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People are choosing a doctor of alternative medicine and enjoying the benefits of alternative medicine over traditional allopathic medicine. This is brought upon by the many cases of side effects that might as well do more harm than good. People are rediscovering the goodness of what is natural and chemical-free.

Knowing that these natural alternative medicines were used for centuries upon centuries already makes them more reliable than prescription drugs for many people. Doctor of alternative medicine can navigate for you what works for you and what does not work for you. Also, the fact that the list of benefits hugely overrates the harm, which rarely happens, gives a great reason to give it at least a try. Nothing is lost and everything is to be gained when we access the benefits of alternative medicine.

But who’s to say which is really best for us, regular or natural alternative medicines? Many or most of us generally rely on doctors to tell us what to do and which medicine to use. Well, this is the best choice, but seeking a second opinion may also be very recommendable especially if your doctor couldn’t or is having a hard time helping you. Doctor of alternative medicine can advise you on supplements, various natural health modalities, as well as various nutrients that can help you access the benefits of alternative medicine.

There are a lot of differences between regular prescription medicines and natural benefits of alternative medicines. But the main factor that drives people away is not only their price difference but also their effectiveness and the barrage of side effects. Natural alternative medicine has been proven and tested with age and time already.

Read Also: Learning to Soothe Mind, Body, and Spirit with Health and Wellness Tools

A doctor of alternative medicine is highly trained in the benefits of alternative medicine and can advise you on the various herbs, homeopaths, nutrients, etc that can help you with natural healthcare. Alternative medicine looks at the alternatives available for a specific medication. However, many people can use complementary medicine which is natural substances that can complement what they are currently doing. It is important to have a holistic view of the case and then are recommended

Aside from the herbs and spices and teas, natural alternative medicine can be coupled with massages, mental exercises such as meditation, aromatherapies and so much more. Many regular medicines have come and gone but natural alternative medicines have lived on. The main reason for this is because we know that they work. If you are looking for a Doctor of Alternative Medicine to help support you in the benefits of alternative medicine consider booking a consultation with our practice.

Summary:

People are seeking out a lot of doctor of alternative medicine as they ar feeling discouraged about side effects of many medications. This is brought upon by the many cases of side effects that might as well do more harm than good.  People are rediscovering the goodness of what is natural and chemical-free and the benefits of alternative medicine.

Though no records of such cases exist (this could be due to any number of reasons), it is possible that mankind has suffered from the problem that is depression for as long as there has been civilization to depress people. There have been herbal treatments and natural antidepressants for almost every condition known to man, with some of them actually being found to have a decent scientific basis for the lore. While recognizing depression as a problem and not merely sadness is a relatively modern phenomenon, that does not mean that the herbal lore of the ancients  or all natural antidepressant supplement does not exist or should be disregarded. As amazing as it might sound, it is possible to find an all natural antidepressant supplement in today’s market.

The most commonly suggested natural antidepressants would be St. John’s Wort, which has also been suggested as an herbal remedy for everything from constipation to muscle pain. According to medical science, the leaves contain a number of natural antidepressants or chemicals that often appear as base ingredients in a wide range of common depression medication. 

Typically, using this can have noticeable positive effects on mild depression in about two weeks. However, for more severe cases, the usual time frame is closer to around six months of regular use. St. John’s Wort should be taken with food, but taking it with alcohol should be avoided to minimize the chances of developing side effects. Note that this has been known to interact with other medications, so a pharmacist might also be consulted for more information.

Gingko-biloba has also been cited as a potential all natural antidepressant supplement, though there hasn’t been too much testing on this possibility. This particular substance has a number of components that boost the blood circulation to the brain. Since the symptom of depression can be caused by a lack of proper blood flow to the brain, the use of gingko-biloba as an all natural antidepressant supplement can be helpful in this regard. 

Read Also: Tips for Healing Yourself with Holistic Medicine

However, it should be noted that not all cases of depression are caused by a lack of proper blood circulation to the brain. In other words, this may not be the best treatment for every depressed individual, depending solely on what caused the depression in the first place. 

