Is chronic pain more than skin deep?

Chronic pain develops over a long length of time so a pill, a massage or even a day off won’t ease pain. Chronic pain is just the tip of the iceberg so fixing the problem begins at going below the surface into our unseen emotional and mental state.

If you ask most people, they’ll tell you that their physical pain is telling them to take a Tylenol. We let ourselves become so consumed in our busy lives that we don’t take the time to observe what and why we are feeling what we feel. We just want to cover them up with medications and we take this approach with not only physical pain, but emotions as well. We experience so many emotions in a day such as fear, grief and anxiety. And frankly, if there was a pill on the market that could erase those emotions so we can continue our lives unhindered, there would be a larger demand for it than Claritin in the Spring.

Emotions broken down is E+motions, or energy in motion. Does “Energy can’t be created nor destroyed” ring a bell from physics class? So, if we ignore those emotions of fear, grief and anxiety and they can’t be destroyed, then where do they go? Eventually, they’ll manifest as physical pain and can show up anywhere from headaches to ankle pain.

So, you’re probably thinking that if physical pain is just a symptom of an emotional cause, then medications are probably useless. And you’ll be right. Painkillers just silence important warning messages from your subconscious that’s alerting you to a deeper problem.

Below is a list of common physical ailments and what they’re really telling you.

Headaches- Like the V8 commercials, a headache is like a hit in the head telling you to wake up. Are you ignoring your intuition or perhaps you’re in your head too much and need to be present. Practice mindfulness meditation to learn to be present and aware of your body.

Neck- The neck has one of the greatest ranges of motion in the body so inflexibility in the neck can be related to inflexibility or fear of change in life. Are you being rigid and won’t consider alternative options or other points of view? Tightness, pain and constriction in the neck can be a result.

Upper shoulders- Some people carry the weight of the world on their shoulders. Carrying these burdens can result in tight or hunched shoulders.

Thyroid/Thymus- I know several people with thyroid problems and they are givers to a fault. They give with no regard to receiving and often experience injustice. Thyroid and thymus issues can point to an excessive sense of responsibility to others and be a way they measure their worth to others. Just remember that taking care of yourself is the best contribution you can give to others.

Lower back and tailbone- The spine is the lifeline so pain associated with the spine can point to not having a solid foundation in life. Childhood issues dwell in this region as well as feeling unsafe, threatened and insecure.

Hips, legs and calves- These body parts are responsible for our forward movement so pain here can mean that you’re fearful of moving forward and of making changes. These areas also store trauma, resentment, jealousy and emotional pain.

Knees- Dense and negative feelings can sink down here causing inflammation which makes us rigid, inflexible and unforgiving. An overactive ego can be the culprit of this pain. Practicing humility can bring more range of motion to our knees as well as life.

Ankles- Pain or limited range of motion in the ankles indicate our limited ability to receive pleasure and tells us that we’re resisting the more pleasurable aspects of life.

If you are already experiencing pain in these areas, it’s not too late to reverse the physical damage by going to the emotional root of the problem. And if you’re not currently feeling any physical pain, then continue to be pain-free by listening to your emotions and your body. Physical pain is merely an accumulation of negative, dense energies so may your heart and body be as light as a feather.