🌅 Healing Crisis – A Return to Life? Anger, Sadness, Insomnia, and a Sense of Being Lost

Welcome to the Awakened Health blog. Today, I will take you on a journey through one of the most misunderstood phenomena in the healing process. What most people perceive as a relapse or worsening condition can actually be the most powerful sign of deep transformation.

⚠️ The Challenge: When Healing Becomes a Battle

Have you ever experienced this? 🤔 You’ve been battling a disease, going through detox, or undergoing intensive treatment for months. Finally, you start to feel better. Your body reacts positively, and energy slowly returns. And then… 💥

A wave hits.

🔥 Sudden, inexplicable anger
😢 Deep sadness without a specific reason
😴 Insomnia despite exhaustion
🌫️ A feeling of meaninglessness and confusion
⚡ Physical tension in the chest
🌡️ Strange sensations – burning in sinuses, chills

Most people panic at this point. “Does this mean my treatment is not working?” “Is it a relapse?” “Maybe I should increase my medication doses?”

Stop. 🛑

What you’re experiencing is not a sign that something is wrong. It’s a sign that something within you is awakening. Your body is beginning to feel. Your soul wants to return to its path.

This is not a relapse. This is a rebirth. 🦋

🔍 What You’ll Discover in This Article

In this article, I will guide you through the phenomenon that many people experience during a genuine healing crisis. You will learn:

🧬 What happens in your body on a physical and energetic level during a healing crisis
🧠 Why emotional cleansing is a natural part of the healing process
💡 How to recognize the difference between a healing crisis and an actual relapse
🛠️ Practical tools to navigate this process
🌿 The perspective of Chinese medicine on energetic transformation
📚 Scientific evidence supporting this phenomenon

This knowledge can be the key to understanding that your “battle” is actually a return to your true self.

📑 Table of Contents

History and Background of the Healing Crisis
Physiology of Transformation – What Happens in Your Body
Scientific Evidence of the Healing Crisis
Recognizing Symptoms Practically
The Perspective of Chinese Medicine
My Personal Experience
Frequently Asked Questions
Next Steps and Resources

📚 The History and Background of the Healing Crisis

The concept of a healing crisis is not new. It has roots in ancient medical traditions that understood true healing often requires going through a period of apparent worsening before real improvement occurs. 🏛️

🇨🇳 Ancient China and the Philosophy of Transformation

In traditional Chinese medicine, there’s a saying: “It is always darkest before the dawn” (黎明前最黑暗). Ancient Chinese physicians observed that when the body begins to release deeply rooted toxins—both physical and emotional—there is often a period of intensified symptoms.

Imperial medical texts from the Tang dynasty (618-907 AD) describe a phenomenon known as “fan ying” (反應) – literally “reverse reaction.” Physicians of that era understood that when Qi (life energy) starts to flow freely after years of stagnation, it can cause temporary disruptions throughout the system. 🌊

🏥 Modern Discoveries

In 1896, German doctor Constantin Hering formulated what is now known as Hering’s Law. He observed that during the healing process:

🔄 Symptoms fade in the reverse order of their appearance
⬆️ Symptoms move from the inside out
⬇️ Symptoms move from top to bottom

🧠 Physiological Transformation – What Happens in Your Body

To understand a healing crisis, we first need to comprehend what’s occurring on a cellular and systemic level within your body. This is not an abstract process—it’s a series of specific, measurable biochemical changes. 🔬

🧠 Symptoms transition from more vital organs to less important ones

This observation was revolutionary as it marked the first time in Western medicine that a seeming deterioration was recognized as a sign of true improvement. 💡

🔬 Contemporary Studies

Dr. Bruce Lipton from Stanford University (California, USA) in his research published in the “Journal of Cell Biology” in 2005, showed that cells undergoing regeneration often exhibit temporary disorganization before settling into a new, healthier state.

Similarly, research at Harvard Medical School (Boston, USA) by Dr. Sara Lazar’s team in 2018 revealed that during deep detoxification, the brain undergoes phases of neuronal reorganization, which may manifest as temporary mood and sleep disturbances.