Gingko-biloba, according to some recent findings, can be successful in treating depression in 

cases where standard medication fails. This is an all natural antidepressant supplement. 

Valerian, which has long been known as an herb that can combat anxiety attacks, has also been linked to depression. Valerian is also an anti depressant supplement. Since anxiety and depression tend to be encountered in the same patients, Valerian has sometimes been used as a means of treating both conditions with just one herb. Valerian has also been used to treat insomnia, which is similar to anxiety in that both are medical conditions that are often closely linked to depression. Valerian works by releasing a number of compounds into the body that boost production of gamma-aminobutyric acid, which is an inhibitory chemical used by the central nervous system.

Gotu kola, an ayurvedic herb, has also been used as natural antidepressants. Among practitioners of ayurvedic medicine, in is known as brahmi. The dried stems, flowers, and leaves of this particular plant contain a host of components that can be useful for treating depression and anxiety, including asiatic acid and madecassic acid. It has also been known to help people 

improve their moods, as well as having benefits for memory and concentration.

These all natural antidepressants supplements may not be appropriate for you. It is important to speak with your doctor about current medications, as well as indications as to whether these supplements are appropriate for your case. This information is intended for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for medical or healthcare advice. 

Summary:

People have likely been fighting depression for as long as civilization has been around, though only recently has there been pharmaceutical ways to fight it. However, there are also a number of herbs and plants that can be used to help fight depression. Ginkgo-biloba, Valerian, and St.John’s Wort can all be used as a natural antidepressants, in lieu of modern medication.

If you’ve been listening to the healthcare community intermittently recently, you may have heard the word holistic dropped every so often. A holistic care approach is a very distinct practice that allopathic providers are not trained in specifically. You might have heard it, but you may not have much of an idea of what it means and simply dismissed it as  jargon. The term is used to describe an approach of medicine that does not focus on diagnosing and treating a problem, but spreads out to encompass all aspects of the patient. Essentially, the holistic approach hopes not only to improve physical health, but also to bring a balance between the body, mind, and spirit to improve health in the long-term. As such, the holistic care approach also touches upon aspects such as lifestyle and social interactions. This healthcare philosophy can be applied to everything from pain relief to muscle training, from physical training to social skills.

The philosophy itself is neither new, nor Western in origin. Traditional Chinese Medicine, along with the offshoot systems in Japan and Korea, as well as the Indian Ayur Veda system are both holistic care approach. Essentially, both systems focus on correcting the physical and mental imbalances that cause problems in both the body and mind. This stands in contrast to Western medicine, where problems are taken as separate considerations from the general state of the body. For example, while a Western doctor who abides by Western medical philosophy might recommend mild doses of Tramadol for pain relief, a TCM practitioner or someone who believes in the holistic approach might be more inclined to ask the patient about things like his emotions or personal problems. This is done because it is believed that the body’s negative responses can be reflective of imbalances of the mind or spirit.

The main focus of most holistic care approach in healthcare systems, regardless of their country of origin, is to return the body to a state of balance. The body is generally viewed as a combination of different parts and elements, which come together harmoniously when a person is in imperfect health. An imbalance occurs when one of those aspects becomes greater than the others, which in turn is attributed to the physical ailment that a patient suffers. For example, if part A and part B are in equal amounts, then they counter each other and are in balance. However, if there is too much part B, then it may cause pain in the joints or limbs. In such a case, the best way to bring about pain relief would be to restore the balance between part A and B, either by reducing part B to part A’s level, or making part A equal part B.

Read Also: Trauma Response, Childhood Trauma, and Your Doctors Check Ups

The term holistic care approach  has been used to describe a number of alternative systems of medicine and health, such as the aforementioned TCM and Ayur Veda. On occasion, it has also been used to describe more modern systems that focus on natural cures and treatments. In more recent times, some doctors with Western training are employing the holistic approach in their diagnostic and treatment procedures, which is an approach that is welcomed among Western medicine practitioners in the Far East. This combination of two philosophies once seen as conflicting is not quite common, but is reportedly starting to catch on in Korea, China, Taiwan, and Japan.

