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On page 196 in the BLakeslee book they discuss the power of belief. One quote in particular will be our guide for this inquiry:
"In some people, researchers have found that immune cells called cytokines-the kind that make you feel sick- can be activated without a pathogen present. Recent research is starting to show that the central nervous system has a lot more active interaction with the immune system than previously thought. Emotions and beliefs, not just bona fide disease, can trigger the sickness response." pg 197
Considering that we are spending so much time conceptually and experientially understanding the Sensory division of the CNS (central nervous system), how then for you do you connect your immune system and your sensory nervous system? How is your awareness of your own movement via the sensory nervous system interacting with your immune system?
I started to get really sick this last week and I think it's because I've been ignoring my body to a large degree. Right as I started to recognize the depression that was starting to set in as a result of ignoring my body, I also started to get sick--my immune system was compromised. Getting sick seems to be a reminder to spend some time with ourselves, nurturing and paying attention to our basic needs. I'm amazed at how quickly I'm starting to feel better, too, just by spending some time with my body, sleeping more, focusing on drinking tea and eating well, moving a little more slowly, and just acknowledging what I need. I think we all need the reminder sometimes to give ourselves a little love:)
ReplyDeleteI've had an incredibly emotional past two weeks, and have felt more nauseous and less hungry than I ever remember, almost on a daily basis. But to channel the emotions I've been moving a lot- going on walks, dancing, yoga, etc. etc. and I notice that right after really good, quality movement I feel emotionally clearer and physically sound again. Before the movement I often have a stuffy nose, feel tired, wiped: classic symptoms in myself of the Autumn Cold. I usually submit to my habitual "Oh, I must be getting sick--time to slow down" mentality. But since this class, I've started simply moving. Granted, this isn't a sickness triggered by physical bugs but emotional energy, but I'm learning to sense when I need to be in a place of movement or a place of stillness for nourishing.
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ReplyDeleteI'm not entirely sure what you mean, but I have often felt that sickness is linked to my emotional experience. I usually get sick when there is some sort of emotional experience I am blocking from being expressed. So this would mean that when I am cutting off the flow of information from my introseptive nervous system, that information may manifest itself in other ways
ReplyDeleteI definitely only get sick when I am ignoring my bodies cries for help. It's almost a form of passive aggression towards myself. I feel angry sometimes that I can not accomplish everything that I feel or think I should be able to do, and when this is occurring inevitably my body will get sick. I have also gotten sick and felt the breach in my immune system from giving a massage. I can actually feel a subtle difference in my body. It's like swimming through lukewarm or cool lake water, and then suddenly entering a warmer or colder patch of water that envelops you and immediately makes me notice myself forming goosebumps or a relaxing of muscle tension. I have been able to will myself not to get sick when I feel this coming on. I change my breathing to short and quick staccato like breathes, I shake my hands and feet, I think positive loving kindness thoughts, I set boundaries both verbally in my mind as well as with my body by easing the pressure of the massage or switching gears to working over the sheet or doing assisted stretching.
ReplyDeleteThis swine flu epidemic is so exasperating to me because the power of intention and focus is what I believe is making people get sick. People are focusing so much on protecting themselves from getting it that they forget to realize that some exposure is good to build antibodies. When my coworkers start talking or complaining about the flu I turn a deaf ear. Almost all of my sicknesses in my life have been caused by over exertion, or emotional turmoil. I believe we can live symbiotically even with viruses and bacteria in harmony and peace.
It seems the majority of people are aware of the physical affects that emotions have in the forms of nerviousness or physical attraction or stress. It is common to describe a stomach being tied up in knots, or sweaty palms, or "butterflies in the stomach" when talking about experiencing emotions. It is not, however, widely recognized in standard medical care that health issues are often caused by emotional and/or mental issues. Ailments are almost always described to be caused by a physical or chemical malfunction. Whenever people start to talk about their emotions making them sick, the scientific world seems to get skeptical of metephysical fluff.
ReplyDeleteI have noticed that the way that I hold my body can affect whether I feel better or not. The last few months I have been feeling sick all the time due to my emotions and I have known these facts without really knowing them for all my life. When I approach the world in an open stance, straighten my back and open my chest I feel more receptive to the world around me.
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