What exactly is a healing crisis?

[Judy]

Can anyone tell me what exactly is a healing crisis? Which symptoms can you expect, and when does it kick in? Is it also a cycle thing (meaning it returns every now and then)? I'm eating raw for two months now, in the beginning I was tired but slowly and happily gained energy, but at the moment I am dead tired again. I also notice cravings and am trying to optimize my diet. I'd like to know if this can be considered normal, or if it has something to do with my diet and not getting enough of a certain thing.
I also had very emotional up and downs (major mood swings, sudden irritation etc) until last week, when I got the greatest panic attacks that I ever experienced in my life (actually, never really had any panic attacks before). It was awful, however, after it was over, my emotional state got very balanced and I'm actually feeling VERY HAPPY. So except for the tiredness, it's going well. Am curious about the experiences of others, so do share!

[Lay-Lay]

from my understanding a healing crises is something some are in like having a disease cancer, heart disease, diabetes, etc... No detoxing are the symptoms you have when you change your eating habits to a healthier and you have toxins that are releasing from your body.

[Revvell]

If you look on the home page, Alissa addresses many questions for new or almost new people. Here is her response on detoxing aka healing crisis:

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3605

Hopefully that will answer your questions.

As far as when and what ~ it's an individual process depending on past lifestyle, drug history, mental/emotional balance (or imbalance as the case may be).

Just remember ~ you're an adult now and can play with your food. :D

I'm sure others will be happy to share their detox experiences here as well.

Revvell

[Graciebeliever]

Can anyone tell me what exactly is a healing crisis? Which symptoms can you expect, and when does it kick in? Is it also a cycle thing (meaning it returns every now and then)? I'm eating raw for two months now, in the beginning I was tired but slowly and happily gained energy, but at the moment I am dead tired again. I also notice cravings and am trying to optimize my diet. I'd like to know if this can be considered normal, or if it has something to do with my diet and not getting enough of a certain thing.
I also had very emotional up and downs (major mood swings, sudden irritation etc) until last week, when I got the greatest panic attacks that I ever experienced in my life (actually, never really had any panic attacks before). It was awful, however, after it was over, my emotional state got very balanced and I'm actually feeling VERY HAPPY. So except for the tiredness, it's going well. Am curious about the experiences of others, so do share!

Hi ya Judy :)

People have their own takes on what this means but from what I have studied and experienced, It is a moment when the body goes deep and purges out at a celular level toxins and even electrical garbage from the body. It can take many different forms and can also come as emotional distresses or bad thoughts and feelings such as what you refered to. It can be things like old scars hurting and almost opening and rehealing properly. As the body reverses and kicks all this old stuff out all kinds of things happen. Basically, you get sick all over again for a short time so that the final healing can take place. I guess that is sort of how to explain it.
You have to ride these out and let it happen and stick with the path so as not to stop the healing and come out on the other side all the better for it.

You know, a lot of people say the old phrase "must be detox". That can mean a WHOLE lot and a healing crisis is just about in the same camp. Although we can get a bit discouraged when syptoms pop up again but we need to be confident that what we eat and how we live is the right way and see it through past the down times :)

Hope that helped :D

[rawpriestess]

Just remember ~ you're an adult now and can play with your food. :D
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Revvell,

I just love that you put this in your messages, it is so important to remember to have fun in life, every time I read it, it helps me to remember to play more each day.

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sorry to get off topic, I just HAD to say this.

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I think Alissa said it best in her message, please see the link that Revvell gave, it's excellent information.

[Judy]

Thnx for posting that link Revell. That cleared up some things. As I see it for now, most of the symptoms have been detox, except for that major panic attack, that I'd now officially :) consider a(n emotional) healing crisis. I had been suppressing what was 'lurking in the dark', and what came out was the worst I had ever experienced on an emotional level. You know the slight worries you have every now and then? Or the vague anxiety? About not having enough money and not be able to survive bladibla, just 'little' (or not so little) worries you sometimes aren't even aware of. I don't know exactly what happened that night, but everything came out, all my worries and all my fears in one big heap. I also started hyperventilating and well, that never happened before in my life. It was very physical. And still I was running around! I was so scared! And of course, nobody was at home at that moment (had to do it myself anyway...). At one point I just had to say: 'Judy, sit down and let it all come out. Breath through it.' When I did and let it, it went over very quickly, I wondered why I had suppressed certain things in the first place.
I guess that normally, I'd suppress all these fears, by eating (a lot) and/or doing a lot (not resting properly, exhausting myself). I always thought I was doing fine and was rather calm, always denying that deep in my heart, I really worried about certain things in my life. With the raw food, I had major cooked food binging moments before that crisis (no, it weren't ordinary cravings like I made myself believe in the beginning) and went to bed very late every night and didn't rest during the day either, until I decided I mustn't silence my emotions. I'm glad I had this crisis! What happened afterwards? My emotions stabilized, and I'm feeling VERY positive and happy overall, I'm also very tired, maybe that's the result of this crisis, and hungry (in a good way). Plus, when I'm tired, I just lie down to sleep and overall, I LET myself relax. Now thát's a major breakthrough for me!

Scuse me for the long post, but just had to get it off my chest!

[Revvell]

You did and are doing good (Yeah, I know it's improper English. Get over it) ;). Carry on. :)

Revvell


Thnx for posting that link Revell. That cleared up some things. As I see it for now, most of the symptoms have been detox, except for that major panic attack, that I'd now officially :) consider a(n emotional) healing crisis. I had been suppressing what was 'lurking in the dark', and what came out was the worst I had ever experienced on an emotional level. You know the slight worries you have every now and then? Or the vague anxiety? About not having enough money and not be able to survive bladibla, just 'little' (or not so little) worries you sometimes aren't even aware of. I don't know exactly what happened that night, but everything came out, all my worries and all my fears in one big heap. I also started hyperventilating and well, that never happened before in my life. It was very physical. And still I was running around! I was so scared! And of course, nobody was at home at that moment (had to do it myself anyway...). At one point I just had to say: 'Judy, sit down and let it all come out. Breath through it.' When I did and let it, it went over very quickly, I wondered why I had suppressed certain things in the first place.
I guess that normally, I'd suppress all these fears, by eating (a lot) and/or doing a lot (not resting properly, exhausting myself). I always thought I was doing fine and was rather calm, always denying that deep in my heart, I really worried about certain things in my life. With the raw food, I had major cooked food binging moments before that crisis (no, it weren't ordinary cravings like I made myself believe in the beginning) and went to bed very late every night and didn't rest during the day either, until I decided I mustn't silence my emotions. I'm glad I had this crisis! What happened afterwards? My emotions stabilized, and I'm feeling VERY positive and happy overall, I'm also very tired, maybe that's the result of this crisis, and hungry (in a good way). Plus, when I'm tired, I just lie down to sleep and overall, I LET myself relax. Now thát's a major breakthrough for me!

Scuse me for the long post, but just had to get it off my chest!