That's a pretty good technique. Using positive/neutral points to anchor sensations or feelings is a good way to help retrain the nervous system.One technique I've been using on myself when experiencing physical unpleasantness is to first focus on the affected area, then find a part of my body that feels neutral, and focus on that for a while. The nervous system seems to reset when I do this, as the mind is aware not of the painful part, but of the neutral part. I can then test it by focussing back on the painful part, which is usually not so painful anymore. Try it! You can even try focussing on a part of your body that is feeling pleasant, if you can find one of those.
I am going to be taking the Psych Anatomy training course from the CFTRE this winter. Two of my family members have already taken it. The course facilitators have had success with clients that had chronic/pain illness.I asked some therapist friends who have studied somatic trauma therapies such as Somatic Experiencing and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, and did a little research myself about using these methods to treat the nervous system symptoms of chronic pain/illness, and could fine no one out there doing/researching/writing about this. Gestalt, I would be very interested to hear your experiences with Self-Regulation Therapy. Did I understand you correctly in mentioning training the mind to become more aware of the body "after" recovery? Have you recovered somewhat, and do you think what you are doing would be effective at relieving nervous system symptoms during a full-blown crash?
However I do believe there are some limitations. Any physical casual factors need to be addressed first before long term relief can be gained. I have recovered quite a bit, but what the SRT therapy made me realize most of all, was that I am not even close to 100%. You see, I had convinced myself that I was fully healed, and had accepted the pain & brain fog I felt in my body as normal by dissociating from my body. That is what I call a false psychological coping cure, and SRT helped me realize the lie I had been living. So now I am more determined than ever to resolve the underlying causal factors.(see my genetic results thread) With greater body awareness, though I can track my progress better, and it helps me figure out what's working and what is not.
What do you mean by full-blown crash?