Lily Rose
Beloved Grand Eagle
Not much is said here about the phenomenon of Raynauds. It is a condition linked to primary 'conditions', such a lupus, diabetes, fibromyalgia, etc. The cause is a vascular spasm/contraction of the capillaries in the extremities. The causes are known to be from temperature intolerance and stress. One is very physical (non TMS), one is emotional (very TMS). Combined with very low blood pressure, I must constantly be on guard for the physical triggers.
If the ambient temperature is above 73, stress will not trigger an attack.
In weather that is cold, I may be fine, until a wind sheers across my skin. Then, no matter that my mood is completely entranced by the beauty of Winter and the glaze of crisp sparkles that blanket my yard, my body draws all available heat to my core, turning my hands into useless appendages that scream with pain, and my feet numb. Sometimes my nose and ears. Often my gums become icy (my warm tongue becomes an invaluable tool!).
In less dramatic circumstances, simply reaching in the freezer can cause an instant recoil of blood from the surface.
With emotional/stress/subconscious situations, an attack will be more gradual, less painful, but deeply uncomfortable. It may also cause a drop in my blood pressure, which is already low.
Both situations can cause a drop in blood pressure and create sort of a confusion, sometimes disorientation. Both situations also generate fear.
Thus arises my speculations ... one condition, two causes. This is the tangled web. The Gordon Knot.
There is a wonderful book written by Stanley Keleman (1985) called Emotional Anatomy.
From this I quote:
These patterns of tubal pulsation establish self-identity by generating the feelings that we recognize as ourselves. They give a dimension to existence by creating an inside and an outside, a depth and a surface. This inwardness and outwardness are central in the anatomy of feelings and self-concept.
There is a basic thought-feeling process to all perception. This is to expand, swell, reach out and then pull back, shrink, contract. We go towards the world and then we return to ourselves in a never-ending cycle. It becomes apparent that stress and distress disturb these patterns of pulsations. Sometimes there is a conflict between two poles: we reach out and shrink at the same time. We over-extend and lack the ability to pull back. Or we shrink and lack the ability to expand. Under these conditions our cells begin to lose their range of pulsation and feeling, thinking, and acting, as well as our self-identity.
Cells reach out to the world, cells move away from the world. They take in and let out. How the cell expands and contracts is a statement of assertion. How it maintains pressure is a statement of self-perception. How it takes and gives is communication.
Emotional Anatomy ... a statement in and of itself. Our emotions create our anatomy. I shrink from conflict. My blood vessels respond by trembling and closing down. My heart loses pressure.
I can work on this. I can bring in the concepts of TMS.
But how do I untangle this from the inability to generate a defense against the cold wind, or icy freezer, or even sitting quietly reading in a room that is below 72 degrees?
On a note of smiling irony -- my husband is the complete opposite. Heat hurts him. We joke that he will end up back in Alaska, and I will end up on a Tropical Island.
with grace and gratitude,
^_^
If the ambient temperature is above 73, stress will not trigger an attack.
In weather that is cold, I may be fine, until a wind sheers across my skin. Then, no matter that my mood is completely entranced by the beauty of Winter and the glaze of crisp sparkles that blanket my yard, my body draws all available heat to my core, turning my hands into useless appendages that scream with pain, and my feet numb. Sometimes my nose and ears. Often my gums become icy (my warm tongue becomes an invaluable tool!).
In less dramatic circumstances, simply reaching in the freezer can cause an instant recoil of blood from the surface.
With emotional/stress/subconscious situations, an attack will be more gradual, less painful, but deeply uncomfortable. It may also cause a drop in my blood pressure, which is already low.
Both situations can cause a drop in blood pressure and create sort of a confusion, sometimes disorientation. Both situations also generate fear.
Thus arises my speculations ... one condition, two causes. This is the tangled web. The Gordon Knot.
There is a wonderful book written by Stanley Keleman (1985) called Emotional Anatomy.
From this I quote:
These patterns of tubal pulsation establish self-identity by generating the feelings that we recognize as ourselves. They give a dimension to existence by creating an inside and an outside, a depth and a surface. This inwardness and outwardness are central in the anatomy of feelings and self-concept.
There is a basic thought-feeling process to all perception. This is to expand, swell, reach out and then pull back, shrink, contract. We go towards the world and then we return to ourselves in a never-ending cycle. It becomes apparent that stress and distress disturb these patterns of pulsations. Sometimes there is a conflict between two poles: we reach out and shrink at the same time. We over-extend and lack the ability to pull back. Or we shrink and lack the ability to expand. Under these conditions our cells begin to lose their range of pulsation and feeling, thinking, and acting, as well as our self-identity.
Cells reach out to the world, cells move away from the world. They take in and let out. How the cell expands and contracts is a statement of assertion. How it maintains pressure is a statement of self-perception. How it takes and gives is communication.
Emotional Anatomy ... a statement in and of itself. Our emotions create our anatomy. I shrink from conflict. My blood vessels respond by trembling and closing down. My heart loses pressure.
I can work on this. I can bring in the concepts of TMS.
But how do I untangle this from the inability to generate a defense against the cold wind, or icy freezer, or even sitting quietly reading in a room that is below 72 degrees?
On a note of smiling irony -- my husband is the complete opposite. Heat hurts him. We joke that he will end up back in Alaska, and I will end up on a Tropical Island.
with grace and gratitude,
^_^
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You are kind to say that and I'm so glad my story helps you. I think everyone on this site has courage and the willingness to work hard to overcome whatever physical challenge they are dealing with. Rather than waiting for someone to us or save us, we empower ourselves. It's also comforting when you realize that you're not alone or unique. I used to think I was some sort of freak (not 'normal") but actually millions of people have suffered more than I. You can survive and thrive!