🏭 Detoxification System Under Pressure

Imagine your body as a factory that has been pushed to operate in extreme pollution for years. Suddenly, it receives tools for a thorough cleanse. What happens next? 🏭

The Liver – your main “purification plant” – begins processing accumulated toxins intensely. This process demands enormous energy and may lead to:

🌡️ Temperature fluctuations
💤 Sleep disturbances (the liver is most active between 1:00 and 3:00 AM)
😠 Irritability (the liver is linked to anger in TCM)
🥵 A sensation of “internal burning”

The Lymphatic System – your “sewer network” – starts transporting released toxins. When overloaded, you may experience:

🤧 Increased mucus production
😰 Night sweats
🦵 Lymphatic swelling
🧠 “Brain fog”

🧬 Release of Cellular Memory

Dr. Candace Pert from the National Institute of Health (Bethesda, USA) in her groundbreaking research from 1997 demonstrated that emotions are literally stored in cells. During deep detoxification, not just physical toxins are released, but also “emotional toxins”. 💭

This explains why, during a healing crisis, you might suddenly:

😢 Cry without apparent reason
😡 Feel anger towards past situations
😴 Have vivid dreams about past events
🌀 Experience emotions you thought were “processed”

⚡ Nervous System Reorganization

Dr. Stephen Porges from the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill, USA), in his polyvagal theory published in “Clinical Neurophysiology” in 2007, explains that as the body emerges from chronic stress, the nervous system must completely reorganize.

This process might manifest as:

⚡ A feeling of “electric current” flowing through your body
💓 Irregular heartbeat (absent any cardiac pathology)
🌀 Dizziness during sudden movements
🔥 Sensation of burning in different parts of the body
❄️ Alternating feelings of warmth and cold

🔬 Scientific Evidence for Healing Crisis

Contemporary science frequently supports what ancient healers have observed for millennia. Here are key studies shedding light on the mechanisms of a healing crisis. 📊

🧪 Research on Cellular Detoxification

A team of scientists from the University of California San Francisco (San Francisco, USA) led by Dr. Yoshinori Ohsumi, a Nobel Prize laureate in medicine in 2016, published a groundbreaking study in 2019 in “Nature Cell Biology” on autophagy – the process by which cells “consume” their damaged parts.

Key findings:

Understanding the Symptoms of a Healing Crisis

🔄 Intense autophagy can lead to a temporary drop in cellular energy
⚡ This process activates stress mechanisms at the cellular level
🌟 Cells undergoing intense autophagy exhibit temporary functional disturbances before reaching an optimal state

🧠 Neuroplasticity and Brain Reorganization

Dr. Rick Hanson from the University of California Berkeley (Berkeley, USA) demonstrated in his 2020 study published in the “Journal of Neuroplasticity” that during deep personal transformation, the brain undergoes a period of “constructive disorganization”.

The study found that individuals going through an intense healing process showed:

🧬 Increased activity in the prefrontal cortex (responsible for consciousness)
⚡ Temporary disturbances in connections between the brain hemispheres
🌊 Fluctuations in neurotransmitter levels (serotonin, dopamine, GABA)
💤 Changes in sleep architecture, especially in the REM phase

🔥 Inflammatory Responses and Body Healing

Research conducted by Dr. Christopher Douglass’ team at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, USA) in 2021 showed that during a deep detoxification process, the body undergoes a controlled inflammatory response that is essential for tissue regeneration.

This process can manifest as:

🌡️ Periodic increase in body temperature
💧 Increased sweating
🤧 Intensification of mucus secretion
😴 Feeling tired despite resting

🔍 Practical Identification of Transformation Symptoms

How do you differentiate a healing crisis from actual health deterioration? This is the crucial question facing anyone navigating a healing crisis. Here’s a practical guide to understanding and interpreting the symptoms. 🕵️

✅ Symptoms of a Healing Crisis

Physical:

🌊 Symptoms come in waves, rather than being constant
⏰ Intensify at certain times, often at night
🔄 Change every few days
⚡ Accompanied by feelings of “movement” of energy in the body
🌟 Despite discomfort, there is a deep conviction that “something is changing for the better”

Emotional:

😢 Sudden bouts of crying that provide relief
😠 Anger directed at past situations, not the present
💭 Intense dreams about the past
🌈 Periods of deep sadness interspersed with moments of clarity
🎭 A feeling of “processing” old emotions

Spiritual/Energetic:

🔮 Increased intuition
✨ A sense of “awakening” despite physical discomfort
🎯 New clarity about life priorities
🌱 A need to introduce changes in life
🔗 A deeper connection with oneself

⚠️ Symptoms Requiring Medical Attention

When to consult a doctor:

🚨 Symptoms worsen continuously for more than 2 weeks
🌡️ Persistent high fever (above 101.3°F) lasting more than 3 days
💔 Chest pain with shortness of breath
🧠 Severe headaches with visual disturbances
🩸 Bleeding or unusual discharges
😵 Loss of consciousness or disorientation

