Many of us, diagnosed with Graves’ Disease and hyperthyroidism suffer from different debilitating symptoms such as loss of concentration, feeling vulnerable, mental impairment, memory lapses, diminished attention span, irritability, fatigue, insomnia (inability to get enough sleep), restlessness, tachycardia (rapid heart rate: 100-120 beats per minute, or higher), increased energy, very emotional, or just feeling plain crazy.
There is a simple explanation of this phenomenon which includes our sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. Sympathetic nervous system is responsible for Charging and Expression, and Parasympathetic Nervous system is responsible for Winding Down and Rest. This is called Vasomotoric Circle and is first discovered by the Norwegian psychologist Gerda Boysen. In the past the first was used usually to describe the “fight or flight” response, but today we simply use it for “hurry and worry”. In a few words when we experience excessive levels of stress–whether from internal worry or external circumstance–a bodily reaction is triggered, called the “fight or flight” (hurry and worry) response.
Originally discovered by the Harvard physiologist Walter Cannon, this response is hard-wired into our brains and represents a genetic wisdom designed to protect us from bodily harm. This response actually corresponds to an area of our brain called the hypothalamus, which, when stimulated, initiates a sequence of nerve cell firing and chemical release that prepares our body for running or fighting. In many people diagnosed with hyperthyroidism this area- the sympathetic nervous system is actually overloaded. We never make it to the other cycle, winding down and rest. And we need something that will bring us to the equilibrium and harmony, with which we are initially born.
There are a few exercises that I usually suggest, especially of you are feeling restless, too energized or too “charged”, that may bring you close to the “winding and resting cycle”. I know how impossible is at this point to just sit and meditate, which will be the best scenario. However, there are other things that can be done to “slow” you down and keep you in the reality:
1. Grounding exercise: Get on your knees and hands, place your palms and knees on the ground. Imagine the excess energy flowing out of your palms and even pouring out of your head. You’ll release only the excess energy to the Earth, simply “grounding” yourself. As you release this energy you can place the intent that such energy is used for healing the Planet. If you cannot reach down (let’s say you are in your office and it will be a little weird to kneel down), you can just imagine the energy flowing out of your hands and feet into the ground.
2. Hug a tree. If you are lucky enough to have a back yard, or a park nearby, you can do a similar exercise. Imagine the tree taking the excess energy for its own healing, grounding it through the roots. You can even imagine yourself as a tree and let the energy drain through your own roots.
3. Keep it simple. Eat simple foods, do simple things, live simple. Be less complicated. Ask yourself: “Is this too complicated for me”, if it is, just drop it.
4. Progressive muscle relaxation techniques, where you contract and then relax each muscle group moving progressively from the toes to the head. You can use some relaxing music.
5. Mindfulness meditation- that’s simply noticing what you’re doing, and how are you doing it. Observing and noticing what surrounds you, and paying attention to details. “I’m stepping on the floor, the floor is cold, my left feet hurts, my right hand is touching the walls, they are smooth and pink”, etc.
6. Finally- dance slowly..I am posting a poem, which I received from one of you, I believe it is written by a cancer patient, but it says everything I ever wanted to say:
SLOW DANCE
Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain
Slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a
butterfly’s erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the
fading night?
You better slow down.
Don’t dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won’t last.
Do you run through each day
On the fly?
When you ask : “How are you?”
Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done
Do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
Running through your head?
You’d better slow down
Don’t dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won’t last.
Ever told your child,
We’ll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste,
Not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time
To call and say, ‘Hi’
You’d better slow down.
Don’t dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won’t last.
When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry
through your day,
It is like an unopened gift….
Thrown away.
Life is not a race.
Do take it slower
Hear the music
Before the song is over.
Here are some other techniques for “slow dancing”
or yoga and breathing exercises:
1. “My name is Margaret, am 62 years young, mother of 4 terrific daughters, and I live in Australia in a rural countryside. Have been a medical pathology technologist for 20 years but have always done all sorts of creative art leading to having an art supplies and teaching shop till 4 years ago…..Click here to read her success story:
4. This is Jan A.. She is 61 years old and has 3 sons. She was born in England and immigrated to Australia in l976. She is a psychologist and enjoys countryside, riding, yoga, dogs, cinema, reading, drawing, gardening, walking, friends, family, travel, creativity, writing and alternative health. But one day….Read more about her journey here:
My Blog About Graves' Disease and Hyperthyroidism 
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