THE POWER OF EMOTIONS ON OUR HEALTH

I honestly don't remember ever being as a sick as I was a few weeks ago. A full blown healing crisis with some horrendous flu type germ 🦠 (my official diagnosis! lol). I want to share this experience with you as powerful reminder of the connection between our emotional and physical health.

If you are new to the term 'healing crisis', it's a term that describes a temporary intensification of symptoms that occurs during the body's natural healing process. It's seen as a positive sign that the body is making effort to restore balance, cleanse and detoxify. Ultimately leading to improved health and well-being... but at the time can feel awful! 🤦🏼‍♀️

This often happens when you first start a 'health kick' and reduce your alcohol and coffee for example, you will likely have headaches and anxiety before you feel the benefits. Then there are more life changing DOOZY crises that are a build up of many contributing factors.

For me, over roughly the last 12 months the universe has been testing me on so many levels, which has forced me to do a heap of deep inner healing. A series of trials, testing my values, my beliefs, healing old wounds, pushing me to stand in my truth, and get clear on my boundaries. As they've continued to stack up, the emotional stress recently became overwhelming.

My body went into shut down mode.

For five days, I could only eat icy poles and bone broth. I had the cold chills, sweats, vomiting and body pain that was unbearable. But it forced me to stop, it forced me to cleanse my body and mind, it forced me to reflect and rest.

I share this as a reminder to not underestimate the effects emotions have on our biology (or physical wellbeing). Emotions trigger chemical reactions in our body, and can manifest in the body in many ways. My emotional stress had compromised my immune system. 

I know many of us are currently dealing with challenges. There's a global mental health crisis, lots of uncertainty and in fact I'd go on to say the world is currently having its own healing crisis.

The good news is there's hope even in the darkest moments, light always appears in the darkness. For me, I feel like I've had a whole body reset and detox. I gained an immense amount of clarity, energy, resilience, acceptance and trust in myself (just to name a few!). 

So, consider that when you get sick, it's not always a setback and that it's your body's way of telling you something important if you're willing to listen.

If your struggling with life's challenges at the moment, here's 5 tips to support your well-being: 

1. Prioritise Self-Care: Look after yourself. Eat well, reduce alcohol (it's a depressant) and make time for activities that soothe your soul, whether it's reading, art, or spending time in nature. 

2. Seek Support: Don't hesitate to reach out to friends, family, or professionals. 

3. Mindfulness: Try relaxation, massage, meditation or deep breathing exercises to calm the nervous system. 

4. Get enough sleep: Reduce screen time and have low lighting before bed. Aim for 7-9 hrs sleep per night.

5. Stay Active: Regular physical activity is a fantastic way to manage stress and elevate your mood.

Remember, you're not alone on this journey. Healing and growth are possible, even from the darkest places.