With a holistic care approach in the western world, we use the laboratory and scientific approaches of biochemistry, physiology, and assessing symptoms however we treat in a vary holistic manner. We look at all aspects of the person and then treat from various perspectives. We look at the environment the person is in, we look at the mental components of the person, emotional reactions, as well as physical impacts of the various components of the person. Everything is a clue and every clue relates to the why- the why we are looking to answer is how the person got to where they are in their health. In the holistic approach we look at the relationship that one aspect of the person has to another aspect.

Summary:

Fairly recently, the holistic approach to healthcare has been thrown around by the medical community, but only a few laymen have any understanding of what it is. The holistic approach can be found in ancient medical systems in the East, where medicine focuses more on the patient and is less concerned with the symptoms. The approach can be applied to a number of things, such as pain relief, sexual health, and muscle fitness.

Self improvement (or self help) wellness tools come in many shapes and sizes; sometimes it’s physical in nature (a self help book, having a massage, painting with water colors), or spiritual in nature (flower essences, Reiki, meditation which is both physical and spiritual, etc). This article will review some of the health and wellness tools for self help to self soothe.

Five of the best health and wellness tools for self help options that I’ve used successfully to help soothe my own mind, body and spirit, are:

1. Meditation techniques – a fabulous self help wellness tool which greatly benefits overall health and wellbeing.  There are many techniques to choose from such as:

• Visually guided meditations;
• Candle meditation;
• Breathing meditation;
• Crystal meditation;
• Writing meditation (alternating using dominant and non-dominant hand);
• Walking meditation; 
• Body scanning; and 
• A self healing meditation using either color; breathe work; aromatherapy; etc.

2. Painting with water colors, pastels or oil paints – express your uniqueness through art.  This is a wonderful self help health and wellness tools to employ for inner healing, letting go and for creating something new (a masterpiece for your lounge room wall).
3. Vibrational essences.  Part of ancient wisdom, vibrational essences are used in healing to assist with the removal of emotional blocks and patterns, as well as resolving issues from past lives. 

Essences are generally in liquid form and can also be used in creams, ointments and oils (I sometimes combine mine with an aromatherapy oil blend).  

Vibrational substances are derived from light (sun, moon etc), healing energy (universal or spiritual energy, prana, Reiki etc), plants (flowers, stems, leaf etc), mineral (crystals, gold etc), environmental (sacred places), or animal. 

Some examples of essences available (there are many) to explore further as health and wellness tools are:

Flower, Gem, Angel, Shell, Coral, Sea, Goddess, and Chakra essences

4. Journal writing is a fabulous self help health and wellness tools for healing connecting you with your true essence, your spiritual self.

Read Also: Tips for Healing Yourself with Holistic Medicine

Find yourself a special journal/diary to write in; something special to write with (can be brightly colored inks or the more traditional black, blue or reds) and make a date with yourself to do some journal writing every morning at the same time (before rising out of bed).

I’ve practiced journal writing as one of my health and wellness tools for many years and still find it, to this day, one of the greatest self help and self improvement tools around – and it costs nothing!  

Write out your worries, sadness, loneliness, or whatever is playing on your mind.  When you’ve done that write in your journal the excitement, enthusiasm and passion you intend to experience for the day ahead, the projects you’re working on, friends you’ll catch up with, food you’ll eat, possible miracles that might happen, shopping to be done, your work day etc. 

5. Have a massage.  Treat yourself to some bodywork like a Swedish massage.  Swedish is a more traditional or western soft tissue type of massage, however if you’re after something a little more unique for healing mind, body, and spirit you could choose:

Aromatherapy massage – there’s nothing quite like this one using essential oils for body, mind and spirit.

