Heart, mind issues can manifest as physical ailments

Have you ever considered your physical symptoms as they are related to your mental and emotional state? In somatic psychology, we know that some ailments have their causes in the heart and mind, yet they manifest in the body. When you treat these symptoms only by physical means, you may be missing an important element in your healing process. Experiment with these ideas.

For example, chronic neck pain might be interpreted as someone in your environment being a pain in the neck. An injured knee may be your inability to bend and be flexible. Gastrointestinal issues may indicate difficulty in digesting certain people, conversations or situations in your life. The list goes on.

How can you begin to employ a more holistic response to physical ailments?

Here are a few ideas:

■ Have a dialogue with parts of your body. Dr. Candace Pert, who wrote “Molecules of Emotion,” said that humans have neuroreceptors throughout their bodies and various aspects of self are in a constant conversation. Tune in to that conversation to learn more about yourself and why you may be struggling.

■ Allow the voice of your pain and discomfort to be heard rather than immediately shutting it down. What is the message? Tune in and listen deeply rather than quickly medicating to tamp down the unease it brings.

■ When you’re engaging others, notice how your body responds. Does your stomach tighten? Do you feel dizzy? Are you suddenly hit with an onset of fatigue? The body always is communicating.

■ Learn more about this by reading or watching videos. A few books you may enjoy perusing include Dr. Bessel Van der Kolk’s “The Body Keeps the Score,” Louise Hay’s “You Can Heal Your Life” and Anodea Judith’s “Eastern Body: Western Mind.”

Check in with your health professional if symptoms continue, even if you are pursuing this path of healing in addition to medical treatment.