We Are Emotional Creatures...
I see Digestion as being key to a healthy, happy, peace-filled life but recently, I have been taking a more complete perspective on what digestion actually encompasses.
We are all aware of how important digestion is for the food that we eat: we take in food, usually by mouth, and our digestive system moves that food through the body, breaking it down so nutrients can be absorbed into the bloodstream, where cells can use them for energy, growth and repair. Digestion begins even before we touch the food in front of us. As soon as we see food, smell food and even think about food, our digestive system kicks into gear and our salivary glands start working to produce saliva.
But food is not the only thing we, as humans need to digest, in order to be in balance with what life presents. We also need to digest experiences, events, interactions with others, thoughts and emotions. We experience the world around us through our five senses; sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch. The stimuli from each sensing organ in the body are relayed to different parts of the brain through various pathways. Sensory information is transmitted from the Peripheral Nervous System to the Central Nervous System. A structure of the brain called the thalamus receives most sensory signals and passes them along to the appropriate area of the cerebral cortex to be processed. Sensory information regarding smell, however, is sent directly to the olfactory bulb and not to the thalamus.
So what about Emotions?
The limbic system is composed of a group of brain structures that play a vital role in sensory perception, sensory interpretation, and motor function. The amygdala, for example, receives sensory signals from the thalamus and uses the information in the processing of emotions such as fear, anger, and pleasure. It also determines what memories are stored and where the memories are stored in the brain. The hippocampus is important in forming new memories and connecting emotions and senses, such as smell and sound, to memories. The hypothalamus helps regulate emotional responses through the release of hormones that act on the pituitary gland in response to stress.
So, in the same way that we digest our food, we also need to break down and process our emotions. We take in information around us in what we hear, see, taste, smell and touch, and then we break it apart, sort through it to try to make sense of the information. We decide what to assimilate and what to discard. Some information initiates negative feelings like sadness or anger. We acknowledge this concept in our language; upsetting emotions can leave a bad taste in our mouths or we simply can’t stomach something.
It’s also important to identify what does not serve us or is no longer useful so we can release it. When this process is going well, we are nourished by life. We have what we need and we don’t hold on to things unnecessarily. But all too often we are simply exposed to more than we can process or too much that feels unpalatable in the world or in our personal lives.
Not absorbing enough positive energy leads to depletion; when our bodies reject things too quickly, before there is time for proper sorting, or when we just don’t get enough of what we need. In physical digestive terms, think "Diarrhoea".
Other times we feel congested, stagnant, too full or STUCK. This can happen when we aren’t sure of what we need to let go of or how to let go of it. Sometimes we hold on because there is a lot to process, or we might be fearful of letting go. In physical digestive terms, think "Constipation".
Other times we take in too much and we are unable to filter information around us, or we absorb information that is not helpful to us or is toxic to our BodyMind, so running the risk of overwhelming our systems. This can happen when there is a communication breakdown between organs, the brain, or other systems in the body, leading to a distorted sense of what is nourishing for us. It can also happen when barriers are compromised, and we can become inundated with what was meant to stay on the outside, as in the case of caregiver burnout or empaths who absorb others' energy to the point of depletion within themselves. The inevitable response to that could be anxiety, hyper-vigilance or fatigue and depression.
We do this most often with difficult emotions like shame, fear, or anger. When we experience events that emotionally overwhelm us and we’re unable to process what is happening, accept our emotions, and express them through our body and mind, we hide them deep inside us where others can’t see them. And we end up hiding them from ourselves too.
The unresolved emotions get trapped in our body where they linger and fester, draining our energy, leading to burnout, emotional imbalance, and eventually disease. When we chronically repress emotions, we create toxicity in our body, mind, and heart.
This unprocessed emotional energy is stored in our organs, muscles, and tissues and leads to inflammation and chronic health problems; it undermines our overall well-being.
So what can we do? Deepak Chopra recommends finding a daily balancing routine to help 'digest' emotions well. This could include creating art, journaling, meditation, breathwork, yoga or whatever personal ritual makes you feel grounded, calm and connected. HelioSol and BodyTalk One on One Sessions can identify priorities for healing within the BodyMind. The Foundational AgapeMind Course teaches how to rewire your brain and create positive wellness throughout the BodyMind. The HelioSol System (HSS) is a holistic, non-invasive, drug-free complementary health care system that utilises a person’s inner natural healing forces to shift their perspective on life, releasing stress, which can lead to extraordinary changes on all levels – physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual – in areas such as health, abundance, relationships, and career. HSS consists of a blend of concepts from Western and Eastern thinking, as well as spiritual and scientific understanding. HSS is a powerful, consciousness-based system.
Please contact me at synergiebodytalk@gmail.com or call/text me on 403 510 4589 as I would love to chat with you further as you DIGEST this blog (!) and how HelioSol/BodyTalk sessions can help you digest all of what life has to offer.
