I was introduced to the Body Stress Release concept aged 35 by both a friend and a relative back in The Netherlands, shortly after one another. At that point in time I had been living with headaches, including cluster migraine attacks since I was 13 and suffered from back pain – which had grown steadily worse, for over 10 years. The idea of ‘releasing’ muscular tension was something that appealed to me right away. I had ceased all kinds of treatments since the age of 21 and was initially reluctant at reopening the door again. I was diagnosed with scoliosis at age 8 by a routine check-up performed by the school doctor – followed by various types of exercises and therapies that I had to undergo during my free time after school. When I turned 13, the scoliosis had surpassed the 50 so-called ‘Cobb angle degree’ (despite all the efforts over 5 years including x-rays every 6 months). While I underwent regular chiropractic sessions, I also participated in a study led by a London hospital about the connection between fast dental correction (Orthodontology) and rapidly worsening scoliosis in the lower cervical vertebrae and upper thoracic vertebrae due to tension being transferred as it were from the jaw via the neck to the spine muscles. A famous Orthopaedic Surgeon tried to convince my parents and myself of the necessity of having to insert 2 long Harrington Rods (one on the left and one on the right side of the spinal column).
For months I felt depressed. At age 15 I alternatively had to wear a Boston brace, which only seemed to cause additional pain. Sometimes I could hardly walk as it cut off the blood and nerve supply to the legs. It also increased my menstruation pain tremendously (which I only much later came to discover was a condition known as Endometriosis). My Dad had a colleague whose husband was a reputable Chiropractor who was willing to attend to me and I was thrilled to see my orthotics (a shoe inlay) of 1,5 cm on one side disappear within a year. However, after the treatments (twice a week over a period of months) I had to lay down immediately afterwards at home for about 30 to 60 minutes due to the initial increase of pain.
My love for several outdoor activities such as tennis, ice-skating, horseback riding and even playing piano became increasingly difficult. There was nothing that I did not try out, only with very limiting lasting success. I felt a sense of despair more and more, especially as my body continued to lock up. Chronic fatigue syndrome set in due to sleepless nights. Searching the internet for possible solutions, I came across a Fibromyalgia diagnosis, which appeared to encapsulate the situation that I found myself in.
It was in August 2010, after 6 month’s contemplation, that I made the first 3 BSR appointments. After the very first session, I recall walking back to my car feeling strong and stable and at the same time free and balanced in my lower back – this was really something new!
While we were about to move to Tyrol, Austria we discovered that there was not a single BSR Practitioner in the whole country. My husband at the time figured out if he could learn the technique to assist me further. That step set in motion a whole transition as we then jointly decided to do the BSR Course together in the 1st UK Class ever in 2014/2015. It was on 1 April, 2015 that we opened the very first BSR practice in Tyrol, Austria. Since then my quality of life has improved so much that I can hardly believe it myself.
I am now 50 years old. I can work long days (op to 12 hours, sometimes only without very short breaks) and still hike up to 3.000 m summits. No more cluster migraines, headaches (of all kinds), unbelievable tiredness, pain along the spine (neck pain, thoracic area pain, lumbar back pain) and ‘brain fog’. After experiencing severe pain for a total of approximately 22 years of my life, there would be so much to add to my story, but the only thing perhaps really worth mentioning at this point, is that my only regret is that I waited half a year to make my first appointment for BSR. It has proved to be one of the best decisions of my life.
During the training I promised Gail Meggersee to always look for opportunities to make a difference in especially children’s lives. To date I am very grateful that I have been able to assist more than 250 children to improve their lives. It has become my personal motivation to use the unique BSR technique in enhancing children in their formative years and so prevent them being as handicapped as mine were. Some have even become skilled musicians, talented sports people, and some were simply able to complete their choice of education, despite all the odds being against them. With the assistance of BSR children are naturally enabled to a great extent to enjoy their childhood. Attending to babies who cry ceaselessly has become my specialty so to speak over the years, my husband calling me therefore lovingly the ’Baby whisperer’. It is such a rewarding professional experience changing lives with BSR, the way BSR changed mine.
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