As hints and whispers of spring start to move through the Northern Hemisphere here in the United States, I have been thinking a lot about our own capacity for renewal and regeneration.

I recently posted about the miracles I have witnessed in my 1:1 work with clients. Through these experiences and my own experience of total remission from an "incurable" illness, I decided to share about them in my newsletter as I feel they exemplify the power of healing and the potential for transformative change that we all possess - just as the capacity for Spring is always there, underneath the frozen surface of the earth.

These stories may challenge conventional beliefs about illness and health, but they invite us to consider the profound impact of our thoughts, emotions, and inner narratives on our well-being.

As some of you know, I am trained in Somatic  Experiencing® (SE). SE is a powerful mind-body modality that helps the body release any traumatic memories, which in turn releases the nervous system from the grasp these experiences have on the body, allowing it to return to a healthy, baseline functioning.

Many times, I have witnessed within one SE session the decrease of symptoms that were otherwise chronic and generally non-responsive to most other treatment modalities.

A few times, I witnessed total symptom resolution within a one-hour session - something that might be deemed as a "spontaneous remission" or "miracle cure."

All of these experiences challenged the traditional timelines and expectations of healing, and to me show that the possibilities for recovery and transformation are not confined to predetermined norms - or they don't have to be, anyway.

In my journey with my own illness, Crohn's disease, I accepted the diagnosis but refused to accept the prognosis given to me. This defiance against the conventional narrative led me into remission and eventually into the work I do today.

This experience allowed me to deeply know and experience firsthand that the prognosis we receive is just one possible outcome and not the definitive truth about our healing potential.

Because of this, the foundation of my work is in challenging paradigms and revolutionizing the way we think about health, illness, and healing.

 Scientific research backs the reality that our beliefs, level of acceptance, and expectations of our diagnosis and prognosis have an impact, emphasizing the power of our mindset in shaping our experiences with illness.

This means simply that healing is not a one-size-fits-all process.

Each of us has a unique tapestry of experiences and a different journey that has led to our unique expression of illness.

The conventional approach often overlooks the intricate and personal story behind the illness, limiting our capacity to tap into our innate healing potential.

So, let's get into miracles. 

Susan*, Chronic Pain

Let's start with Susan*, a woman with chronic, daily, 10/10 back pain who had tried the gamut of treatments with little to no relief.

Together, we explored the space in her back where the pain resided. Immediately, memories of her sister arose, along with a lot of anger, resentment, and hostility due to betrayals she experienced.

She said it felt like her sister had stabbed her in the back.

We made space for her to experience each of these emotions, to express them fully, and then to re-imagine what she truly needed to feel seen, heard, and loved.

At the end of the session, she realized her back no longer hurt. 

Angela*, Chronic Constipation

Another woman, Angela*, was chronically constipated for as long as she could remember.

Dropping in with SE, we found a place in her lower abdomen that contained a traumatic secret she was forced to hold since early childhood.

Releasing the secret in this session and allowing all of the related emotions and beliefs to held, acknowledged, and expressed was incredibly intense and cathartic for her now 60-year-old self. 

Following the session, she had a normal, easy to pass bowel movement, and continued since.

Christine*, Mal de Débarquement Syndrome

When it comes to miracles, I also think of Christine*, a woman who developed a rare condition called Mal de Débarquement syndrome.

This syndrome arises after traveling and creates a sensation of being in constant motion, like on a boat, even when sitting still. Common related symptoms include dizziness, confusion, and anxiety.

Some folks who experience this syndrome have symptoms for a day or so and then they resolve. Others, like my patient, have symptoms that can last for one to several years after being triggered.

As we did SE together, we uncovered a link between the sensation of a rocking boat and her need to be rocked by her biological mother.

This was particularly incredible, because this was a pre-verbal, pre-memory experience. She was a newborn, and yet her body remembered. SE allowed us to access this very early life memory, renegotiate the scene and reprogram her subconscious experience of this heartbreaking scene, and release it from her body.

Her symptoms dropped from 100% into the single digits and eventually resolved completely over the next few weeks.

What's common in each of these stories?

The symptoms were merely a physical manifestation of something the body was holding onto that needed to be seen, held, acknowledged, and ultimately, freed. The diagnosis was correct, but the prognosis was not. 

The body will hold what the mind cannot process until it is safe and ready to do so. 

So why do some folks experience these so-called spontaneous remissions or miracle cures when others do not?

I believe from my own experience and from what I have witnessed in my work with these incredible humans that miracles happen when every cell in our body is ready to let go. 

These incredible transformations highlight the potential for spontaneous remissions and miraculous healings when all aspects of ourselves are ready and willing to release the burdens we carry. The power of our inner narratives, emotions, and belief systems becomes evident when every part of us aligns to let go and heal.

(This also has a lot to do with inner child work, which I will be writing about in my next blog.)

Ultimately, these stories invite us to consider the possibility that unconventional approaches to healing and an expanded understanding of our inner selves can unlock profound pathways towards well-being.

They challenge us to step outside the confines of conventional paradigms and contemplate the vast potential for healing that exists within each of us.

*Names have been changed to protect patient privacy.