I have listened to two different audio programs recently that both address the connection between emotional problems and physical ailments. The speakers cite cases of severe arthritis, migraines, and other chronic health problems that have cleared up after the subjects learned to deal with repressed anger or forgive someone from their past. It makes sense when you think about it — we know that psychological stress can lead to physical manifestations such as insomnia or back and neck tension. Why wouldn’t emotional distress lead to other physical symptoms as well?

I find all of this fascinating. I’ve believed for a while that a big problem in healthcare today is that modern medicine typically treats symptoms rather than address the underlying cause. One of the speakers, a naturopathic physician, treated a severe case of uterine bleeding with psychological counseling, even though the insurance company wanted him to perform a hysterectomy. The woman’s condition completely cleared up.

Of course modern medicine has made valuable advances in the treatment of many conditions, but to be truly healthy, we need to acknowledge the mind-body connection and take a holistic approach to our well-being. If this isn’t reason to learn how to authentically express yourself in a constructive manner, I don’t know what is! When we keep things bottled up, it’s not only emotionally unhealthy — it can have devastating consequences on our physical health as well.