Emotional imbalance, most noticeable via the expressing of stress in some form from within the body, is becoming far too commonplace in today’s society.
In fact, According to the Black Dog Institute, one in five Australians aged 16-85 will experience mental illness in any year. More alarmingly, an estimated 45% of Australians will experience mental illness at some stage in their lifetime.
Interestingly, a recent study by headspace.org.au found that 74% of young people reported that their mental health was worse since the outbreak of Covid-19, making it clear that none of us are ‘immune’ from the power of our emotions to hold us up … or bring us down
How can we address this very real concern? In simple terms, positively addressing
emotional imbalance is instrumental in strengthening the maintenance of physical health and resultant wellbeing, and the sense of wellness that it manifests as.
Emotions are not detrimental to body health in and of themselves. The challenge for any individual is to live in dynamic balance in all aspects of life, meaning ‘indulging’ emotional expression via manifested wellness … emotional and psychological essences and expressions as externally manifested indicators of subjective reaction.
Emotional qualities are not necessarily pathological; a healthy person is as much ‘at risk’ as an unhealthy person of experiencing emotional reactions to life … some positive and some more negative.
However, the overabundance or lack of emotion versus a more ‘normal’ experience of emotion in the
body over an extended period of time, or the unexpected and impactful emergence of a specific emotion, can generate imbalance and illness.
Likewise, an imbalance in an organ can have an impact on emotional balance.
In simple terms, and emotional excess can lead an individual to physical (and mental) ill-health if left unattended.
We can identify seven key emotions that have a potential impact on organ health, each emotion
having a direct bearing on a specific organ’s function.
While it is interesting to note that the liver and heart are the most prone to emotional disturbance, the kidneys are the final ‘destination’ of virtually all emotional disturbance and consequent ill-health.
ANGER is associated with the liver and is potentially quite damaging to not just the liver, but if left unattended, on other organs as well, eg the kidneys whose functions relate to willpower, resolve, courage and awareness, and stomach whose functions relate to over-concern, worry and ‘thinking disorders’.
JOY corresponds to the heart and is a positive emotion. However, it is the organ most vulnerable to sudden emotions of any kind, meaning sudden and strong emotional experiences directly impact on an individual’s nervous system.
As such, unbalanced emotions can lead easily to disturbances resulting in insomnia, confused thought, inappropriate crying / laughing and out of control, fits, hysteria and insanity.
PENSIVENESS (excessive introspection and reflection) is associated with poor spleen function and its role in the digestive process … in particular the physical act of eating in a sedentary position (for example when bent over with side-tracking thoughts) cuts off circulation just when digestion requires vigorous circulation in order to function.
The outcome of long-term rumination is gastrointestinal dysfunction (the competition between the brain for thinking and the spleen for digesting) and poor memory, concentration and attention.
GRIEF is related to lung function and the circulation of blood noticeable in the chest area, through an individual’s bent posture, downcast eye focus and depressed chest.
As the lungs are the driving force that circulates energy and blood throughout the body, they have to work harder and are slowly weakened. Impaired digestion or even epilepsy are related symptoms of poor lung function due to grief.
SADNESS is identified with kidney function, as is anguish, both potentially resulting in dryness in the body leading to a tightness in the nervous system. Chronic deep-seated anguish and sadness damage the kidney through depleting its reserves of energy. Excessive sadness through too much introspective and reflective thought can lead to stomach distention and poor digestion.
FEAR is identified with the heart if suddenly experienced, but linked more so to the kidneys (if/when) persistent over time because chronic fear affects the endocrine system and produces a slower adaptation mechanism affecting the adrenals.
This can be quite potentially damaging as they provide the rest of the organs with the drive to fulfill their special energy functions, even extending to the loss of control of urination and the potential to experience flustered and confused thinking.
FRIGHT is associated with fear, the difference being one of degree of impact (and suddenness). Essentially, it has a detrimental effect on kidney function and health, not to mention the ability to think clearly.
For an individual to create and maintain organ and system health, then, is clearly dependent on their…
unique lifestyle and lifestyle choices
choice of food (including source, preparation, time of year and so on) appropriate for their body’s needs
commitment to suitable body movement versus rigorous exercise
education around the body’s functioning (organ health, body system balance etc)
mental/emotional health and how this supports physical wellbeing
desire/commitment to ensuring daily activities are undertaken as effectively and positively as possible
creating a personal/home/work environment that mirrors their ‘personality’ and nourishes their energy and drive
attending to any engagement with the external environment (including other people) in full knowledge and awareness of their potential impact on the health and well-being of the body (or any specific organ).
Is taking control of your emotions an easy task to master? Of course not. It takes effort and persistence. And, it takes courage to face stress head on, before it takes you on … and wins.
Here are a few ideas, nine in fact, for you to consider when faced with stressful situations that you know can adversely impact on your emotional stability and then your physical health:
Appreciate what you have … people who work daily to cultivate an attitude of gratitude experienced improved mood, energy, and physical well-being.
Avoid asking “What If?” … asking “what if?” statements throw fuel on the fire of stress and worry and take you to a place they don’t want, or need, to go.
Stay positive … engaging positive thoughts help make stress less impactful by focusing the brain’s attention onto something that is completely stress-free.
Disconnect …choosing blocks of time where you ‘cut the cord’ and go offline and mentally recharging is refreshing and can reduce stress.
Don’t ignore the value of sleep … when sleeping, the brain is able to recharge, allowing you wake up alert and clear-headed, and in control.
Negative self-talk … slowing down the negative momentum of your thoughts encourages rational and clear-headed thinking.
Reframe your perspective … while you can’t control your circumstances you can control how you respond to them by looking for clues that your anxiety may not be proportional to the stressor.
Breathe … the art of being in the moment through focused your breathing allows your brain to focus solely on the task at hand and work around the stressors at hand.
Use your support system … asking for help from those closest to you will help put the stress in perspective, and strengthen your relationships with those you rely upon.
Self-healing is a much ‘friendlier’ and sustainable approach to dealing with emotional imbalance than pills or therapy (dependent on the extent of the condition manifested) … if known why, what, how and when.
And authentic, long-term mental and emotional health that supports physical wellbeing must always begin with prevention where possible as a much ‘gentler’ way of controlling (potential and real) physical distress, the precursor and outcome of perceived and real health and wellbeing ... 'wholistic wellness'.
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