Hello friend,
This is a guided meditation for supporting your body during PEM otherwise known as post-exertional malaise,
Or what I call post-exertional decay.
Yeah this audio comes by request from someone in community who was asking for something to help them acknowledge the ways in which PEM is a type of protective mechanism that our bodies do.
And that while it can be quite scary in the moment and after that we can learn to work with it and listen deeply to what we need.
So find a position that feels restful.
Maybe this is lying down,
Could be reclining with cushions,
Anything that allows your body to settle more fully into the support beneath you.
If you're able take a slow and deep breath in through your nose and do this again inhaling let each exhale feel like a little gentle sigh of relief signaling to your body and mind that it's okay to rest deeply here.
I come to you from my own bed which is a bit of a princess in the pea bed right now it's quite a tower.
It's important that things are lush and soft given how much time we spend here.
I want you to bring your attention inward now towards your body.
If you're in PEM right now it likely feels very heavy,
Very fatigued,
Overwhelmed or you may also find you're stuck in what I understand as a state of adrenaline when you're trying to overcompensate and push the push before the surrender.
So without judgment just simply notice the sensations that are there now like a gentle observer.
Let's imagine a new perspective together.
What if PEM or crash state is not a failure of your body but its way of protecting you?
You may imagine your body as a wise guardian noticing when your energy stores are running low.
This guardian gently presses the brakes or sometimes more abruptly presses the brakes.
All the same they're asking you to pause to rest and to conserve.
Practice of surrendering to really heavy and painful sensations.
I try to remember that this is not a type of punishment but care.
A very clear signal to stop before harm can happen.
So let's listen together to your body with compassion.
Silently or softly say to yourself my body isn't against me it's doing its very best to keep me safe.
You may imagine these protective signals as a soft warm blanket being wrapped around you.
A type of gentle shield to help hold you still so that the healing can happen.
Remember that even in discomfort,
Even in the greatest discomfort,
Your body is working to protect you.
Let's do another deep breath.
Thank you for being here with me.
I hope you're able to linger here a while longer.
Maybe you've even set yourself up to drift and if so I will meet you there.
