Inflammation is our bodies response to injury or harm. Unresolved trauma creates inflammation. Unresolved stress creates inflammation. Our bodies hold on to emotions if we don’t process them. Decades of holding onto emotions has led to physical issues within my body.
There is a significant body of research showing the impact of stress on the body. According to WebMD, it can cause headaches, high blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes, skin conditions, asthma, arthritis, depression, and anxiety. Western medicine often tries to separate the body from the mind and spirit, but God created us such that mind, body and spirit are intricately intertwined. Healing one area impacts the others.
I’ve been working on both my physical and emotional health for some time now. I have shared a lot about my emotional journey. My physical journey includes wrestling with eczema. Recently, it showed up in my ears. Yes, my ears. In the last few weeks, I have noticed that my eczema gets worse for a few days after a therapy session. The best answer we have been able to come up with is that as my body releases the trapped emotions, inflammation literally comes out through my skin.
God promises to heal and restore us. When the itching is at its worst, I hold onto His promises. Here are a couple of them.
“‘But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 30:17 NIV).
“And the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.” (Luke 6:19 NIV).
It seems strange to look at healing in this way, but it is exactly how God designed us. Whenever I focused on only one aspect of wellbeing, my progress was limited. Honestly, at times, I only had the strength for one aspect at a time. Success in each area have built up to allow me to work on my entire wellbeing together. This has given me the opportunity to see how my emotions are impacting my body. The complexity of God’s creation overwhelms my mind, and brings me to my knees in gratitude. I am thankful for the healing that has come and the healing that is yet to come!
How have you experienced the integration of body, mind and spirit? How has God bee healing you? Share your experience here and breathe life and bring hope to others.