Day Three Hundred and Twelve!!!!

Emotionally Focussed Cleansing Therapy




It is very easy to disassociate from your body. Disassociation is zoning out. There is healthy zoning out and then there is unhealthy zoning out. It is very easy to avoid the things that you do not want to look at. Avoid feelings, avoid sensations, in order to ignore the problem and hope that it is just going to go away especially if you do not see it. Defining the boundaries of your body means being in connection with your body as an act of knowing yourself. 


There is a technique called skin brushing. The idea is to use a brush to sweep over your body as a powerful approach to stimulating immune function, the lymphatic system, as well as a connection with the body to overcome body dysmorphia.


Body Dysmorphia is a mental disorder in which you can't stop thinking about one or more perceived defects or flaws in your appearance. These flaws are perceived because to others, these flaws are either minor or not observable. But these flaws may make you feel so ashamed and anxious, that you may start avoiding life.


The soothing touch of skin brushing is meant to be stimulating, pleasurable and grounding. It is a self-care strategy that connects mind and body and allows for the brain to integrate the positive touch with associated positive feelings, in order to overcome the negative perceived self-image. Skin brushing not only promotes skin health and provides a daily check-in to connect with feelings, sensations, and the boundaries of the body, it is also a way to manage depression, anxiety, and chronic stress. 


Your skin is the largest organ of your body and stress lowers immune function. As such, stimulating your lymphatic system by skin brushing increases immune function, and is an effective strategy for the preventing of colds and congestion due to allergies. 


The usual technique of skin brushing is done with a dry brush, two times a day, on dry skin. The sweeping motion is done always in the direction of the heart, working up the front and back of the body, starting from the feet, going upwards in long strokes, legs, abdomen, arms, chest, and neck, working up the front as well as your backside. 


My suggestion is to use the same technique only with soap in hand, Emotionally Focussed Cleansing Therapy, using the soap to cleanse the skin by lathering in brush strokes, alternating from the left side of your body and then your right side of your body, alternating back and fourth which stimulates your brain. Also include a positive affirmation statement while doing the sweeping motions. 


The positive affirmation statement is: Even though (you get to fill this in) 
…I don’t like myself, I don’t like the way I look, I am overweight, (you get to pick your own statement), I deeply and completely accept myself.     
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