Mind Body Exploration
Our ailments and injuries can give us great insight into ourselves. Being a physical expression of a deeper issue, belief or a thought pattern, highlighting how the mind and body are connected. When the core issues behind our ailments, aches or pains are brought into our awareness it begins an actual physiological process.This is the first stage of true healing.
“The mind body approach to healing is based on the idea that knowledge is power. That by bringing into our awareness new information which sheds light on the meaning behind our illness or injury and changes our perception, is powerful enough to have an effect on our bodies physiology creating changes in our immune, endocrine and nervous systems.” Dr Christiane Northrup
Here are some examples of the mind body interpretations for sore throats, coughing and back pain:
SORE THROAT:
The throat is where you swallow the impact of what is happening in your life. A sore throat is a clear indication that either some reality you are taking in is making you feel sore and inflamed (angry), or something you want to say is not getting said.
Some questions to ask yourself:
- Is something getting stuck in your throat?
- Are you tolerating something that is making you’re feel sore, irritated, annoyed, angry, or upset?
- Is there something you really want to say that you are holding back?
- Are you feeling sore while pretending that everything is fine?
COUGHING:
Coughing is usually a reaction to an irritant. Coughing is an attempt to clear the way, to get the irritant out of your system.
- What is causing you to feel so irritated?
- Is something or someone making you feel hot or angry?
- Are you being asked to accept or swallow something you don’t want to?
- Is someone or something making you gag?
Coughing may also be due to something you have said or wanted to say, as the cough mechanism is part of the larynx.
- Have you said something that was hurtful?
- Do you feel guilty or ashamed about it?
- Or are you longing to express yourself to let out your feelings?
BACK PAIN:
It is commonly our back muscles that we unconsciously tighten when emotionally upset. As the back is ‘back there’ it is the perfect place for us to store issues that we don’t want to deal with.
In particular emotions that are difficult for us to acknowledge or we consider unacceptable such as rage, anger, grief, guilt and our fears.
Eventually tension builds up and the back can no longer hold any more. This results in an injury, muscle spasms, dull aches, a slipped or herniated disk or even a broken back.
Our repressed emotions which have not been acknowledged are finding a voice through the body. This signals a time to get our lives back into alignment.
When our back goes into spasm or we have a herniated or slipped disk we are forced to take time out and have bed rest. There is a need to be still, and the back makes sure you are. This often comes after a time of exhaustion, too many responsibilities and emotional drama’s or conflicts.
Healing comes through recognising the role that emotional stress is playing. Taking time out to find your ground and release deep layers of emotional stress, allowing the muscles to relax.
Upper back:
The upper back is on the reverse side of the heart. If we have pain in this area we are often repressing feelings which are the opposite to love, like anger, rage, resentment, or fear. Or we are feeling that we lack emotional support in our lives. We may be feeling unloved, or we are holding back love.
Middle back:
Corresponds to your solar plexus which is your area of power. Problems here often indicate that you are locked in indecision, caught between your own needs and demands from others. Issues of asserting yourself and making your needs known. Issues of guilt are also found here, holding onto the past which is preventing you from moving forward.
Lower back:
This area relates to survival, security and self support. This includes money worries. Perhaps you doubt your ability to support yourself, you may not be feeling supported and feel that there is no one to help you carry the load.
References:
Deb Shapiro (2007) Your Body Speaks Your Mind: Understanding how your emotions and thoughts affect you physically. 3rd Edition. Great Britian. Piatkus Books Ltd.
Dr Christiane Northrup (2009) Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom: The complete guide to women’s health and wellbeing. 3rd Edition. Great Britian. Piatkus Books Ltd.
