Michael's Inspirational Story
Michael Fine's life was changed forever on April 14, 2010. On the drive from his Glenview home to work, his vehicle collided head-on with a truck. What immediately followed for Michael were days in the intensive care unit, and eight surgeries over several weeks. Among his injuries was the permanent loss of his left arm, which was severed in the accident. The pain was excruciating, and depression came with it.
To overcome these obstacles, Michael gradually responded with courage and gratitude. The love and support of his wife, teenage sons, and old friends and new, helped him accept the realities of the accident and appreciate the many good things that remained in his life. One of his new friends, Eric Coleman, had saved his life on that April morning by making a tourniquet out of tree branches. Michael and Eric will spend the one-year anniversary of the accident
together under much better circumstances.
Michael continues to experience daily pain from his phantom limb. After the accident, he became re-acquainted with a childhood friend, Dr. Howard Weissman, clinical director and founder of The Chicago Stress Relief Center, Inc.
"The therapy that I receive through Dr. Howard is two-fold. The Floatation Tank is a great source of relief. It allows me to kind of drift off into a different state. I feel balance in there, and it's really hard to tell where your body ends and where the water begins," says Michael.
Outside the tank, his phantom hand is almost always in pain, feeling clenched and tight.
"There have been times when I've been in there where I've actually lost
the feeling of pain in my arm and it feels almost that my hand is open and completely relaxed."
In rating the relief on a pain scale of 1 to 10, Michael estimates that a float reduces the pain from a 7 to a 3, with the benefits lasting for an hour or two afterward. He credits the Center's approach to integrating body, mind and spirit with the positive results.
Michael knows that his life will never be what it once was, and one of the reasons is his perspective. He is using his experiences to teach and inspire young people to overcome obstacles. Michael is a sought-after speaker who talks with kids in schools, places of worship, and other community centers about ways to nurture their strengths to achieve their goals. Teaching kids how to respond when forced to take one of life's detours is one of the most satisfying things about the man he is today, and part of his healing process.
Floatation Therapy
For those experiencing chronic or acute pain, depression, anxiety, or any other ailments affecting the mind or body, the Samadhi Floatation Tank may be exactly what you've been looking for.
Imagine if you could close your eyes and feel like you are floating in air. Floatation therapy is a highly effective means of stress relief and relaxation. Floatation consists of lying in a tank containing 10 inches of super-saturated salt water. The high concentration of salt enables the individual to float effortlessly on the surface of the water. By heating the water to 93.5 degrees Fahrenheit, or skin temperature, it is virtually impossible to distinguish between parts of the body that are in contact with the water and those that are not. In effect, the floatation experience "fools" the brain into believing that the person is floating in mid-air.
For more information on Floatation Therapy, click here or download our Floatation Therapy brochure.
New Services
The Chicago Stress Relief Center has once again expanded services with the addition of Acupuncture and Cranio-Sacral Therapy.
Acupuncture is a time-tested method for restoring healthy balance. Used in many parts of the world for thousands of years it has helped countless people.
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Kim Close is a licensed acupuncturist and is board certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). She graduated with honors from the Midwest College of Oriental Medicine (ILAAOM).
Cranio-Sacral Therapy promotes improved functioning of the nerve receptors of the spine while relaxing the mind and senses.
A new member of the CSRC's team, Pandora Scaletta, specializes in several approaches; Cranio-Sacral, Myofascial (muscle and connective tissue) Release and Raindrop Therapy.
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Yours in Health~
Dr. Howard K. Weissman
I hope this Valentine's Day message is helpful for you. Become a Facebook Fan of The Chicago Stress Relief Center. Our aim is to share information and experiences as we offer skills that aim to reduce the harmful effects of stress.
Download a our new Floatation Therapy brochure. A very informative and useful guide
that provides detailed information on floating and answers questions you may have.
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