Excerpt from Finding Your True Self (out of print)
Physical Ailments as Emotional Crutches
Sometimes we subconsciously make ourselves sick, and other times we simply fail to heed intuitive warnings that might have kept us from becoming sick or injured. Other times we do not heal because we have underlying emotional issues. Perhaps we have old negative tapes from childhood about how we heal. Or, on some level, we may not want to heal because of subconscious beliefs like, “I only get attention and sympathy when I am ill.” Once these beliefs are brought to the surface–and hypnosis is an excellent way to uncover them–they can be resolved. We are then free to create a healthier body.
Getting Sick
There used to be a huge connection in my life between being ill and receiving love and attention, which is discussed in the story below. I also have noticed that physical ailments often surface when I am upset emotionally. I am learning to look deeper, for example, when my tendinitis flares up. During my second marriage, I was constantly plagued with tendinitis and bursitis. One area would no sooner heal than another area would flare up. It wasn’t until I left that marriage that my traveling inflammatory condition could finally be put to rest. Now I see the connection more easily between a physical inflammation and being in an emotionally unhealthy relationship. The trick for me is to take the time to look deeper.
I had intuitive warnings about being in the hospital before I broke my leg, but I did not take the time to see what the messages meant. If I had, I am sure that I would not have needed that particular lesson. The time I would have spent obtaining the message would have been a fraction of the time I ultimately spent recovering from the accident.
During my first marriage, I had a startling moment of awareness. I thought, “If I have more surgery, I can be free of my alcoholic husband for a period of time.” The hospital was the one place that I could go where no one could accompany me. Meals were provided (I was pretty desperate to eat hospital food willingly!) Most of the staff was kind and considerate (all right, some of the graveyard shift nurses were not my favorites, but nothing is perfect). Someone even changed my sheets every day. People sent flowers to me and came to visit.
My pattern of using illness to receive nurturing was developed during my childhood, when I was often in pain. My mother responded to my pain by giving me love and attention, and I learned that the hospital was a place where you could be taken care of and be free of any responsibilities. As an adult, once I had the awareness that the hospital was my place to escape, I had a choice. Remember, all healing consists of awareness, choice and commitment. Now I had to decide, did I want to continue this pattern, or did I want to find a new way of dealing with life? Within a year I was divorced. Now, I no longer “needed” any refuge, including the hospital.
Key Points
▪ Your subconscious may be keeping you sick.
▪ You may get a flash or insight–or hypnosis can help you find out.
▪ Once you are aware of a subconscious belief that no longer serves you, you can make a choice to change.
▪ The choice must be accompanied by commitment. If you find yourself sliding into old patterns, recommit to change.
Be joyful, be grateful, live in peace,
Katherine Zimmerman
Clinical Hypnotherapist
Photo courtesy of Jay Castor from Unsplash.com