I had another treatment tonight.
It is only because my acupuncturist is a part of the community acupuncture network that I am able to go so often–because this network uses a different business model, they are able to charge sliding scale fees. My acupuncturist goes from 15$-35$ (you should TOTALLY check out and see if there is a community acupuncturist in your area!).
So, I’ve been going–and have been posting small blurbs about what the experience has been like for me.
It’s hard for me to get too specific or to explore things in a larger post–as acupuncture is a deeply personal experience for me. The model that the DCA follows is that the poker lady (not sure what to call her!) has us all in a larger room (rather than individual rooms), sitting in nice, relaxing lazy boy chairs (although a table is available if you need it), and then she takes a few minutes to check your pulse, ask a few questions, and then poke you.
She then leaves you to sit with the soft music, warm air, quiet light, and inner thoughts for as long as you need to.
And that’s it. There is no pressure–the number of times she’s told me to lose weight? Zero. At conventional doctor treatments, I’m usually told within the first fifteen minutes that I would “feel better” if I lost weight. There is no shame, no embarrassment–people snore up a storm, other people (me) sort of fidget and wiggle, other people zone in and out–there is no pressure to be one way, no “guidance” on the “right” way to do it–it’s just a time of no pressure and yourself.
Which means that I spend a *lot* of time mediating on emotions and feelings that the treatment brings up in me.
Which, ironically enough, means that I’ve been spending a LOT of time very pissed off. 
Apparently, many women who go to acupuncture go through this. They find that as energy moves around it reminds them (I guess would be the word) of all the shit that pissed them the fuck off, but they were “good girls” and so never said anything. Or pretended it didn’t bother them. Or that they were “ok,” really. Etc.
I don’t feel comfortable sharing some of the *many* things I’ve been just on a raging screaming terror about since I started treatment–but I *promise* you–I am in a much different place today than I was as a four year old, as a 13 year old, as a 20 year old. And as such, I have spent a LOT of time expressing my feelings to the fullest extent possible.
W* has caught an earful, in other words.
Tonight at treatment, two amazing things happened. One, I went in with a *raging* sinus headache. It hurt so badly, that when she poked me in my eyebrows (which is where the headache located itself), I almost cried, it hurt so badly–something that is very odd. I’ve *never* felt pain from the needles ever. But after the treatment was done and I was driving home? Headache was completely gone. Usually it takes a steady diet of Clariton D and prescription nasal spray for that to happen.
The second thing that happened was that in a very odd way–tonight my stomach and my brain had a conversation. I’m not sure, really, how to explain it. It’s a very weird sensation–different parts of your body talking to other parts of your body. But my stomach just very gently told my brain that it didn’t trust my brain. My brain then asked why, and long weird conversation short, my brain and my stomach signed a peace treaty tonight. My brain and my stomach agreed that they will each start trusting each other to make the right decisions and supporting each other on the road to health.
For the first time in *years*, my stomach and my brain are moving on the same road in the same direction with the same purpose in mind.
Something that even as I type, I know sounds really really weird. Believe me, I know how weird that sounds. I want to erase it because I know that the Bears of the world will get all, “OMG, bfp you’re totally getting all kumbaya peace love dope let me go vomit all over you now!”
So I know it sounds dopey. But I wanted to share, because to me–that offers a very optimistic reality for myself. I *am* getting better. I *am* healing. I am helping myself to do it. I will wake up one day and be at peace with myself and my body.
Acupuncture isn’t the only tool I’m using to get better. But it is one that people often think is inaccessible to them and as such, is rarely talked about within the context of working class poor/liberatory movement making sense.
So I wanted to put it out there. And mention that in many places–even if you are like I was a few months ago, barely able to squeeze together enough money to pay for groceries, much less a 75$ treatment–acupuncture may not be out of reach for you.
Again–check out your state here (Canada and the U.S. are the places located within *this* particular network–there may be others in your country!), and see if you have a place near you!
- Share
April 1st, 2009 at 5:07 pm #
All I can say is thank you for this. I always thought acupuncture was out of my league too, but I checked that link and—there’s one in my city!!!
And I’m calling her tomorrow. I am having a hell of a time trying to get my thyroid balanced, and it doesn’t help that my doctor (no real relationship with this doctor; she’s just someone I picked out of the phone book since I don’t know any other way to do it) has continually lowered my dosage to the point where now I’m back to feeling like shit, joints hurting, no energy, depressed, retaining water and gaining weight. At least I found out what my magic number for T4 has to be—the number at which I feel like myself again (1.2).