Ka Huna, LomiLomi – gentle, relaxing, soothing and stretching massage (even watching this massage is relaxing);

Reflexology – therapeutic hand and foot massage;

Reiki – hands on energy healing (aligns Chakras etc) 

Vichy Shower – warm water is directed over your body, gently massaging it (this is heavenly, especially after a salt scrub).

Acupressure – form of bodywork based on Chinese Meridian theory

Ayurvedic – part of a traditional detoxification and rejuvenation program of India called Panchakarma – vigorious massage with warm oils and herbs to remove toxins, is calming and balancing, and facilitates profound inner peace.

Hot stone massage – warm smooth stones are applied to the body and employed by the therapist’s hands.

A massage not listed that I experienced while ago was a form of Swedish massage.  I was given small smooth rocks to hold in either hand, at the end of the massage the therapist held my feet and ‘tuned’ me, which sounded like a clarinet going up and down the scales.  To say I felt relaxed and energised at the same time is an understatement.  It was amazing.  

I’ve road tested many health and wellness tools over the years; it’s been an amazing journey with the most profound assistance coming from spirit.  Sometimes good comes from being blinded by the light.

Summary:

Sometimes good comes from being blinded by the light

Self improvement (or self help) tools come in many shapes and sizes; sometimes it’s physical in nature (a self help book, having a massage, painting with water colors), or spiritual in nature (flower essences, Reiki, meditation which is both physical and spiritual, etc).

Do you know how to heal holistically at a center for holistic medicine? Or the purpose of doctors of natural medicine?  If you did, do you realize that you would be able to achieve the balance that nearly everyone wishes they had in their lives?  Do you know what you need to do for yourself in order to bring about this balance? Doctors of natural medicine teach people in a center for holistic medicine how to heal naturally. But they also teach people how to find their passion. 

Part of healing a person holistically is knowing what makes that person passionate.  Knowing what makes you, the person seeking care, is passionate will help you get in touch with your soul, to feel creative energy, to feel truly alive.  Spiritual or creative passion can help you to achieve those feelings.  Whether it’s through faith, music, or some other type of artistic expression, you must find what will awaken your soul in order to strike balance in your life.  

If you know what you are passionate about then you are more motivated to do other things i your life. Do not get me wrong passion is not everything. A person still must eat healthy, set boundaries, with people, and detox to be able to balance their health. 

Some ideas to keep in mind when looking at discovering purpose, passion, and awareness of their ability to heal is to journal. Our Doctors of natural medicine often provide people with journaling exercises to connect with themself. At our center for holistic medicine, we provide journal prompts such as the ones below. Here are some examples of journal prompts. 

 

• What are your goals for the future?  What would you like to ultimately achieve in your life?  Is it spiritual enlightenment?  Is it social status?  Or is it merely to be the best person you can be, and make a contribution to society?  What is important, though, is the process by which you attain your ultimate goal.  That is what will generate your passion and help you to determine. These are often questions that doctors of natural medicine ask their patience to determine your passion. 

 

• Try to focus on the positive, and do not dwell on the negative.  Recall your accomplishments and good deeds.  Doing this will help keep you positive, and keep your spirit up.  If you constantly remind yourself of your mistakes, you will find it harder to succeed down the road, and your mind, body, and soul will work against you. Learning to forgive self is often what can be done at a center for holistic medicine. 

 

• You’ve heard of finding your “happy place” right?  This form of meditation helps you take your mind and spirit to a comfortable place that fills you with happiness.  This is an ideal thing to do when you are in the middle of a stressful day at work or with the kids; it provides the perfect opportunity to regroup. Doctors of Natural Medicine teach the person many mental or emotional coping mechanisms that are designed to help people during stress.

 

• Spark a change.  Plan a vacation, even if it is just for a weekend.  Nothing does the body, mind, and soul better than a little change of scenery.  Go where you will be happy, and be able to let loose and have some fun.  Try it on your own.  It might sound scary, but you will be surprised at how relaxed and refreshed you will be after a weekend all to yourself! Sometimes people from out of town will visit our center for holistic medicine to enjoy some of our holistic modalities that help relax the stress mentally, as well as emotionally with biofeedback, brain training, vibroacoustics as an example. 

