Just like the mind, our bodies cling to emotional trauma too. Unresolved issues can literally build up a variety of toxic substances in the body that settle in certain muscles, joints and organs, often later to surface as a chronic injury, illness or source of frustration and tension.
If you think about your body and become aware of your regular patterns, most people will know where they "hold tension." Times of stress might result in the neck and shoulders contracting, tense hips, lower back pain or tension headaches. The body responds to negativity in very tangible, yet often ignored ways. We know that our body reacts obviously during stress, but when the mental effects of stress linger, it's only natural to also know that recurring and unresolved emotional stress will manifest in chronic pain, recurring injury or illness.
When I officially learned about the theory of different types of stress residing in different areas of the body, I was taken aback at how hard it hit home. I had been told for years that there is no logical reason why my shoulders and upper-back are always so tight, my scapula almost being fused to my thoracic spine. As a yoga instructor, it's not as if I don't make an effort to work out tight muscles in my body, especially those with which I struggle, but I was told that this must be the area in which I just "hold my tension." Though partially true, learning that shoulder pain is directly correlated to "how much we take on" and feeling as if "the weight of the world is literally on our shoulders," it finally made sense to me. My overwhelming responsibilities as caretaker for my husband were taking a serious toll on my body. Over the last few months as my husband's health has taken a huge upswing, my shoulder pain is, inexplicably, virtually gone.
We ALL have emotional "grudges" in our body. These are the traumatizing, sad or stressful parts of life that we have just not been able to fully shake, cope with, work out or move on from (whether we realize it or not.) Clinging to past hurt is a normal part of life. It's unhealthy, but it's often how many people make decisions to shape their future and create their life story. Depending on how we deal with stress on a daily basis, "traumatizing" can mean very different things to different people. In other words, the more naturally high-strung you are, the more effort you will need to make for self-care to undo the damaging effects of your stress.
If you have a specific area in the body of recurring trouble, see if you might better understand what types of emotions could be causing it with the information below. These are just some of the common areas in which people struggle with blocked emotional energy, but here's a more detailed chart.
Throat: lack of trust/self-expression
Shoulders: burdens/responsibility
Heart: lack of love/compassion
Lungs: feelings of sorrow/grief
Liver: anger
Elbows: pushing away
Wrists: feelings of grasping
Adrenals: stress
Kidneys: fear
Hips: lack of support
Knees: ego
Ankles/Feet: issues with standing for yourself
There's so much to know about the emotional centers of the body. But to get rid of these chronic issues once and for all, start by addressing them emotionally, not just physically. Think about what could be causing your pain on a mental level and re-frame it. You can't always change the situation you're in, but you CAN change how you react to it, how often you seek support, guidance or counsel and how you continue to create or break down poor habits of self-pity and negative mantras. Focus on one issue at a time. Meditate on it. Let yourself feel whatever you're feeling, but then find a way for yourself to truly let it go. And above all, listen to your body because it's telling you some seriously important shit.
Namaste!
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