The connection between our mind and body is powerful, although it's not something we often consider. It's as if they are two separate entities that we need to consciously align. Communication between the mind and body can be severed due to past experiences, but we continue on with each day to the best of our ability.
Our bodies naturally responds to how we think, feel, and act. For example, if you're are anxious or stressed out your body will react to signal to let you know that there is an issue. This in turn can manifest in high blood pressure after a traumatic event or the unexpected death of a family member.
Stress, or negative thoughts can exacerbate physical illness. Fear can lead to increases in certain chemicals that prepare us for the "fight or flight, freeze or fawn" response. Thoughts initate a chain reaction that allow us to contract our muscles and manifest in a physical state in our bodies.
Our brains control all our bodily processes, including chronic pain! This doesn't mean that your pain is 'all in your head' or not real. All pain is created by our brains, even acute pain.
Pain can be both physical and psychological
Neurotransmitters send messages down along your spinal cord and up to your brain, saying, “Ouch! That hurts!” is the thought therefore, really is in your head?
Physical symptoms in the body is the bodies way of saying there is an issue. Think of a time when you may have experienced something upsetting mentally but had not affected your body physically but within a few days you experience a physical reaction. Alot can be oblivious to this and don't connect the mind and the body to what may have accured in the days previous to getting the physical symptoms
Some everyday examples and not going Into deep detail ..
Did you experience a sore throat, days after having difficulty in expressing your feelings or emotions to someone and let it go rather than causing an argument?, or did someone say something that was hard for you to swallow?.
lower back pain can signify feeling of being unsupported by others or experiencing a lack, perhaps in financial matters.
Earache can be not listening to your own institution, the inability to listen to good advice or one or an intolerance for listening to someone (or someone's problems)
Leg pain can represent the fear of moving forward with life, feeling stuck or walking away for your past.
Pains in your Arms maybe a fear to embrace what life has to offer, or a fear to let go of someone, setting bounderies (to push away) or inability to leave behind past trauma.
Hand pain can signify a fear of seizing life with both hands, or holding a tight grip on past experiences and unable to let go
Above is just a general brief overview of symptoms. Both left and right (yin /yang) of your body would have a different meanings, but having these going forward may be helpful in healing your body for everyday aches and pains.
Below are some techniques can help you take your mind off the pain and may help to override pain signals providing relief.
*Deep breathing
*Eliciting the relaxation response
*Meditation with guided imagery
*Mindfulness
*Yoga and tai chi
*Positive thinking.
I am not suggesting for a moment that you should avoid seeing your GP. We often need medication to help us to recover, but I feel its interesting to see where a physical symptom may have originated. Once recognised pain can dissipate rather quickly as we get to the root cause.
Unfortunately we may carry aches and pains and medication prevents them for worsening, but we never get to the route cause of why we got it in the first place. Over time can manifest into more sinister outcomes.
Yes, medication can be helpful but it doesn't address the route cause.
Healthy thinking can help. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one option used to help people think in a healthier, more balanced way. The goal is to change the way you think about pain so that your body and mind respond better when you have pain, and known the route cause of why you experience pain. Understanding the root cause of why you experience the pain in the first place could have such a positive impact on your lifestyle. It could potentially lead to a pain free existence, or a least to pain that is more manageable and allowing you to start experiencing life again!