I had my epideral steroid shot today and it was a much better experience than the last time. My anxiety was a little high but not as bad. And, the pain was not as bad.
As I mentioned last night in yesterday’s blog, I got a massage and meditated before bed. This morning I meditated, and then at the end while saying my gratitudes, I asked God, Spirits, Saints, Guides, you name it—to be with me in the procedure room. I’m not going to be afraid to ask anymore for help. I drank chamomile tea to calm me down before I left this morning. (HOT TIP/SIDE BAR: My sister mentioned rubbing chamomile oil on your wrists and smelling it can also help before making presentations or in other high-anxiety situations. Good to know!)
I didn’t have the anxiety I did last time on the way to Mayo Clinic. I made a sign of the cross before getting on the procedure table (guess you can take the girl out of the Catholic but not the Catholic out of the girl!) and said a little prayer. I took deep breaths on the table. My anxiety kicked in a bit so I deployed my Jedi mind tricks. I decided to count my breaths to narrow my focus because I wandered a bit—thinking about the procedure about to start, would it be painful, etc.
I breathed in deep from my belly—counting 6 seconds while inhaling and 6 while exhaling. The counting really helps. I’ve heard and read 6, 7, 8 counts and also to hold for 2 or 3 seconds after your inhale but I didn’t want to faint on the table. Six was good and no struggle. This really helped me concentrate on breath and not what was happening around and to me.
Do you count breath when you meditate? When you’re a beginner, I’ve found this really helps. I do it at the beginning of my meditation to get me in The Zone.
Mala Mamas 