Emotions are running high right now. Donald Trump has created some steep divides between people all over the world. Most of us who have heard latest news have encountered anger, worry, pensiveness, sadness, fear, or shock. Joy is not a feeling that has been very present in the face of current events. From a traditional Chinese medicine perspective, all of these emotions play a role in our overall health. Emotions are a normal part of our mental life and sometimes finding emotional balance can be difficult.
Today let’s focus on worry. Worry is one of the most common emotional causes of disease. It’s not unnatural for people to feel worry when there is insecurity, whether it’s personal insecurity or insecurity over what we cannot control. We all handle worry differently but there are some who are predisposed to worry. Some people just worry more than others. These people tend to do everything in a hurry and are always pressed for time. Worry “knots” our natural energy flow. It causes stagnation and blockages directly affecting the energy of the lungs and spleen, indirectly affecting the rest of our organ systems. Over time, it can cause internal energetic injury, leading to poor health.
If worry affects the lung energy, then symptoms will include shortness of breath and shallow breathing, an uncomfortable feeling in the chest, muscular tension in the shoulders, a dry cough, and a pale complexion.
If worry affects the spleen, then symptoms include problems with concentration and memory, obsessive and compulsive thinking patterns, as well as poor appetite, epigastric (above the belly button) discomfort, abdominal pain and distention, fatigue, and a pale complexion.
It’s incredible how much our emotions affect our physical well-being. Finding balance is key to coping with everything that is happening in the world. It may be hard to find peace and balance, but it is essential as it is integral to our health.