One of the greatest mysteries is the nature of the mind. Even though we experience our mind every waking moment, its effects often elude us. We often think of our mental health as simply our lived mood and distance it from the consequences or experiences of the body. The mind can be unhealthy, and many will still consider themselves healthy if they eat well and exercise. We think that mental and physical health are different so one should be sacrificed to support the other. The issue is, of course, that mental and physical health are the same. Not tending to the mind and the past that is stored in the body can cause serious detriment to the body and vice versa. The good news is we can move the body out of the past.
The work of Dr. Gabor Maté highlights how suppressed emotions or behaviours that manifest from resolved traumas or past experiences can cause chronic illness and disease. It is a way for the body to “say no.” Maté’s book “When the Body Says No” explores the issues with our modern medical paradigm. Currently, the causes of chronic illness and disease are often viewed as mechanical and distinct from psychological well-being and development. However, the link between the mind, our thoughts and our health cannot be overstated. This link is evident when one analyses the relationship between the gut, immune system, and the brain in a biopsychosocial model of health.
Where in your life are you not saying NO? Where are you not speaking the truth? Are you afraid to say NO? Where and how are you concealing your fear, grief, frustration or resentment in your body and breath? We stifle and repress our truer emotions in fear of change or loss. Eventually the body and breath will start to speak up through back pain, headaches, digestive disturbances, chronic fatigue, circulation issues, pelvic pain, or immune problems. However, with bodily awareness, self awareness, self realisation, we can reconnect body and mind and transcend any limitations. We can re-learn how to say NO when required, and see how the past is stored in the body. Using mindfulness, meditation and breathwork, we gain confidence in our own power once again, shifting that sense of powerlessness that once prevented us from saying it just how it is. That truth is very important. We can whisper it, say it, shout it, breathe it and eventually live it. Truth is harmonious for all and fosters deep presence. We say “yes” to presence by saying NO to what we no longer need.
Explore this science with Dr Gabor Maté. (4 minutes)
Fear of Saying No
Fear of saying No? What have you got to lose? It’s a valuable self-enquiry question to ask oneself. We can learn to say NO, especially when your body is saying it, but your words and your actions are not. The body holds a fascinating representation of the psyche and old childhood patterns. We can notice when we are lying to ourselves by noting how we might close our eyes when we speak, shrug our shoulders even slightly as we speak in confusion, purse our lips or even shake our head left or right ever so slightly whilst nodding yes even when we actually mean to no.
Watch facial expression expert, Dr Paul Eckman, describe how we lie with our slight head nods and shakes here:
And also see Janine Driver explain how to see the eyes, shoulders and lips can reveal when we are lying to ourselves and how the body always reveals the truth.
Our body language reveals a lot and it can be first read in our microexpressions, which initially speak to the body to elicit emotions and bodily sensations before finally being cognised by the brain.
With meditation, yoga and self-enquiry we clear up the past that is stored in the body, learn to feel the truth within ourselves and clear the emotional scars (or samskaras). We can use yoga and meditation that truly allow the past patterns to be unveiled by the present.
The Intricate Interplay of Personality Traits and Emotions on Your Health
Stress is a universal part of life, but have you ever wondered why some individuals appear more vulnerable to illness when confronted with stressors? A profound connection exists between personality traits, emotions, and physical health, a connection further elucidated by the groundbreaking work of Dr. Gabor Maté, as detailed in his book “When the Body Says No: The Cost of Hidden Stress.”
The Influence of Personality on Health:
Dr. Maté’s extensive research indicates that individuals grappling with chronic illnesses, encompassing conditions such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, inflammatory bowel disease, and various chronic neurological and skin disorders, frequently exhibit distinctive personality profiles. These profiles encompass an unwavering predisposition to prioritise the emotional needs of others at the expense of their own well-being. They become deeply entrenched in their caregiving roles or professions, often suppressing negative emotions like sadness and anger, even when these sentiments remain unacknowledged at a conscious level. Furthermore, they tend to shoulder a substantial burden of responsibility for the emotional welfare of those close to them, harbouring an ever-present fear of disappointing their loved ones.
Scientific Validation:
Supporting evidence for these observations emerges from studies. In particular, research involving women undergoing breast biopsies demonstrated that psychologists could astonishingly predict cancer diagnoses with remarkable accuracy based solely on personality profiles, achieving accuracy rates of up to 90 percent. While personality traits don’t directly instigate these diseases, they undeniably heighten an individual’s susceptibility to them.
Diverse Personalities and Varied Health Outcomes:
Distinct personality types are intricately linked to specific health conditions. For instance, two primary personality types have associations with heart disease. The first, known as the Type A personality, is characterised by intense competitiveness, an incessant drive, and intermittent outbursts of anger. Following an episode of anger, there is a doubling of the risk of a heart attack or stroke within the subsequent two hours, stemming from increased blood pressure, heightened adrenaline levels, elevated clotting factors, and constricted blood vessels. Over time, this sequence of events can result in elevated blood pressure and narrowed arteries.
Conversely, individuals who tend to suppress their emotions, particularly anger, are more predisposed to heart muscle-related ailments. Instead of their coronary arteries bearing the brunt of high blood pressure, they are more likely to experience conditions such as cardiomyopathy, where the cardiac muscle progressively weakens.
Identification of Common Personality Traits in Chronic Illness:
Following years of clinical practice and in-depth research into chronic illnesses, Dr. Maté uncovered a recurring pattern of personality traits frequently manifested by individuals grappling with chronic health conditions. These personality attributes include:
- A propensity to excessively prioritise the emotional needs of others over their own, often to the detriment of self-care.
- A rigid adherence to societal roles, duties, and responsibilities, sometimes at the expense of personal well-being.
- An intense drive to fulfil external responsibilities, driven by the deep-rooted belief that one’s existence must be justified through ceaseless acts of giving and doing.
- Suppression of natural, healthy anger, resulting in the stifling of emotions that can contribute to emotional and physical stress.
- Persistent adherence to two core beliefs: a responsibility for others’ emotional states and an overwhelming fear of disappointing those they hold dear.
Understanding the intricate interplay of personality traits, emotions, and physical health is of paramount importance. While personality traits don’t serve as direct causes of diseases, they undoubtedly amplify an individual’s susceptibility to specific health conditions. Prioritising stress management, healthy emotional expression, and self-care is essential for maintaining overall well-being. Dr. Gabor Maté’s pioneering work serves as a poignant reminder of the significance of addressing emotional stressors as we endeavour to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives.
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