Psychosomatics: From Thought to Symptoms
Many people begin to grapple with chronic health issues after encountering significant stressors, whether it’s the loss of a loved one, a major disappointment, or intense work-related burnout. The impact of these stressors often relates to their intensity or unexpectedness of the event. Individual reactions to these events can vary widely. The Life Change Index, a tool that measures stress levels, supports this observation. A higher score on this index indicates a greater likelihood of an individual falling ill. This pattern highlights how psychological experiences can profoundly influence physical health.
I’ve learned that a healthy mind can significantly improve the body’s healing capabilities. Through various techniques, I help individuals reframe their thoughts, leading to reduced stress reactions and the alleviation of chronic symptoms.
The Mind-Body Link
The bond between our mind and body deeply influences our health. A classic example is stress leading to stomach pain. To further understand this connection, we’ll explore two prominent phenomena: the placebo and nocebo effects.
The Power of Belief: Placebo Effect
There’s a tale about a doctor who gave out three pills. The first, the cheapest one, helped a few. The second, a pricier one, helped many. The most expensive pill seemed to work wonders for most. But: all three pills were identical. This story highlights the placebo effect: the stronger our belief in a treatment, the better it works. In fact, belief can cause actual changes in the body. Some studies suggest that up to half of certain drug effects might be due to this belief alone. Therefore, believing in recovery can significantly boost our chances of healing.
Regardless of where you stand in your healing journey, maintaining a firm belief in your complete recovery and envisioning your healthy life after healing is profoundly beneficial.
This holds true even if the medical world deems your condition “incurable.” Your belief is always a potent tool in your healing arsenal.
The Negative Side: Nocebo Effect & Psychosomatics
On the flip side, the nocebo effect occurs when negative treatment expectations lead to adverse outcomes. Similarly, psychosomatic issues emerge when unresolved emotions or traumas manifest in physical symptoms. Every emotion we experience triggers a chemical reaction in our body. Nature intended for us to express these emotions through actions, such as shouting, gesturing, or running. Yet, when these emotions are suppressed, they can have physical repercussions. For instance, distress might manifest as a tightness in the throat. Fear can cause muscles to tense up, and anger might result in facial flushing.
Moreover, these suppressed emotions can also embed limiting beliefs in our subconscious, make us believe things that aren’t true about ourselves. These beliefs can then show up as physical problems. For instance, someone who has faced repeated rejections might develop a belief that they’re unlovable, leading to heart issues or chest tightness. A person constantly belittled during childhood might experience chronic back pain, symbolizing the weight of their unexpressed grief or the burden they feel they carry.
Here are some examples of how psychosomatics can develop:
- Connecting Emotional and Physical Pain: Our minds are adept at forming associations. An injury during an emotional event, like a parental separation, might link emotional pain to physical pain. Later, similar emotional distress could reignite that physical pain.
- The Sympathy Mechanism: Some individuals might unknowingly fall ill to seek care or to sidestep stress. This pattern can root back to childhood, where illness meant extra attention.
- Mirroring Symptoms: Particularly in children, they might show symptoms resembling a close family member’s, reflecting their emotional bond.
- Physical Manifestation of Emotions: Intense emotions over prolonged periods can culminate in health issues. For instance, prolonged stress or anxiety might contribute to digestive issues or stomach ulcers. Similarly, not processing grief or sadness can lead to chronic fatigue or sleep disturbances.
- Using Body-Related Expressions: It’s curious, but our language and expressions can sometimes influence our physical well-being. For example, someone who frequently exclaims, “This task is breaking my back” due to overwhelming pressure might eventually feel actual back discomfort.
Chronic illness is not Your Identity
Chronic illnesses can become intertwined with our identity.
- It’s important to remember: you’re more than your illness. For example, instead of “I’m a diabetic,” think, “I have diabetes.”
- When symptoms pop up, see them as signals, not enemies. Use symptoms as a reminder of what you truly desire – which is the opposite of what you’re currently experiencing.
- Express gratitude to your body for this reminder and visualize yourself in a state of perfect health, showing your mind and body exactly what you are aiming for. Make this a daily ritual.
- Transition from a mindset of victimhood to one of empowerment and responsibility for your health.
- Use daily affirmations.
- Schedule an appointment to learn how to use specific psychosomatic techniques I offer.
While it might be challenging initially, with consistency, it becomes more natural.
There are numerous official and alternative treatments available for psychosomatic diseases. Examples of these treatments range from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and medications such as antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs, to Relaxation Techniques, Hypnotherapy, Acupuncture, and others.
In my practice, I specifically utilize affirmations, visualizations, and subconscious-reprogramming techniques. These methods are designed to replace negative, limiting beliefs and emotions with more positive and constructive ones. Over time, this shift in mindset and emotional state can lead to a gradual relief from symptoms, promoting overall well-being and health.