The prefix “psyche” has to do with the mind. The term “somatic” has to do with the body and our physical sensations. When we combine the two, we come up with the term “psychosomatic.” And we use the word “psychosomatic” in our society in terms of our physical health.
We’ve all heard about “psychosomatic illness.” We know that when a doctor says that the cause of an illness is “psychosomatic” that they mean there is no “medical” reason for the illness. The term “psychosomatic” has gained a very derogatory meaning in our culture, because if an illness has no “medical basis” then it must be “all in your head.” And, we all know what it means if something is “all in your head,” right? I won’t even say it, since we all know what that is supposed to mean!
Psychosomatic “illness” implies that there is “no good reason” for us to be ill. It parses us up and suggests that we are not a whole being.
All illness can be considered psychosomatic
The fact is, that ALL body illness can be traced to the mind. The truth is that even when a doctor finds a “medical” reason for an illness, it is still PSYCHOSOMATIC! Our thoughts and our emotions absolutely contribute to our physical state. More and more we are finding out that such illnesses as cancer and even the common cold have components that have to do with our state of mind. And it if you really stop and think about it, auto-immune disorders (where the body attacks itself) almost surely have to do with our emotional state and our unconscious thoughts that come from our subconscious minds.
Understanding that our minds and our bodies are not separate entities is the first leap to understanding psychosomatic wellness. When we understand that we do not have a mind AND a body, but rather a mindbody, we can see how our thoughts (conscious and unconscious) can influence our state of health.
Achieving mindbody wellness
By healing our minds, our emotional state, and changing our patterns of thought, we can change our physical being as well. So rather than talk about this
concept in negative terms, “psychosomatic illness,” we prefer to look at how we can achieve psychosomatic WELLNESS. Just as when we are more physically fit and healthy, we are more mentally fit and healthy, when we heal our minds, our bodies just naturally follow! That is because they are not separate! Psychosomatic Wellness is all about the health and wellness of our entire mindbody.
Psychosomatic WELLNESS encourages us to balance our mindbody and to create harmony and peace within ourselves and to live more wholly. Psychosomatic WELLNESS is a way of life! And anyone can achieve it!
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