About a year and a half after a rather clumsy traffic accident, I went to see Louis — that was now a year and a half ago. Due to a brain contusion and hemorrhage, I sustained permanent brain damage.
I don’t have lasting paralysis symptoms, so you wouldn’t notice anything just by looking at me. Aside from several cognitive changes (and limitations), I’m extremely sensitive to stimuli — sound, light, movement, and crowds can overwhelm me quickly.
The main reason I went to Louis back then was the constant lack of energy caused by this overstimulation. Because I want to do more than I’m capable of, I brace myself, and my neck and shoulders seize up. Other parts of my body also tend to “lock up.” By constantly evaluating my own functioning — wondering if I’m doing things right, whether I’m overestimating or underestimating myself — I end up stuck in my head. Instead of feeling and taking signals seriously, I often try to think about how I feel, and the energy doesn’t flow freely.
Louis now regularly provides relief in my neck and shoulders, and in other areas too. By treating blockages, he reconnects my head with the rest of my body. Over the past year and a half, I’ve had fewer and fewer headaches — partly thanks to that. I’m better at noticing when I start bracing myself, and I can adjust my plans accordingly. I’ve also noticed that shiatsu has helped improve my ability to concentrate.
I experience Louis’s treatments as firm, clear, and delivered with great care and attention — which does me a lot of good. After each session, I feel stronger and ready to move forward again.