EMOTIONAL IMMUNITY

In the face of this transformative period taking place around the globe, immune health has taken centre stage for many of us. From increasing our workout regimes, cleaning up our diets to adding additional supplements and sleeping an extra hour each night, we are focusing more and more on our health, particularly our immune health.

As we realize the importance of our immune system, it becomes imperative to point out that this system is more than just a physical entity within each of us, protecting and healing us. As much as we are made up of a body, mind and soul, so is our immune system part of our physiology, how we think and what we feel. Nothing within us works in isolation, it is all an intricately connected union. For our immune system, this means that it is not merely a question of how well we eat, exercise, supplement and sleep to keep it strong. It is also a matter of how much we actively liberate this essential system inside of us from negative thinking patterns, suppressed emotions, unresolved trauma and beliefs that no longer serve us. In other words, now that we are taking better care of our physical immunity, it is time to look towards our emotional immunity as well.

For some of us, it might be difficult at this point to draw the connection between our emotional wellbeing and the health of our immune system, a system so deeply rooted in our physical body. And who can blame us, since we are brought up believing that it is toxins, processed foods and other pathogens that weaken our immune system. Despite these elements certainly playing their role in disease, they are not the sole cause. Fortunately, medical science is beginning to shed more and more light onto the connection between our emotional and mental states in regards to the occurrence of disease. For several years now, revealing research studies have been conducted with a particular focus on childhood trauma, also known as ACEs [Adverse Childhood Experiences], to show how impactful emotional health – including our thoughts, emotions and beliefs – can be on our physical nature. In fact, the resounding conclusion from the vast majority of studies indicates that individuals who experienced noticeable trauma during their early developmental years were much more likely to be affected by disease of any kind. All due to the extent of how much trauma impacts upon our thinking patterns, the way we perceive our emotions and what we believe to be true about ourselves.

Now, if there is such a firm connection between our thoughts, emotions and beliefs, the next question is: How does trauma along with its distorted thinking patterns, imbalanced feelings and obstructive beliefs create all this disease? The answer lies within the common denominator that all these elements share and it is known as stress. Whether the nature of our stress is physical, mental, emotional or even spiritual, it all impacts our being – including our immune system – in a similar manner. That is, when we experience a stressor, such as fear itself, we involuntarily move into the ‘fight or flight or freeze’ state, a primordial response to keep us safe from danger. Whether that might entail you standing your ground and fighting, escaping the imminent situation or simply going into hiding. We all share this natural, protective response. However, nature intended for us to remain in such a state for very short periods of time, yet nowadays our fearful thinking, unregulated emotions and negative beliefs can keep us in this state continuously. As a result, our organism shifts its life-sustaining energy consumption away from supporting metabolic functions to keeping us alert of danger and increasing muscle tension. In the particular case of our immune system, this leaves us unable to respond appropriately to pathogens and viral infections, due to insufficient energy. In other words, making us become vulnerable.

And how do we strengthen ourselves in the face of vulnerability? Turning inwards and allowing ourselves to feel our suppressed emotions, reflect upon our negative beliefs and explore our hidden trauma. It is through these actions that we can finally process all that which has been stuck and repressed within us for so long. It is by facing our own fears and darkness that we can truly let go, so that we no longer burden ourselves and our immune system with destructive thinking patterns, feelings and beliefs. It is right here where our emotional immunity lies: a state of liberation from all stressors resulting in our organism with all its sub-systems [including the immune system] to function autonomously and naturally bring about healing.

Here are a handful of relevant links to some of the research studies:

The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study

Impacts of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Health, Mental Health, and Substance Use in Early Adulthood

The Health Impact of Childhood Trauma: An Interdisciplinary Review

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Mental Health, Chronic Medical Conditions, and Development in Young Children

Cumulative Childhood Stress and Autoimmune Diseases in Adults

Childhood Trauma and Risk for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Child Abuse and Epigenetic Mechanisms of Disease Risk

Adverse Childhood Experiences and the Risk of Premature Mortality

Be well from within.