The Emotional Struggle
Chronic illness is so much more than a physical battle. The emotional and mental struggles are too often almost just as painful as what you're experiencing in your body, if not more so. From missing out on important moments, to being told it's all in your head, to the anguish of failed attempts to get better.
Emotions and thoughts are hugely important to the healing process. Here are a few of our favorite tips on how to support your mind and heart to give your body a boost.
1. Watch What You Say– Your Brain is Listening.
Believe that you will be completely healed the way you believe a letter you put in the mail will reach its intended destination, or the way you believe the Eiffel Tower is in Paris, although you may have never personally seen it yourself. Thoughts/words that are often formed in frustration and despair such as, “Oh, I am NEVER going to get better!” or “Ugh,
my body is so messed up…” or "I hate my body," send a command to your brain that is very detrimental to your healing progress. Shift your focus from the illness, to the healing. Be patient with yourself
though! It may not be easy to change thinking patterns, but the more sick you are, the more disciplined you have to be. Just like you form a habit of taking your remedies, drinking more water, and so on, you must develop the habit of speaking and thinking healing things. For example, when I’m feeling badly, I repeat to myself out loud, “I am healed in the name of Jesus Christ. By faith, my body is strong and functions perfectly in the name of Jesus Christ,” even though I’m feeling the exact opposite. That script has a bit of my own personal touch on it, but you get the idea and can tailor it to your preference. Now, when your doctor asks you how you feel, don't say "I feel no pain! I have no symptoms!" when you're in total agony. The point isn't to operate in denial, but to think and speak in a way that creates chemical reactions in the body that instigate healing. For example, one cannot practice the thoughts of depressed person and somehow get to joy from there. Dr. David Jernigan, who is the brilliant owner of the Biologix Center for Optimum Health, but is not affiliated with Jernigan Nutraceuticals has written an incredible article on this topic that we highly recommend checking out.
This concept is not only confirmed in scientific articles, but is also weaved all throughout the Bible:
Proverbs 21:23 ESV
“Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.”
Proverbs 12:18 ESV
“There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
1 Peter 3:10 ESV
“For ‘Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit;'”
Proverbs 18:21 ESV
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”
Matthew 15:11 ESV
“It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”
What's great about this is that it is a tool you can use anytime, anywhere, on any budget, and with any schedule. Watch your words, and watch your health improve dramatically.
2. Bring Musical Intervention Into Play
Sometimes you KNOW you should be thinking better thoughts, but you're stuck in a downward spiral. It can be easy to get in a "funk" of hopelessness, despair, heaviness, and you can't find it in yourself to be proactive, think healing thoughts, or get up and take action towards your health goals. It's been our experience that turning on music that motivates, inspires, cheers you on, relates to the struggle,
puts words to your prayer, etc can help reroute that downward spiral and get us heading in the right direction again. Here's a playlist we put together for when your mental state needs a lift:
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to get pep talks every Monday from people and songs that understand what you're going through!
Listen on Youtube:
For When You Feel Hopeless
Listen on Spotify:
For When You Feel Hopeless
For When You Can't Make It Out Of Bed
For Caretakers
3. Focus On Your Gut!
Dr. Ruairi Robertson B.SC PH.D writes at Healthline.com: "Your gut and brain are also connected through chemicals called neurotransmitters.
Neurotransmitters produced in the brain control feelings and emotions.
For example, the neurotransmitter serotonin contributes to feelings of happiness and also helps control your body clock (
Interestingly, many of these neurotransmitters are also produced by y
our gut cells and the trillions of microbes living there. A large proportion of serotonin is produced in the gut (
Your gut microbes also produce a neurotransmitter called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which helps control feelings of fear and anxiety (
That's just the tip of the iceberg, but do you think gut health MIGHT play a little bit
of a role in how you feel?
We think so.
This free ebook provides budget-friendly and simple solutions for identifying what could be causing damage to the gut, for establishing healing habits, and for repairing the damage that has already been done.
4. Put Palpable Remedy to Use
Taking a remedy that is clean, natural, and without side-effects is also recommended. Pomifitrin contains ingredients that help the body deal with anxiety, fatigue, insomnia, stress, hormone issues, and more. It also contains ginger root, which helps anxiety and depression, as it helps increase serotonin and dopamine levels.
5. Develop the Habit of Journaling
Journaling is the cheapest therapy you will find. We can stress highly enough how beneficial this tool is. Don't worry if you don't think yourself a good writer, or don't like your handwriting. As author, investor, and podcaster Tim Ferriss put it, the process matters more than the product. Here's a few different ways to do it:
- Tim Ferriss' 5-Minute Journal. We like this video because he keeps it real and provide a nice visual and ideas to help get started (please excuse the small bit of language).
-
Morning Pages. To quote Julia Cameron, author of the bool Morning Pages, "Once we get those muddy, maddening, confusing thoughts [nebulous worries, jitters, and preoccupations] on the page, we face our day with clearer eyes." It's not about solving your problems. It's about getting them out of your head so you can see them in a different light and with a different clarity. Otherwise they just continue
to "bounce around all day like a bullet ricocheting inside your skull," as Ferriss so accurately describes it.
- Gratitude Journaling. Co-founder and CEO of Pinterest, Ben Silbermann writes: “If you have a habit of writing things down that you’re grateful for, then some part of your brain is constantly looking for those things, and you feel happier. It’s absurd in its simplicity.” Read what more on what the best in world have to say about journaling here!