Did you know that your emotions can have a significant impact on your physical health? Whatever we’re thinking and feeling for long periods can manifest and affect our body and our health. According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), every organ in the body is associated with a specific emotion. Diseases usually stem from long-term imbalances with these emotions. It’s not about removing all of your emotions (nor is that possible), it’s natural to have negative or unpleasant emotions. But what happens is if you repress emotions for a long period or you’re unconsciously affected by emotions over a long period of time, that can affect your health and cause chronic health issues. There are many other factors such as chronic stress that can also be related to having emotions, and traumas that we neglect. Prefer to watch the video, click here.
Emotions and organs according to Chinese medicine
Lungs and large intestine: grief and depression
When we experience grief or depression, it can affect our lungs and large intestine. This can be caused by any sort of loss because when grief is unresolved, it can lead to depression and your inability to let things go. This in turn can affect your lungs such as asthma, and also your oxygen circulation. When we are sad, our lungs may become congested and our digestive system may become sluggish. That’s why it sometimes hard to breathe, or you feel like you don’t have an appetite. Grief can be challenging because it often comes with highs and lows at any moment. During those times, let it happen, cry if you need to, journal or speak to a trusted loved one. Most importantly allow yourself to release them fully when you’re ready.
Kidneys and bladder: fear
Fear is associated with the kidneys and bladder. It’s normal to have fear, but it becomes chronic when we ignore our fears or sweep them under the rug. These kidney issues might come about with fear surrounding changing your life situation or currently living in an unstable living condition. When we are afraid, our kidneys may become weak and our bladder may become overactive. This can lead to problems such as urinary incontinence and kidney stones. Recognize and ask yourself what are you afraid of? What are your fears? Discovering your fears and knowing them by name takes away their power.
Spleen and stomach: worry and nervousness
Worry and nervousness are associated with the spleen and stomach. When we are worried or nervous, our digestive system can become weakened. This can lead to problems such as indigestion, diarrhea, and constipation. Overthinking too much, worrying too much and insecurities can weaken your ability to digest. When we’re anxious, we sometimes find certain life situations or experiences really hard to digest and accept. With a weakened spleen, you might have stubborn weight problems. In times of overthinking or worry, find ways to move your body, exercise, shake it out, take a walk, sing, dance, find ways to take that energy into the physical world. Do something, instead of ruminating. Most our worries don’t even happen.
Liver and gallbladder: anger and frustration
Anger and frustration are associated with the liver and gallbladder. When we are angry or frustrated, our liver can become congested and our gallbladder may not function properly. It’s basically when you spend too much energy in excess, in anger and frustration, that affects your liver and causes further damage. This can lead to problems such as headaches, indigestion, and gallstones. It also affects the blood circulation and detoxification system of the body. Most of our lifestyles already place a lot of pressure onto our liver.
Heart and small intestine: joy and happiness
Joy and happiness are associated with the heart and small intestine. When we experience joy and contentment, our heart is strong and our digestive system is healthy. When we lack joy, our heart suffers, and our digestive system is a mess. We can feel stuck and mentally chaotic and have a hard time sleeping. Joy is not something that happens outside of you, It’s truly something cultivated within yourself, and often times that can start with gratitude. Finding what you’re grateful for and expanding from there. Invest in self care for yourself, take breaks, find hobbies that allow you to create or feel calm. Create your joy and happiness.
What you can do
If you are concerned about how your emotions may be affecting your health, there are a few things you can do:
- Become aware of your emotions. The first step is to become more aware of your emotions. Pay attention to how you are feeling throughout the day and identify any negative emotions that you may be experiencing on a regular basis. Journaling is a very powerful and helpful tool that can help you be more aware and present within your day to day emotions.
- Express your emotions in a healthy way. Once you are aware of your emotions, it is important to express them in a healthy way. This could involve talking to a friend or family member, journaling, or engaging in physical activity.
- Seek professional help if needed. If you are struggling to cope with your emotions on your own, it is important to seek professional help. A therapist can teach you how to manage your emotions in a healthy way and address any underlying issues that may be contributing to your emotional distress.
It is important to remember that you are not alone. That emotions can sometimes get the best of us. Many people struggle with their emotions from time to time. Now that we have learned about the powerful connection between your emotions and your organ health. The next step is to learn how to manage and feel your emotions, and learning how to release them instead of storing them within the body.