I’m willing to explore acupuncture. Hell, I’m willing to explore anything. For a brief time, when my medication was higher, I had a taste of what it felt like to feel good again—-and I don’t want to give that back up.
So thanks…thanks for that resource. I never would have thought that was a feasible solution before—I always assumed I couldn’t afford it. (Yet, funny how I feel like I can afford to feel like shit. Go figure.)
April 1st, 2009 at 5:21 pm #
And people are so down on the D… but it’s one of only two places in our state that has this awesome network! I wanna move over there…
April 1st, 2009 at 5:41 pm #
Two things.
1) Wow, I used to live in that neighborhood. It was a really long time ago.
2) Thanks, turns out there’s a clinic across the street from my work.
As always, thanks for everything you do here.
April 1st, 2009 at 6:21 pm #
You know, I was going to go to the doctor because my throat is acting strangely, but I might try going to acupuncture instead. I think I can scrape up enough money for it – there’s one near my old apartment.
April 1st, 2009 at 6:32 pm #
Thanks bfp for this post!
My counselor that I currently see does a low price – due to the economy and I am so thankful for her. I am always looking for low cost/sliding scale holistic health places/people. I think I am going to check out the one in Ferndale. I have been wanting to try acupuncture my whole life!
Aaminah – move over here!
April 1st, 2009 at 7:33 pm #
I’m going to see if there is a community acupuncturist in my area.
April 1st, 2009 at 10:02 pm #
This is seriously cool bfp!!!
April 2nd, 2009 at 2:33 am #
Something that even as I type, I know sounds really really weird. Believe me, I know how weird that sounds.
Ohh, I don’t think it sounds weird, it sounds really sensible. We’re encouraged so much to dislocate body and mind, it sounds like just working to reconnect again. But then I was brought up with plenty of hippy ideas like asking your tummy what it wants to eat, just as one related example, so that might just be me…
April 2nd, 2009 at 5:00 am #
Seriously, Community acupuncture is THE best. Saved my butt, that’s for sure, and saved my nursing relationship (sounds goofy, I know). I want everyone I know to go! My brother suffers terribly from sinus issues and I’m dying to get him in there.
I am so glad you are healing, mi amiga. That conversation between your brain & stomach totally powerful. So awesome.
This community model of acupuncture is so powerful. The mode of treatment of acupuncture is so different from our often fucked up medical system. And since acupuncture only really works when you can go often, well, if it costs buckets of money to go each time, who can afford that? I heart my community acupuncture clinic!!!!
April 3rd, 2009 at 6:39 am #
You have totally inspired me to call and make an appointment. I’m so excited.
April 3rd, 2009 at 8:07 am #
I want to really thank you for posting about this. Acupuncture has been recommended to me countless times, and it really scares me so I haven’t sought it out. This is helping me to think that maybe it isn’t as scary as I think it is.
April 5th, 2009 at 12:02 pm #
There is also a community acupuncture clinic in Livonia on Plymouth Rd. that isn’t on the list. It’s called Michigan Community Acupuncture.
April 6th, 2009 at 8:36 am #
thank you for updating lyndzey, I had *thought* at one point I saw three locations on that list, and then it just slipped to two–I was thinking I must’ve been looking at the wrong state or something!
April 6th, 2009 at 8:42 am #
to all–no prob about posting–I *LOVE* that you are all going to try it out. W* has already said that he thinks I get 5cents for every time I mention community acupuncture, because I’m talking about it so much!!!
I hope that everybody finds it to be as amazing as I have–La Lubu–I really really think you’re going to be pleased with it. I have the same sounding problems as you–and it’s worked *considerably* for my energy. I’m still not where I want to be, but it’s gotten SO much better–in just the short time I’ve been going–and it’s getting better without the fighting and the anxiety and the need to “prove” something is wrong, you know? Keep us all updated on how things work for you!!!!
April 6th, 2009 at 4:39 pm #
I had my first consult today…..I get my first treatment on Thursday. I can hardly wait!
May 15th, 2009 at 8:42 am #
Just want to say THANKS for the link — I was able to find one near my new place so in a couple of months I can stop being jealous of you and get some done myself!
May 17th, 2009 at 8:21 am #
I have had a different experience w/ acupuncture, I’ll blog about it one day when I have time. Not wholeheartedly negative, just not a life saver.