The Emotional Side of Chronic Pain: Psychosomatic Awareness and Practice
“Psychosomatic” is a loaded word. Many interpret it as “not real” or associate it with being a hypochondriac. In reality, “psycho” simply refers to the mental side of the equation and “somatic” refers to the body. Put it together and you have mind-body pain. In other words… pain. This is a massive subject, but let’s start with two basic principles: 1) While all pain (especially chronic pain) originates from mental / emotional / spiritual factors, they DO manifest as physical issues. It could be as simple as tension in the neck and shoulders from a stressful day or much more … More
the Value of difficult emotions (part 1)
Ah, emotions. The thing that colors our thoughts and gives our life meaning. The fuel that drives our decisions, desires, and impulses. The primal precursor to those pesky feelings. Whether we judge them as “good” or “bad”, each emotion serves a purpose. Whether or not we believe in a higher purpose behind everyday happenings, every emotional experience has the potential to teach us something. This extends even to our most painful or unwanted emotions. Let’s consider some of them below: Confusion Being lost in our mind with no clear answers can feel frustrating, or even bewildering. Confusion often robs us … More