Read Also: Chronic Pain Causes May Have a Psychological Origin

• Try some daily affirmations.  Pick three things that you can say out loud in the mirror that will help you stay centered, positive, and focused.  Saying something often enough has the power to make it true for you.  Remember not to dwell on the negative, focus on the positive.  Three basic affirmations that you can work from include:

o “I am safe and secure.”

o “The Universe gives me everything that I need.”

o “My income will continue to increase.”

 

These affirmations are provided to our patients after biofeedback, to help people holistically. Holistic medicine looks at all aspects of the person. Physically, Environmentally, Mentally, Emotionally, Spiritually, as well as Ancestrally components of the person. Doctors of natural medicine are trained in nutrition, homeopathy, herbology, and various natural healthcare modalities. We find this is the best way to approach people that are looking for whole health healing. 

Summary:

Do you know what it takes to heal your body, mind, and soul?  If you did, do you realize that you would be able to achieve the balance that nearly everyone wishes they had in their lives?  Do you know what you need to do for yourself in order to bring about this balance?

Whether you are aware of it or not, you may be reacting to trauma in a physical way. If you are currently living with trauma you may be well aware of the trauma symptoms such as aches, pains, physical and emotional discomfort triggered by trauma. Some indicators include-

Disrupted sleep

Irritable stomach

Changes in eating

Anxious thoughts

and more. Even if you think you are coping well, you may not be.

Your Body is Talking to You about the Causes of Trauma and Trauma Symptoms

Much of what we feel in our bodies is feedback. Pain is an indicator that somethings wrong and needs to be addressed. It’s part of our bodies warning system helping us pay closer attention to what’s going on. Sometimes we are in tune with our bodies and sometimes we aren’t. When we take action, we generally find relief. If not, pain- both physical and emotional, can become chronic and we are none the wiser.

Some of the Causes of Trauma can be subtle of not so subtle. The trauma symptoms may be triggered from a single event, repetitive events, or complex different types of events. The event can be physical, mental, emotional, environmental, and relationship trauma.

Here are some trauma symptoms of the body may be trying to deal with trauma and steps to take.

You’ve gained or lost weight quickly- Our eating is often disrupted as a traumatic response from trauma symptoms. From eating too little or too much, we may be coping with trauma through our diet. Left unchecked this can lead to eating disorders including obesity, anorexia, binging and purging and more.

If you recognize that you are experiencing significant changes in your eating (or have a long history with disrupted eating) it’s a clue you may need support. Consult your healthcare provider and share your trauma history so they can help.

Read Also: Trauma Response, Childhood Trauma, and Your Doctors Check Ups

You sleep too much or not at all- Our sleep/wake cycle is more important than most people realize. Our bodies use our rest time to heal, rejuvenate, and prepare for daily life. From healing our cells to storing our memories, our bodies are working in wonderful ways as we sleep. A typical trauma response and trauma symptoms can present itself as insomnia or hypersomnia, both of which have significant consequences to our health.

If you are sleeping too much (hypersomnia) you may be experiencing depression or having another reaction to trauma symptoms. Little to no sleep (insomnia) may also be triggered by anxiety, intrusive, thoughts, and more. Meditation apps, structured bedtime routines, and cutting caffeine prior to bed can help. Your healthcare provider will also have options available but needs to know about any trauma that could be influencing your sleep.

Listen to your body and pay close attention to what it’s sharing. Subtle or acute changes may be an indication you are reacting to trauma. From sleeplessness following an accident or acute illness to life-long food addictions, your body is offering clues that you may need help to cope and overcome trauma.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The old adage encourages each of us to take action whenever possible to prevent illness, injury, or disease. It’s timeless advice that can keep us safe and healthy. Routine health checkups help our healthcare providers get a baseline of our health, including our physical and mental history, so they can monitor our care over time. Many allopathic doctors are not trained to assess your mental, as ell as emotional health from the impact of childhood trauma. Therefore they often are not aware of various trauma response. Holistic Doctors are trained in various aspects of the human to include mental, emotional, as well as physical impacts of trauma response.

