Listen to your body to stay and be healthy from the inside out
The body is more than a bunch of organs, nerves, and muscles keeping you alive. The body is like a supercomputer with its own communication and backup systems. I recently read “When the body says no: A Relationship between disease and stress” by Dr. Gabor Mate. I highly recommend this book for anyone to read as it shows the connection between stress and disease by drawing on actual cases of those struggling with chronic/terminal/ lifestyle-related diseases. This book shows the connection between mind and body.
Dr. Gabor Mate focuses on the emotional side of diseases and the impact of life experiences on long–term health. The view is through the psycho-social model of health as well as psychoimmunology (the study of the connections between the mind and the immune system). The parts he focuses on are the correlation of emotional suppression to the development of chronic and terminal diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis (MS), and Fibromyalgia. If you look closely at those who struggle with these health issues, most have a tendency to emotional suppression and put others' needs first while neglecting their own needs. People-pleasing tendencies were common among these individuals. Some personality traits like people-pleasing may increase the risk of developing a disease.
The body expresses it through physiological and emotional symptoms. The body starts with a whisper and then screams at you to get your attention if ignored. The body gets overwhelmed and chronically stressed if it doesn't get attention. Stress is something you experience on a daily basis, but it becomes an issue if it affects your health negatively. Some stress at certain levels and times is required for survival, like facing a threat to your livelihood or safety. Chronic stress pushes the body to secrete high levels of cortisol (stress hormone linked to inflammation) and adrenal glands on overdrive. This cycle eventually leads to burnout.
Harmony and balance are needed for the body to be in a state of balance. Disharmony creates diseases in the body. The origin of disease begins in the mind, especially thoughts and beliefs. The root of the disease is the emotional root besides physical health factors including lifestyle and environmental factors. The body is connected through the nervous system's HPA axis (hypothalamus-pituitary axis), including the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. Research has proven that social connection and support influence your health and improve prognosis even for those diagnosed with/living with chronic/terminal diseases. Your thoughts can literally affect your health! A person diagnosed with a chronic disease has better life quality if they have support from loved ones rather than living alone with no social connections. Connections have a huge impact as belonging is part of the holistic health model.
What are the takeaway messages from this book?
Expressing anger and negative emotions without harming others consciously or unconsciously are advised for long-term health.
Take care of your physical, emotional, and cognitive health.
Listen to your body when it needs to rest, otherwise your body decides for you.
Physical symptoms and emotions are messages from your body to be aware of something to be addressed.
Face your truth as much as it can be hard to face. I know it is easier said than done. Some truths can literally damage your health and make you sick.
Thoughts affect your immune system and health status.
Emotional suppression and lack of boundaries is unhealthy and can backfire on you.
Being overly positive is a form of avoiding pain and suffering that should be felt rather than facing the reality of the pain.
Healing requires facing the truth and being your authentic self.
Personality patterns affect your health like enduring patterns and people-pleasing tendencies.
Social connection and support are key to your health.
Being “strong/ have it all together all the time” comes with a price to pay. The price here is your mental and physical health.
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