Isn’t the way the human body functions quite amazing and intricate? It knows exactly how to regulate and heal itself. We don’t have to tell our heart when and how fast to beat or the GI-tract how to digest food. We don’t have to instruct our lungs how to breathe or the immune system how to fight off infections. When we cut ourselves, the body knows exactly how to heal the wound. The human body has evolved to be healthy, strong and resilient. However, in order to function properly, the body’s internal environment needs to be in balance. Similar to a chemical reaction performed in a test tube requiring precise conditions of the right chemicals in the right amount, ratio, temperature and pH-balance.
A body out of balance can’t function properly. Everything in the human body is fine tuned and interconnected. If one area is imbalanced the proper functioning of other parts of the body are affected. The body is in a state of dis-ease.
What creates imbalance in the physical body? It is widely accepted that improper nutrition, dehydration, as well environmental factors such as pollutants, toxic chemicals and even electromagnetic radiation, can have a negative impact on our health and wellbeing.
There is growing evidence and acknowledgment even in traditional western medicine that there is an important connection between an individual’s mental/emotional state (psycho) and the functioning of the body (soma). Our emotional and mental wellbeing affects not only our behavior but also our physical health.
Some physical diseases are believed to have a mental/emotional component derived from the stresses and strains of everyday living, meaning the symptom(s) are at least partially caused by mental or emotional disturbance. They are referred to as psychosomatic disorders.
For example after a particularly stressful event, like the loss of a loved one an individual might develop high blood pressure shortly afterward or even have a heart attack. In another person, the same situation might lead to a gastric ulcer. A third individual, equally grief-stricken, might not get physically ill at all.
Common examples for psychosomatic diseases are: tension and migraine headaches, gastric ulcer, IBS, certain cancers, rheumatism and arthritis, fibromyalgia, TMJ, arterial hypertension, allergy, asthma, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, eating disorders (anorexia and bulimia) and dermatitis. In children, some examples are: chronic abdominal pain, enuresis (bed wetting), appetite troubles, eczema and asthma.
Everyone has to deal with daily stressors to one extent or another. While the human body is well equipped to handle short-term stress via the fight-or-flight response, it is widely accepted that chronic stress can have a detrimental effect on our physical, mental as well as emotional wellbeing. I like to differentiate between external sources of stress (e.g., work, family, finances, or natural disasters) and internal stress, meaning the EMOTIONAL response to our surroundings. The impact of internalized negative emotions on physical health seems still greatly underestimated in our society.
Each individual responds to stress differently and has a different stress thresh holes. One might ask: “Why does one family member have a certain symptom while their sibling or even identical twin is perfectly healthy?” An individual might have genetic predispositions or be vulnerable to a certain condition. For example, someone might be prone to heart disease, another person to skin conditions, migraine or bowel disturbances. However, I strongly believe that a particular genetic predisposition doesn’t necessarily manifest itself in a less stressed, balanced individual. Under constantly elevated stress levels the body becomes more vulnerable. Eventually, the chain breaks at its weakest link.
Often we have little or no influence on the external amount of stress. However, we each have a choice about the amount of internal stress we are willing to carry. It is unhealthy to be too angry, too sad, too frustrated, too worried or afraid and simply ignore it.
I have successfully worked with many individuals with a wide range of symptoms to various degrees by using a unique blend of hypnosis and emotional releasing methods. I am still amazed at the body’s ability to recover once the internal stress is reduced or eliminated. In my experience, the most efficient way to regain health is to reduce built up negative emotions. The lower the internal stress the better the body is equipped to handle external stressors. A less stressed, healthier body promotes a calmer, more positive mindset which is known to be beneficial for our health.
Sadly, most people come to my office when they are in a crisis mode already. Why wait until it starts impacting life? We exercise to stay healthy, eat in a health promoting way, get our teeth cleaned regularly and go to annual preventive medical exams. Amongst all precautions our emotions seem greatly overlooked. Negative emotions do cause stress!
In my opinion, emotional stress is much more detrimental to our physical health than the lack of exercise or a diet that is not ideal.
Bad feelings don’t magically disappear. We can’t eat them away, drink them away or smoke them away. We need to learn to listen, know their meaning and most importantly what to do with them.
I strongly believe that everyone can benefit from a regular emotional tune up or at least learn the tools to do their own emotional housecleaning. The skillful us of hypnosis with a mind and body approach provides a wonderful tool to achieve and maintain mental, emotional and physical balance. I personally encourage clients to come for a regular tune up to maintain good health. After all, in a state of inner calm and with a positive mindset it is much easier to eat in a healthful way and excercise.