves and synapses (connections) from the rest of the brain.
The relationship between pain (or discomfort) and mood (includes anxiety and depression):
Remember that the brain has different areas for different functions? It’s actually more complicated than that! Many brain functions are located in the same areas or are very close together, and there are some shared connections. (Review: “Nerves that fire together wire together.”)
Dr. Moskowitz and Dr. Golden say to “flood” the brain map, interrupt pain signals with pleasurable –
- THOUGHTS
- IMAGES
- SENSATIONS
- MEMORIES
- SOOTHING EMOTIONS
- MOVEMENT
- BELIEFS
Dr. Danielle Rosenman adds: “Smile for yourself and talk out loud to your Brain.”
Story Continuity/Theme Consultant Teresa Jade LeYung says:
“I refuse to let pain pathways hijack other Brain functions. Some days I win the steering wheel/control panel. Other days Pain/Depression win. The more consistent I give my Beautiful Brain pleasure, the more winning days I shall have.
“Dr. Danielle Rosenman (via ZOOM sessions) has guided and coached me (with techniques from Dr. Moskowitz and Dr. Golden) in creating my unique ‘bag of tricks’ to interrupt pain, depression and other unpleasant signals.”
Dr. Norman Doidge and Professor Lorimer Moseley say: “MOVEMENT is critical in retraining the nervous system. Even imagining movement will retrain the system!”
https://www.neura.edu.au/staff/prof-lorimer-moseley/
How do I create Pleasure for my Brain? How do I communicate with / give feedback to my Brain?
My evolving “Bag of Tricks” (with the 7 modalities) to give my Beautiful Brain pleasure:
“Imagining” any of these modalities when I can’t access the physical form (especially during COVID-19 Stay At Home order) serves me well.
THOUGHTS -
When pain or depression signals (including unpleasant thoughts) pop up, I have to interrupt them with pleasurable thoughts.
Pleasurable Thoughts this month include: candied wintermelon pastry (thanks to MT’s selecting); sweet persimmons (thanks to EO); Nan’s signature pesto; Linda’s signature pear Clafoutis; Sasa’s signature salads; Pad Thai with fresh ingredients.
IMAGES -
Because our brains store all experiences (including what we see in movies. read about, and hear about…), I have to stay away from all unpleasant images (even some of my favorite movies, details of sensational news) while I am retraining Beautiful Brain
Pleasurable images include looking at – my photos taken in Paris; postcards of paintings by Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, Marc Chagall; photos from MT of her hikes; photos from Marie-Christine (she’s in France); photos of nature and kids (2-legged and 4-legged ones) from all my friends; art by Chandra Garsson, Cynthia Tom, Cris Matos, Sharon Leong; photos of Happy Dog (my sister Maria Kawah Leung’s hero in her book Little Heroes Of Bay Street); seeing Linda’s little Gracie; the montage (of me and “Brain-no-pain”) at the end of this blog post.
SENSATIONS -
Some sensations I liked (before persistent pain began) aren’t pleasurable right now – drinking hot tea fuels pain right now.
While I am happy for neighbors who are modifying their house for “Aging In Place”, the construction noise (hammering, drilling) also fuels pain and depression right now.
Pleasurable sensations include - cool and cold water on skin; seeing green plants, blue sky, squirrels and hummingbirds in our patio and neighbor’s; laughing at GOMER PYLE USMC episodes (especially Season 3, Episode 6); smiling for myself; listening to “Clair de Lune” by Claude Debussy; tasting sweet fruit on tongue; smelling roses; firm and soothing touch to the body part that is feeling pain.
MEMORIES -
Because our brains store all memories … when unpleasant memories pop up, I have to interrupt them with pleasant ones.
Pleasurable memories:
- Being with people I care about.
- Eating breads and quiches, buying postcards, and walking and gawking at buildings in Paris
- Living sans clutter
SOOTHING EMOTIONS – this is most difficult for me
When my reaction to someone’s behavior brings on pain and other unpleasant signals, I send my thoughts to what the person means to me.
Remember what the good doctors said about “the relationship between pain (or discomfort) and mood (includes anxiety and depression)?
Please see Dr. Moskowitz’s and Dr. Golden’s workbook TRANSFORMING THE BRAIN IN PAIN: NEUROPLASTIC TRANSFORMATION page 35 through page 75. And, I hope you’ll find someone like Dr. Danielle Rosenman to coach you.
MOVEMENT -
Walking in the neighborhood (when my Brain is occupied with looking, listening, smelling… I feel no pain); dancing with Ms. Sophia Loren, Ms. Rita Hayworth, and Ms. Cyd Charisse (thanks to Youtube clips) ; imagining flying (ballet) over Paris; and running on dirt tracks and fields of wildflowers!
BELIEFS -
That I hold the power to be pain-free and depression-free; that every task can be accomplished with ease; that wellness is reality

Story Continuity/Theme Consultant Teresa Jade LeYung at Place des Vosges, Paris.(photo by Margie Yee Webb et Sasa Southard 2016)
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Thank you, Dr. Norman Doidge, Dr. Michael Moskowitz, Dr. Marla Golden, and Professor Lorimer Moseley!
Thank you, Naomi Schaeffer Draper, M.S. Physical Therapist, for teaching me Feldenkrais techniques! Thank you, mentor Lynn Scott, for the referral!
Thank you, Dr. Danielle Rosenman!
https://www.medicalcounseling.net/ Danielle Rosenman, M.D. uses neuroplasticity, imagery, meditation, psychotherapy, and other techniques in her Medical Counseling practice and in her innovative “Tools for Healing” groups.
Thank you, Dr. Amy Grace Lam ! vibrational energy healer
Thank you, all dear hearts who care about me and have helped/are helping me on this journey !!!!!
My next blog post will be about what I continue to learn from: “Getting a grip on pain and the brain – Professor Lorimer Moseley – Successful Ageing Seminar 2013″ https://youtu.be/5p6sbi_0lLc 41 minutes
For other posts in my blog, please go to: https://lovemadeofheart.com/blog If you look at right side of screen, you’ll see the category “Beautiful Brains Neuroplasticity”. Please click on that category to get all my blog posts pertaining to our our Beautiful Brains and Neuroplasticity.
I wish you, dear Reader and your Beautiful Brain, wellness!
Sincerely,
Love Made Of Heart ®
To read Part 1 of my trilogy on our Beautiful Brains:
Story Continuity/Theme Consultant Teresa Jade LeYung says: “Scarecrow in THE WIZARD OF OZ would feel NO pain” http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/story-theme-consultant-teresa-jade-leyung-says-scarecrow-in-the-wizard-of-oz-would-feel-no-pain/
To read Part 2 of my trilogy on our Beautiful Brains:
Story Continuity/Theme Consultant Teresa Jade LeYung says: “Adaptable Brain, Let Quiet Enter.” http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/storytheme-consultant-teresa-jade-leyung-says-adaptable-brain-let-quiet-enter/
Teresa Jade LeYung, an American naturalized citizen of Chinese ancestry, is a story continuity/theme consultant, author of LOVE MADE OF HEART (daughter-mother novel archived at the San Francisco History Center and used by college professors), BUILD YOUR WRITER’S PLATFORM & FANBASE IN 22 DAYS (a workbook), and TALKING TO MY DEAD MOM Monologues (the first monologue received an award from Redwood Writers Ten-Minute Play Festival), an advocate for public libraries and public schools, creator of http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/ , and, admirer of City of Light. Composing Haiku poems is a new love for LeYung.