 

Don’t Wait to be Asked about Childhood Trauma

Now more than ever, healthcare providers are tuning into mental health issues that present as physical illness based on trauma response. We’ve all completed paperwork reporting our health history including what illnesses, injuries, or familial histories might affect our health. Be sure to include any childhood trauma experiences in your history.
Don’t be afraid to share childhood trauma history with your holistic doctor, even if they don’t include it on their intake. Knowing about traumatic experiences you’ve dealt with can help them offer you preventative care as well as make better decisions about current treatments as well as helping the impact of trauma response on the body.

Some key trauma’s worth reporting include-

Accidents or acute illnesses

Abuse or neglect

Domestic violence

Victimizations

Significant losses

Familial histories of alcohol or drug abuse

Any of these or other childhood trauma can help your holistic doctor better understand what influences could be affecting your overall health.

 

Discuss Coping Skills with Your Holistic Doctor Too

Everyone deals with stress in their own way. Coping skills are conscious and subconscious strategies people use to manage difficult things. What causes trauma for one person may not affect another in the same way. Similarly, what one person does to cope, may look nothing like what someone else does. Reporting your typical coping skills to your holistic doctor can help them identify dangerous coping skills or connect the dots between your health and the coping skills you may engage in. For instance, drug, alcohol, or food are often used as coping skills for trauma response. That means addictions and obesity may be connected to childhood trauma and require a specific type of support.

Read Also: Emotional Trauma and the Connection with your Physical Health

Take a Team Approach to Your Health Care

Having a primary care physician is common, but you may need more providers on your team such as a holistic doctor. If you’ve experienced childhood trauma of any kind, singularly or repeated, you may benefit from including a holistic doctor on your team that has diverse training. Working with multiple types of providers can actually increase the quality of your care and oftentimes prevent manifestations of physical illness in your body.

Your history greatly impacts today and tomorrow. Be confident in sharing the past with your healthcare providers, even if you see yourself as a survivor and moved on. The truth is, what happened may affect your health and you deserve to be the healthiest version of yourself as possible. Help your health care provider connect the dots by giving them a full account of your physical and mental health history.

Traumatic experiences leave their mark on the mind and the body leaving a person feeling broken. Experiencing trauma, whether it’s one time, or repeatedly, changes how the brain reacts to stress. Our bodies produce hormones that help deal with temporary stress. Over production of these hormones can keep the body in a state of hypervigilance that results in aches and pains throughout the body which can be one of the chronic pain cause. Some, but not all pain could include-

• Muscle pain
• Digestive pain
• Chronic headaches
• PMS in women
• Joint pain

Studies linking chronic pain and trauma indicate that it’s possible that our bodies can react to single and repeated incidents of trauma long after the acuity or safety issues are gone. It is normal for someone to feel broken, with current aches and pains possibly may be rooted in past trauma.

Feeling Broken with Childhood Trauma and Chronic Pain Cause

The ACE, or Adverse Childhood Experiences, study was a partnership between the Centers for Disease Control and Keiser Permanente hospital to determine whether abuse, neglect, and loss during childhood could indicate risk factors for mental and physical illness in adulthood. The study identified categories of abuse, neglect, and loss and determined that the higher the number of traumatic experiences, the higher the likelihood of illness down the line. Data revealed an alarmingly high correlation between childhood trauma and a host of diseases, addictions, and illnesses including a link to chronic pain cause.