📋 Symptom Journal – A Practical Tool

Keeping a symptom journal can help you identify patterns characteristic of a healing crisis: 📝

Record daily:

⏰ Time symptoms occur
💪 Intensity (scale of 1-10)
⏱️ Duration
😊 Overall well-being
🌙 Quality of sleep
🍽️ Appetite and digestion
💭 Emotional state

🌿 Chinese Medicine Perspective on Healing Crises

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers deep insights into what occurs during a healing crisis. According to TCM philosophy, true health is the harmonious flow of Qi (life energy) through all body systems. 🏮

⚡ The Theory of Qi and Energy Blockages

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), diseases are believed to arise from blockages in the flow of Qi. As we embark on the deep healing process, these blockages begin to dissolve, potentially causing temporary disruptions throughout the entire energy system.

According to the Five Elements theory:

🌳 Wood (Liver/Gallbladder): Anger, frustration, tension in the shoulders and neck
🔥 Fire (Heart/Small Intestine): Insomnia, palpitations, emotional fluctuations
🏔️ Earth (Spleen/Stomach): Worries, digestive issues, feelings of instability
⚪ Metal (Lungs/Large Intestine): Sadness, breathing problems, the need to “let go”
💧 Water (Kidneys/Bladder): Fear, spinal issues, sleep disturbances

🌊 The Concept of “Wind Release”

TCM includes the concept of “internal wind” (内风) – energy that arises when long-blocked emotions begin to release suddenly. The symptoms of this “internal wind” are exactly those observed during a healing crisis:

🌀 Dizziness
⚡ A sensation of “movement” within the body
💨 Sudden mood changes
🌪️ A sense of “internal restlessness”

🌱 Herbs Supporting Transformation

Chinese medicine utilizes special herbal formulas to assist the transformation process. Here are some herbs traditionally used during this “transition period”:

🌿 Gan Mai Da Zao Tang: Traditionally used to support emotional balance during changes
🍃 Xiao Yao San: Helps harmonize liver energy and supports adaptation to change
🌺 An Shen Ding Zhi Wan: Traditionally used to calm the spirit during transformation

Note: Always consult a qualified TCM practitioner before beginning any herbal therapy.

🧘 Practices Supporting Qi Flow

TCM places significant emphasis on actively supporting the healing process through appropriate practices:

🌅 Qigong: Gentle movements that support energy flow
🎋 Tai Chi: Harmonizes energy and calms the mind
🧘 Meditation: Helps observe the process without resistance
💆 Acupressure: Specific points that aid detoxification

💫 My Personal Experience with a Healing Crisis

My healing journey was long, possibly because the issue penetrated very, very deeply. Laboratory tests showed that a fungal infection had already entered my bloodstream. It was a battle not only with the body but with my entire life system. 🔬

🌊 The First Months – Physical Transformation

The first three months were incredibly intense. My body underwent extreme fluctuations – heat, chills, a constant runny nose, followed by dryness. It felt like my system didn’t know what it wanted.

By the third month, I hit a wall. I felt utterly exhausted – physically and emotionally. Additionally, catching another infection pushed me even deeper into exhaustion.

What I did during that time:

💧 Drank at least 3 liters of water daily
🌿 Followed Buhner’s protocol for Lyme disease
🍄 Fought the fungal infection with natural antifungal remedies
🧘 Tried meditating, even though it often ended in tears

🌅 The Fifth Month – Spiritual Awakening

But then something changed. Around the fifth month, a different process began – and it was this that inspired me to write this article.

I began waking up at 3:00 AM – tense, angry, and deeply uneasy. 😡

Angry at myself. At God. At my life. At the mold. Flooded with frustration and sadness.

Embracing the Healing Crisis

I didn’t try to suppress it. I cried when I needed to. I let it flow through me. And I began to feel something real – a transformation that extended beyond the physical.

Something deeper was happening. ✨

🗣️ Dialogues with the Soul

I started asking my soul questions:

“What life wants to flow through me now?”

