What Really Causes Us to Be Ill?

[Lightworker]

Hiya all. Ok, before I start, I just want to put a caveat here to avoid misunderstandings. I am not trying to apportion blame for getting ill or be insensitive to people's genuine plight. I hope not to offend anyone (although I am sure some might be offended) but this is a topic that I have thought about for a while and was wondering about your thoughts.

Ok, I am slowly coming around to the idea that our physical body is really a reflection of our emotional wellbeing. By that I mean, when we are suffering from emotional imbalances and experiencing negative emotions like greed, anxiety, fear, envy, jealousy, bitterness, unforgiveness anger, hatred etc, if these go unchecked, they manifest themselves in our physical bodies in the form of various diseases.

I know that this may not apply to all sick people, especially the very young, because some might argue that they haven't even had the time to start feeling some of these feelings, but in general. An example is how when we are stressed, or experiencing high levels of anxiety, we tend to develop stomach ulcers. Some people (I forget where I read these so please forgve the lack of references) have argued that they became very ill for a while, and when they let go of some of these emotions, the illnesses disappeared.

Some American oncologists have advised their patients to sort out their emotional health alongside getting the treatment for the physical elements of the disease, which they believe can greatly speed up recovery.

I know some might argue about genetics but perhaps its not truly down to genetics but the lifestyle of the particular family. EG, its well accepted that if mom tends to be very anxious and worrying, her offspring might become the same, so to me it seems that anxiety-related illnesses, which may be put down to genes, might really just be from lifestyle?

Sorry if I come across incoherently, its just I have all these thoughts and I am trying to make my post as comprehensive as possible.

Anyway, so what do you think?

 

[marley2580]

I think your emotional wellbeing can affect your health, but I don't think it can be taken in isolation. So many things can affect your health such as DNA, environment, job, diet, hygiene, viruses etc etc.

 

[summer rain]

I agree with marley and I do believe some forms of clinical depression are purely genetic, nothing to do with lifestylexx

 

[ShanandBoc]

I personally do agree that our emotional wellbeing can affect our physical wellbeing yes (ie - stress)

 

[ShanandBoc]

I agree with marley and I do believe some forms of clinical depression are purely genetic, nothing to do with lifestylexx

Agreed

 

[Lightworker]

So do the genes cause the clinical depression or do they predispose you to it, in which case what are the other contributory factors?

 

[ShanandBoc]

I think maybe both. Depending on the genes. I do think illegal drug use can play a major part for someone who is pre disposed to it for example.

 

[SKATERBUN]

Mental illness is passed genetically I believe.

In terms of physically wellbeing, well I guess its just neglecting yourself. Its like a plant, if you dont feed, water it and give it light, it withers and dies!
I can be emotionally fit and well one day but feel utter pants if I have abused my body with wine, junk food and caffeine. I still feel great mentally but just struggle to do anything worthwhile

 

[Laura2919]

I think your emotional wellbeing can affect your health, but I don't think it can be taken in isolation. So many things can affect your health such as DNA, environment, job, diet, hygiene, viruses etc etc.

I agree.

 

[iceylou]

stress triggers alot of illness. for me for instance, the more stress im under the more tense my whole body is, which causes my muscles to tense which increases my back pain (2 x bulging discs). this of course stresses me out further so it ends up a vicious cycle

 

[Luke's_mummy]

mental illness in the family makes you predisposed to it, but it isn't ever a given, someone who has no family history of something could still develop it and someone with a massive history of it may never develop it, its about environmental factors surrounding the person. That being said I don't think that your emotional wellbeing directly affects your physical wellbeing at all. You get sick because of germs or bacteria or eating the wrong food. You get ill by doing bad things to your body, taking drugs, smoking, drinking excessivly. I don't think that by getting stressed you get sick. I saw someone mentioning stomach ulcers, they aren't caused by stress, they're caused by excess stomach acid! My father had one and it was caused by years of drinking excessively and eating too much spicy food. Not by being stressed!!

 

[Lightworker]

I beg your pardon - yes you are quite right it is widely accepted that stomach ulcers are not CAUSED by stress. It is also widely accepted that stress exacerbates stomach ulcers significantly which means there is a direct correlation between your emotional and physical wellbeing (as far as ulcers are concerned). The fact that it has any impact on the progression of the disease really just is sufficient proof I think.

 

[Lightworker]

I know I used the word "cause" in the title of the thread but I would also like to include contributory aspects of emotional wellbeing.

 

[ShanandBoc]

What about heart attacks and stress?

If left unmanaged, stress can lead to emotional, psychological, and even physical problems, including heart disease, high blood pressure, chest pains, or irregular heart beats.

 

[PeanutBean]

I don't really understand the question to be honest. I assume you are not implying that ALL illness is caused ENTIRELY by emotional imbalance, because that would be simply ridiculous and would fly in the face of decades of medical research and scientific evidence to the contrary. That the mind and emotional health impacts on illness from any cause and can in itself negatively affect the body wound of course also be undisputed. There is again a wide body of evidence that the state of the mind impacts upon the health of the body from placebo to hypochondria to cancer sufferers expecting to face death turning things around seemingly through positive thinking alone.

 

[ShanandBoc]

I assume you are not implying that ALL illness is caused ENTIRELY by emotional imbalance, because that would be simply ridiculous and would fly in the face of decades of medical research and scientific evidence to the contrary.

I agree that would be ridiculous, although i do know some people that believe that......its that 'The secret' baloney thats making that Rhonda Byrne woman rich. My sister follows it and believes that through positive thinking cancer etc would be completely eradicated

 

[PeanutBean]

^ Oh dear...and people criticise homeopathy!

 

[ShanandBoc]

Lol, exactly!

 

[Lightworker]

Shan - The Secret thingy is the Law of Attraction right? I'm into that sort of stuff. Can you, (with supporting evidence lol) disprove the theory though?

Within the context of this debate I am not attributing all illness to our state of mind, but a significant contribution is made.

 

[ShanandBoc]

Of course to a certain extent the law of attraction has merits, i dont doubt that, and i agree with your statement above just the extremist view of it that i dont agree with

The Secret teaches that anyone who has had bad stuff happen to them, has in some way brought it upon themselves (some have yes), including sickness. The secret also puts too much emphasis on wealth....that if we ask the universe will provide. So what about people in third world countries. You dont think they ask for better? You think they brought it upon themselves? Natural disasters?

To believe that positive thinking ALONE could eradicate ALL sickness and problems (The Secret and what my sister actually believes), to me is just naive. But i do agree that our state of mind / thinking can affect our health definitely.

Believing in yourself, positive thinking etc of course should be encouraged. But having positive thoughts will not send out magic brainwave frequencies that change reality around you

Of course i respect that you may feel differently. But i dont agree with it in the context it is presented in The Secret. There's no concrete evidence to prove otherwise either.

Its not the law of attraction i disagree with, more so The Secret itself x I agree that our thoughts can be a very powerful tool x