Posted by M on November 20, 1998 at 20:53:18:
In Reply to: Any interest in mental/spiritual coping ?? posted by gary g on November 20, 1998 at 14:36:51:
Hey Gary...
I have been giving considerable thought to the issues you raised after seeing my neuro about a month ago. Interestingly, he spent more than an hour with me just talking about me (how refreshing...unusual for a doctor...especially on the initial visit of a new patient).
He did discuss medications with me and the MRI was normal (thankfully) but he approaches clusters from precisely the viewpoint that you mentioned...his perspective is: isn't it a shame that the whole world emphasizes appearance and that the whole world is consumed with that in the form of make-up, facials, diet, aerobics, weight-lifting, cholesterol reduction, vitamins, and so forth BUT NOBODY PAYS ATTENTION TO THEIR BRAINS.
So, his philosophy is to dedicate some time each day to the concept of brain exercise....relaxing, imagining, reducing stress (and really working on that one diligently), humor, and similar activities. One of the things he asked me to really work on is 'letting go' of things I can't change or fix, and trying to be less of a 'perfectionist'.
Well, at the risk of turning into someone I wouldn't recognize, I have been trying to do those things since my appointment. The first step was to obtain and read a book that he gave me as 'mandatory' reading..."Tuesday's with Maurie". I am not an avid reader, but I thought, "you know, if this guy who doesn't know me from the man in the moon spent that much time with me, getting to know me, the least I can do for myself is read this book'. So, I did.
Since completing the book (about a month ago) and really working on 'correcting' the way I view or respond to things, I have had 2 CH's. You read that correctly...2 CH's.
So, if you give any credibility to the theory that Gary mentioned, see if any of my comments ring true with you.
Like it or not, believe it or not, fretting and stewing about things in life will kill you (not to mention that they will contribute to (or cause) those (x-rated) clusters.
I am trying to learn how to be a different person, and I think (so far at least) it is helping how I feel (including headache relief).
Give it a try (and read that book I mentioned above)...
Best to all,
M