Officially, it is defined somatization as “Transforming mental problems into organic symptoms in an involuntary way.” There are numerous investigations whose object of study is to understand the underlying mechanism of this organic manifestation and understand what role we have from our psyche to influence our body.
Understanding that the human being is a unit, that the functioning of the physical organs cannot be separated from thoughts, feelings and emotions leads us to discover new ways to promote health in a holistic and personalized way.
In this conference, Enric Corbera will address in a simple and dynamic way, and at the same time rigorous and profound, the keys necessary to recover our ability to enhance our physical, mental and emotional well-being.
In this video, Enric and David Corbera share some scientific bases that demonstrate the mind-body interrelation and different keys to understand how we can promote our health through self-awareness and emotional coherence
If you want to know more about the la method and how to apply it in your life to increase your emotional well-being, follow our social networks: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube.
What is somatization?
When the Emotional problems affect physical health, the phenomenon known as somatization.
It has been observed that the appearance of some physical symptoms, whose origin is not related to an organic causeis related to a psychological conflict orare the calls psychosomatic diseases.
In other words, somatize implies that one can express itself in the body and harm the health status of people.
Why are emotions somatized?
Thanks to scientific advances in recent years, the idea that emotional pain caused by improper management of stress and of the it has a substantial influence on the appearance, maintenance and development of symptoms that are difficult to explain medically and that do not have a physical cause.
“Stress hormones, in the long run, push the genetic buttons that create disease.”
–Dr Joe Dispenza
It has been proven that and persistent “negative” emotions weaken the immune system. Furthermore, it is known that the state of acts as a buffer from the detrimental effects of stressorsresulting in a beneficial effect on health.
“People who enjoy emotional well-being
they are less likely to get sick.”
Therefore, it is evident that in the face of a persistent symptom or a disease process it is essential to take emotional variables into account.
A new paradigm of health: connection between mind and body
In this context, a new health paradigm and a new discipline emerged, known as Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) or (PNIE). Its purpose is study the mechanisms that are set in motion when we get sick and offer possible solutions in a holistic and personalized way.
Among other things, he studies the influence of emotions on the physiological processes of the body. And he does it from the perspective thatcontributes to changing our lifestyle and improving our state of health.
Suppressed emotions, stress and its effects on the body
. In fact, when moderate it acts as a major driving force in sustaining life.
When it is slight or punctual and is properly managed, it generates a state that we know as “stimulation”, essential to motivate learning and memory. However, chronic stress can have harmful consequences.
Origin and effects of chronic stress on the body
– either real or symbolic – A series of modifications are triggered in the body’s organs and tissues that are intended to attend to the emergency situation and stop those functions that require an energy supply, but that are not essential in the short term to survive.
A) Yes, when stress becomes chronic, repair activities decrease and that places the body in a state susceptible to contracting a disease
The interesting thing is that, as David R. Hawkins, MD, Ph.D., says, “For the majority, the main cause of stress is not external stimuli, but the pressure of one’s own suppressed emotions. These become the main stressor, so that even in a calm external environment, you are still subject to internal chronic stress.”.
Factors that influence the somatization of emotions
Nathalie Zammateo, PhD in Biological Sciences, in her book “The impact of emotions on DNA” refers to a series of experiments carried out by the biologist and psychologist Henri Laborit in which the relationship between unexpressed emotional energy, stress and illness.
The investigation consists of three phases that we summarize below:
first experiment
In the first part of the investigation, a rat is placed in a cage divided into two compartments joined by a door. Then, a light signal and an acoustic signal are activated simultaneously. Four seconds later, an electric shock occurs in the compartment of the cage where the rat is located.
What has the ability to go from one compartment to anotherin a few repetitions he learns to change when the signals are turned on.
This was repeated 10 minutes each day. After 8 days, it was verified that there was no damage to the health status of the rat.
second experiment
In a second phase, two rats are placed in one of the cage compartments, leaving the door to the other compartment closed. On this occasion they were discharged in the same manner, but no chance of escape. The rats’ reaction was to fight and bite each other.
After eight days of experimentation, they observed that, apart from a few scratches caused by the confrontation, the state of health was still optimal.
third experiment
This time they used a single rat in a compartment, again with the door closed and receiving the same shocks as in the other phases of the experiment.
After eight days, the analyzes reflected several stomach ulcers, arterial hypertension and even a remarkable decrease in body weight. This symptomatic picture lasted for weeks.
conclusions
We see that when the subject has the possibility to do something to avoid discharge, stress does not harm your health. When, in the next phase, he cannot run away but can vent your emotional energyIt does not suffer damage from stress either.
However, this same situation influenced the health status of the mice for weeks when they had no outlet or possibility to discharge the energy generated by stress.
Unexpressed emotional energy and somatization
Extrapolating these experiments to our lives, we can see these behaviors reflected in situations in which we are not able to see a solution to what stresses us outWe feel that we are not in control of what happens to us. And, furthermore, we do not allow ourselves express our emotions and let them out.
Peter Levine, an American psychologist specializing in trauma, expresses the importance of this point in his book “Healing Trauma”:
“A threatened human being you must release all the energy mobilized to face that threat or you will become a victim of trauma. This residual energy does not disappear just like that. It persists in the body and often forces the creation of a series of symptoms such as anxiety disorders, depression and other psychosomatic and behavioral problems.
For example, himthe or frequent, on many occasions they are psychosomatic manifestations that are expressed in different types of somatization.
Bioneuroemoción® and the somatization of emotions
In case of any symptomatology, it is essential to see a specialist. However, as we are seeing, to enhance health restoration it is essential to explore.
Increasingly, new voices appear that relate health to emotionswho understand that the human being expresses, through his behavior and his body, the emotions he feels and that he has not learned to manage.
within its own scope, focuses on the emotional factor to add, together with other disciplines, to personal well-being.
How to stop somatizing: perception, emotions and response to stress
Our way of perceiving the world and ourselves It determines if we feel threatened, if we believe in our abilities to face difficulties and if we see a way out of our problems or not.
From these perceptions derive our and, in turn, these will lead us to act in one way or another in stressful situations.
“—Your entire body, from one end of the wing to the other —Juan would say on other occasions— is nothing more than your own thought, in a form that you can see. Break the chains of your thought and you will also break the chains of your body.
Richard Bach
Via we can become aware of our thoughts, identify our beliefs and .
This will allow us get to the real root of our conflicts Y manage emotions and stress in a more adaptive, beneficial and constructive way.
Accept and release our emotions
Is “management” of emotions has nothing to do with controlling or repressing them, but with accept and express them in an ecological way.
That is to say, it is not a question of verbally or physically attacking the other to vent anger, or of self-harming to get rid of frustration, but of seek strategies that allow us to discharge the energy accumulated within us without harming or harming ourselves.
Identify the emotional origin of discomfort
From Bioneuroemoción® we suggest that when we have a symptom – somatization – or experience any type of recurring conflict, we are responding to stress what is.
It’s not about feeling guilty, it’s about be responsible.
To the of the origin of the perceptions and emotions that generate and sustain our stress, we understand the change to which we are invited and Come in to the life.
Understanding by surrender the wisdom to accept rather than oppose the flow of lifewhich brings us the necessary experiences to transcend our conflicts and live a fuller and healthier life.
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- Psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology. Emotional intelligence and health in university students (2017) Delgado, S.
- Emotional competencies (2007) Bisquerra, R., and Pérez-Escoda, N.
- Letting Go (2016) Hawkins, DR
- The impact of emotions on DNA (2015) Zammateo, N.
- L’inhibition de l’action: biologie, physiologie, psychology, sociologie (1979) Laborit, H.