Psychosomatics: how to "read" your symptoms

In the well-known expression "all diseases are from the nerves" there is some truth. Many diseases can indeed be triggered by nervous tension. What is the essence of psychosomatics and is it possible to heal with the power of thought?

What is psychosomatics?

This is a direction in medicine and psychology that studies the influence of psychological factors on the occurrence and course of bodily diseases. You have most likely experienced psychosomatic symptoms. For example, they got nervous - felt nauseous, got very angry and held back their anger - had a headache, etc.

How psychosomatics works

In order to understand this, you need to learn how the human psyche works. “The psyche, to facilitate understanding, is conveniently compared with modern computers,” explains Artem Tolokonin, psychotherapist, author of the bestselling book “Practical Psychosomatics.

What emotions and thoughts program the disease and how to gain health "... - The computer has a monitor, hard drive and the ability to access the Internet. And our psyche consists of three levels: consciousness, sub consciousness and unconsciousness. Consciousness can be compared to a monitor: this is how you see the picture. What you are fixing on at the moment. Where your attention is, there is your consciousness. Consciousness functions like a computer monitor.

The subconscious mind works like a hard drive, it stores memories of billions of nuances of your life, makes up your personality. Your hard drive contains everything that went through your life. Everything that you experienced and perceived in your life, everything that your ancestors experienced and perceived, at least up to the seventh generation - all your and their feelings are contained in your subconscious.

The unconscious can be compared to the Internet, or the Universe. That is information, which may be perceived by your psyche, but is beyond the bounds of your personal experience. Why does a person perceive life from the position of a student? Because there is always something outside of his "I". You can always learn something new that you don't know now. "

Psychologists say that all human problems and conflicts arise in the subconscious. If you do not suppress, do not hide your feelings, but broadcast them outside (like a computer connected to the Internet), then you will not harm your health. “Only when you share something negative does it become easier for you. You release tension into the outside world. You release your fixation on this individual experience. And this is already half of the solution to the problem, because you separated it from yourself, released it into the world. They did not extinguish within themselves, did not hide in their sub consciousness, did not give special meaning to this experience or this event.

This is the task of psychotherapy, - says Artem Tolokonin. - You should not constantly look for a problem in yourself, you should start enjoying life. When you look for problems in yourself, you will definitely find them. Don't go deep in search of your imperfection. Start living deeply and with love, perceiving yourself and at the same time connecting with the world inside and around. Then you will understand what the psyche is, and the possibilities of psychosomatics will become obvious to you. "

How diseases arise from the psychosomatic point of view

Any symptom and disease, according to psychosomatic medicine, arises as a reaction of the body to some kind of psychological conflict.

From the point of view of psychosomatics, the human body is perceived by consciousness as part of a single process "psyche - brain (communicator) - body". Different organs and systems of the body have a different set of functions. “Depending on the individual perception of emotional conflicts, one or another organ system is included in them.

Psychosomatic conflict is always associated with the function of the organ that is currently suffering. Therefore, it is necessary to study the causes of the disease, starting from the physical condition of a person, and not vice versa, - notes Artem Tolokonin. - Otherwise, a person without experience in psychotherapy runs the risk of inventing physical ailments for himself. For example, the conflict of separation will be reflected in someone's skin, and in someone's mind, causing a depressive state, as if a part of it has disappeared somewhere, and therefore he feels inferior.

And in someone it will not cause any change in health at all. But in the presence of a disease, we always find a series of emotional conflicts that create an individual psychosomatic scenario of the disease. "

A psychosomatic approach to one's health makes it possible to understand that recovery and personal (spiritual) growth are interconnected. “You cannot become physically healthy if your soul is sick and your worldview is destructive. The task of the psychotherapist, who works on the basis of the psychosomatic approach, is to create conditions for the transformation of the personality, for the liberation of a person from emotional and energy blocks, ”says Artem Tolokonin.

In other words, you should consider the disease as a reason to reflect on your deepest fears and shift the focus of attention to what really worries you.

The causes of the disease are always unique. “Naturally, it is difficult for a person himself to unpack his conflict. It is difficult to understand what he is connected with. Because there is a general scheme, but there are special cases, a specific person who is unique and the causes of his disease are also unique. Because the emotional conflicts that you experience are yours - they are individual, - adds Artem Tolokonin. - You were born in a certain lineage, and this lineage naturally affects you. I am in favor of having any physiological symptoms first examined by a doctor. "

After that, it is worth moving on to "scanning" your psyche and emotional state. Try to describe your symptoms (or diagnosis) figuratively. For example, "my head hurts as if a heavy helmet was put on me." Think about what it is for you? What does this "helmet" mean? How long ago did it appear or why does it appear every time? What thoughts, actions, or events trigger it? What is he stopping you from doing?

It will be helpful to write down your answers at an early stage, later this will help you look at the symptom or disease systemically.