Dr Vidhya Nair is a psychologist and an exceptional hypnotherapist. She is best at healing anger, anxiety, depression, and phobia. In this healing circle talk, she discusses being on top of our mental health, especially for cancer patients, and overcoming negative thoughts.
One of her cousins was diagnosed with a rare disease when she was young. She always had questions about it, as she was a biology student at that time. After completing her MBBS, a relative was diagnosed with cancer.
She thought these diseases might have something to do with the environment and not just genetics. She studied more about it in the field of epigenetics, which is very new to humanity. It talks about genetics not being the only thing responsible for changes in our body, environmental triggers and stimuli are also responsible for activating various cells, leading to multiple changes in the body.
Caregivers are a significant part of the environment around the patients, and there are many things they need to take care of.
Caregivers and patients go through the same amount of stress and pressure whenever a patient has cancer. Caregivers have unconditional love for their loved ones, and this could often lead them to hurt them. Giving freedom to the patients and letting them be with themselves is very important too. Sometimes, a patient wouldn't be able to do certain things, even for their own good. At such times, caregivers should try not to get frustrated. Give them time, and don't pressure them; let them be themselves.
Both of you have to involve yourself in some activities where you increase your bond. Keep the Stress away for some time and have fun. Reading and listening to music always helps.
For a family with a cancer patient, accepting the situation is the most important and will reduce the tussle. Prevent miscommunication and seek help if you are facing difficulties.
According to Dr Nair, humans have energy and contribute to the universe's energy. This energy can make us limitless, but only when we can access it.
Here's where meditation can do wonders for us.
It connects you to your inner self. During meditation, people often complain about getting negative thoughts about themselves, and disbelief about themselves indeed comes up. However, on the brighter side, meditation helps you identify these blocking elements in your mind.
Once you realize these elements, taking action against them is essential.
Being conscious of our negative thoughts helps, but only when you take action against them. If a negative thought is coming up repeatedly, then act on it or accept it. Observe it and ask yourself, "What do you want to do about it?".
It is essential to understand here that you don't have to question your behavior but just observe it. You have to think that something inside is causing this behavior, and you need to acknowledge and accept it.
The best part about meditation is that you are training your mind to be in the present and finally getting closer to accessing all the energy and potential. You become comfortable with yourself, and that's an invaluable asset.
During treatment, patients and even caregivers are often in emotional turmoil. This emotional energy is stored in the body and has its adverse effects. Unsurprisingly, involving ourselves in physical activities releases this negative energy.
One needs to focus on the fact that it is a part of the healing process and not under their control. All one can do is control themselves, and that's the best way to get better. It's not always necessary to face everything with a brave face at the cost of your mental health.
External agents affect us and often limit us. There is a lot of potential within you, which is limitless. To use this, get over the negative beliefs. Start believing in yourself. What you believe is what happens.
In the context of cancer patients, doctors often say you have less time to live. Patients often start thinking about an inevitable end to their lives, and it is understandable. However, we all can think otherwise and not believe it.
According to Dr Vidhya Nair, our body has two programs instilled inside, better known as the healing and believing programs.
Our body has its intelligence of healing. Ideally, we can self-heal ourselves from most mental and physical problems. But this has changed over the years, as we have started believing that we need external forces for healing.
If we can instill it in our body to live longer and healthier, our body is forced to do it, and it gets instilled into our subconscious mind.
Hypnotherapy can help individuals access their deep-rooted causes of illness. In the cases of most cancer patients, unexpressed and suppressed emotions, such as anger, unresolved trauma, conflicts, and many others, are responsible for their condition. They may not realize it, but it is there, and it hinders their recovery. Here's where hypnotherapy comes into play.
Hypnotherapy helps the individual change their state of mind, from time dating back to their childhood, suppress these causes, and release the suppressed emotional charge.
The first seven years of a child are in a receptive state; they learn and store what they see. Hypnotherapy helps change some of these unresolved feelings and makes you feel better.
When you reach a space where you feel yourself again, content with yourself, a state where your mind and body are in the moment and happy again, you have healed and are content with your life again.
Dr Vidhya Nair recommends some books to read for everyone to understand the "it's all in the head" concept and implement it in their lives for a positive change.