Our relationships, professional pursuits and financial security are critical parts of our health.
It is equally as important to acknowledge the risks and red flags that arise in those domains when it comes to our physical health.
When the Body Says No by Gabor Maté explores the mind-body connection and how stress relates to disease.
Through deep scientific analysis, Maté examines how early emotional experiences leave a physical and neurological imprint.
His findings challenge the notion that you can simply “ignore the past” without having properly processed it.
Here are 3 key takeaways:
1. Stress is relative
We all experience stress however the forces that cause it affect us all differently.
When a high-paid executive with a robust severance package suffers job loss, it can be less burdensome than someone struggling and living paycheck to paycheck.
The trauma and challenges we face early in life also determine our symptoms and ways of coping with stress.
2. Repressed emotions complicate health
Chronic illnesses are rarely, if ever, caused by one thing. Denying ourselves the opportunity to feel stigmatized emotions like anger, sadness, or fear can cause serious health problems.
When we stifle how we feel to please others and always keep peace, illness is more likely due to the buildup of stress and internal unrest.
3. Expression is healing
Bottling up “negative” emotions risks extreme distress and episodic “snapping” where those feelings burst out in a hurtful, unhealthy and even dangerous manner.
Doing so can harm your interpersonal relationships and professional reputation. The human psyche simply cannot compartmentalize and numb out emotions forever.
Learning when and how to express yourself authentically is critical to healing and mainting good mental health, which positively impacts all areas of life.
What is your favourite takeaway from When the Body Says No?