Our bodies are incredible machines - they do so much for us. Sometimes we treat them well and sometimes not so well. It is well accepted that our bodies tell the story of our physical life such as whether we have eaten well and exercised regularly, and what environments we have been exposed to. What is not so well accepted, and also not as well known, is that our bodies can tell the story of our mental and emotional lives as well.
Scientists are just beginning to discover just how much our emotional lives affect our bodies. There are multiple studies of how stress sets off reactions in the body and how chronic stress begins to negatively affect physical health. But there are several doctors and other practitioners who have long observed other relationships between mental/emotional patterns and physical disease.
Dr. Bernie Siegel has observed that the location and form of physical disease are often related to psychological disturbances. "Psychological shaping in the formative years ... often determines what disease will occur, and when and where it will appear."[1] He uses the example of a patient who had a persistent hoarseness and was eventually diagnosed with cancer of the larynx (throat). When this patient was young, when he would speak too loudly, his father would put his hand around his throat, squeeze, and tell him to shut up.[1]
Louise Hay is a practitioner who has created a list of problem areas or diseases and the corresponding probable mental/emotional causes. For example, she relates lower back problems to lack of financial support, and kidney stones to lumps of undissolved anger.[2]
The relationship between mind and body is complex. Since each person is unique, the psychological issues that contribute to a particular disease can vary. This makes the experiences of Dr. Siegel and Louise Hay difficult to prove scientifically. That can make it easy to dismiss this information, especially since we often don't want to explore our own feelings. But consider how strong the power of the mind is over the body. There are people with multiple personality disorder who have different allergies, different physical injuries or even different glasses prescriptions depending on which personality has surfaced.[3]
So spend some time listening to your body... you might learn a lot about yourself.
[1] Dr. Bernie S. Siegel. Love, Medicine and Miracles: Lessons Learned About Self-Healing from a Surgeon's Experience with Exceptional Patients (New York: Harper and Row, 1986).
[2] Louise L. Hay. You Can Heal Your Life (Carlsbad, CA: Hay House, 2004).
[3] Dr. Bernie S. Siegel. Peace, Love and Healing: Bodymind Communication and the Path to Self-Healing: An Exploration (New York: Harper and Row, 1989).
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