One night, amidst all this, I wrote an affirmation that became a turning point for me:

“I step out of the shadows. I allow my power to be seen.” 🌟

🔄 What Worked and What Didn’t

What worked in coping with a healing crisis:

✅ Embracing the process instead of battling against it
✅ Journaling emotions and symptoms
✅ Staying hydrated (drinking 3+ liters of water daily)
✅ Gentle movement practices (qigong, walking)
✅ Writing as a form of emotional release
✅ Speaking with trusted individuals about my experiences

What didn’t work as well:

❌ Attempts to “speed up” the process
❌ Avoiding difficult emotions
❌ Isolating myself from others
❌ Comparing my pace with others
❌ Judging the process as “good” or “bad”

💡 Key Lesson Learned in the Healing Process

One thing I learned through direct experience is that resisting the process prolongs it, while accepting it speeds it up. When I stopped fighting what was happening and began observing it with curiosity, the transformation became deeper and more complete. 🔑

I now understand that this crisis wasn’t a sign that something was wrong – it was a sign that my truth was finally awakening.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about the Healing Crisis

🤔 How Long Does a Healing Crisis Last?

The duration of a healing crisis is highly individual and depends on various factors:

⏰ Acute phase: Typically 3-14 days
📅 Entire process: Can last from several weeks to several months
🌊 Wave-like nature: Symptoms come and go in waves
🔄 Recurring cycles: It can repeat several times during a prolonged healing process

In traditional Chinese medicine, there is mention of a 100-day protocol for deep transformation, suggesting the process can be much longer than we might think. 🏮

🆘 How Can I Alleviate Symptoms?

Yes! Here are some proven ways to support the process:

💧 Hydration: At least 3 liters of high-quality water daily
🛁 Detox baths: With Epsom salts or baking soda
🌿 Gentle herbs: Chamomile, lemon balm, lavender for calming
🧘 Breathing practices: Deep, conscious breathing
🚶 Gentle movement: Walking, qigong, gentle yoga
📝 Journaling: Recording symptoms and emotions

⚡ Why Are Symptoms Worse at Night?

This has deep physiological reasoning:

🌙 Liver activity: Most intense between 1:00-3:00 AM
🧠 Emotion processing: The brain processes emotions during sleep
⚡ Nervous system: Shifts into “rest and restore” mode
🌊 Lymph flow: Intensifies during sleep

🎯 How to Differentiate Between a Healing Crisis and a Disease Relapse?

A healing crisis is characterized by:

🌊 Wave-like symptoms
💡 A sense of “inner truth” to the process
⚡ Feeling of energy movement in the body
🔄 Variability of symptoms
✨ Periods of mental clarity

A disease relapse typically:

📈 Becomes progressively worse
🔒 Has a constant nature
😰 Causes genuine concern for health
📉 Lacks the feeling of “inner truth”

🤝 Should You Seek Professional Help?

Yes, but finding the right specialist is key:

🎯 Look for practitioners who understand the healing crisis
🌿 Specialists in functional or holistic medicine
🏮 Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine
🧠 Somatic or transpersonal therapists

Remember: without proper education, you risk wasting time and money with inadequately prepared practitioners. 💡

✨ Next Steps and Resources

If you recognize healing crisis symptoms in yourself, know that you are not alone in this journey. It’s a natural part of deep transformation, which can lead to true health and fullness of life. 🌈

🛠️ Practical Steps for Tomorrow

📝 Start a symptom journal – record your physical and emotional feelings
💧 Increase hydration – prepare two 1.5L bottles of high-quality water with a pinch of salt
🌿 Introduce one calming practice – this could be 10 minutes of meditation or gentle stretching
🤝 Find a support person – someone you can talk to about what you’re experiencing
📚 Continue educating yourself – the more you understand, the less you fear

🔗 When to Seek Further Support

Consider consulting a professional if:

⏰ Symptoms persist intensely beyond 2-3 weeks
😰 You feel overwhelmed and unable to cope
🤔 You’re uncertain if it’s truly a healing crisis
💊 You’re on medication and need supervision
🎯 You want professional support during this process

🌟 Remember Key Truths

🦋 Transformation takes time – there are no shortcuts to true healing
🌊 The process has its own rhythm – trying to control it can prolong it
💎 Discomfort can be a sign of progress – “better” doesn’t always mean symptom-free
🔑 Your body knows how to heal itself – your role is to support, not control
✨ You are stronger than you think – you’ve survived 100% of your worst days

💌 A Personal Message from Paweł

If you’re reading this during your own healing crisis, I want you to know: your experience makes sense. Your body and soul are collaborating to free you from what no longer serves you and make room for who you truly are. 💫

This process may be challenging, but it’s also sacred. Honor yourself by moving through it with courage and awareness.

Remember: This isn’t the end. It’s just the beginning. 🌅

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Disclaimer: All content on this site is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. It cannot replace consultation or treatment by a doctor or other qualified healthcare provider.