Read Also: How Does Isolation Effect Psychology of The Human Brain

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Chronic Pain Cause

Many people think of veterans when they hear the term post-traumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSD, but military personnel are not the only ones who experience this disorder. PTSD occurs in people who have difficulty recovering from a traumatic, terrifying, or life-threatening event who often have a feeling broken. PTSD affects all races, genders, and age groups. Moreover, PTSD can lead to chronic issues including nightmares, intrusive thoughts or memories, isolating behaviors, depression and much more. Chronic pain cause is often associate with PTSD resulting from tension, over production of stress hormones, and other factors.

 

Your Chronic Pain Cause My be Originating from your Feeling Broken

Over 50 million people per year live with chronic pain. Most of them seek relief from their medical provider who is focused on their bodies. As a matter of fact, being told a pain is all in your head is considered an insult, but it’s possibly true. More and more physicians are looking beyond the possible physical triggers for pain and including the psychological origins too including feeling broken. If you have experienced trauma, even if it was long ago, you may be reacting physically to something psychological. We are able to help support you in your trauma, and help to balance the mental, physical, as well as emotional stress.

Have you ever been scared, worried, or looking back on something in the past and started to feel queasy or worse, have to head for the bathroom? It’s amazing how our bodies can be triggered by our thoughts isn’t it? Research shows that four out of ten people suffer from some sort of gastrointestinal issues including everything from lactose intolerance, to IBS. Anxiety and digestive issues are commonly linked. If a person has stress and digestive issues, they will often suffer from anxiety.

Your Anxiety and Digestive Issues May be Caused by What You’re Eating

Everyone experiences digestive issues from time to time. Eating the wrong thing can cause momentary distress and for some, allergies can cause chronic illnesses that must be managed for a lifetime. Some of the common digestive disorders include

Gastroesophageal reflux or GERD

Chronic Diarrhea

Chronic Constipation

Gastroenteritis

Ulcers

 

Over 73,000 people seek attention from their physician every year to manage these and other digestive issues. For many, changing their diet can reduce or eliminate the symptoms or presence of certain diseases, but what happens when diet changes don’t help? Often times unfortunately stress and digestive issues are often interrelated as people who experience stress either eat unhealthy things or they stop eating which can slow their metabolism.

Your Stress and Digestive Issues May NOT be Caused by What You’re Eating

People who have suffered, or are living with trauma, often experience the same digestive issues, but their diet isn’t the culprit. That’s because some physical issues aren’t the result of a medical condition. They may be caused by tension in the body. Most often, the gut.

Our gut and our brain are connected. The gut includes the mouth, esophagus, stomach and intestines. When we are nervous, upset, or experiencing stress, our digestive system is often triggered by the brain and begins to experience dis-ease. This can be as mild as feeling sick to our stomach or as intense as cramping. Over time, it can also lead to a host of digestive illnesses. When a person has anxiety and digestive system we often have to deconstruct the stress as well as previous traumas that the person may have experienced. As these can be clues as to how a person copes with trauma as well as stress.

Read Also: Whats a Holistic Doctor and Why Do You Choose Them

You Can Help Tame Your Stress and Digestive Issues By Using these Tips

If you have no medical reason for digestive issues it may mean your body is reacting to stress and trauma. The good news is there are many things you can do within your control that tame your digestive system. Try these out-

Use Your Breath: Breathing is a powerful way to regulate your mind and body. You can help relax your mind and nervous system and allow your body to settle through deep breathing. You can accomplish this by taking a walk, lying down and meditating, or closing your eyes for a few minutes which can help with stress and digestive issues.

Change the Scenery: One of the easiest ways to disrupt nervousness is to change the scenery. If you are inside, get outside. If you are in the car, stop and take a brisk walk. Breaking up the scenery can help distract the mind and the body’s reaction to traumatic thoughts. This can allow for the mind and the body to rest.

Choose Foods Wisely: Even if there is no medical explanation for your stress and digestive issues, what you eat still matters. Choosing healthy foods that promote gut health is an extra layer of protection against pain and upset. Eat a fiber rich diet with plenty of hydrating fruits and vegetables for a stable gut.

Anxiety and digestion issues are incredibly common and it’s possible you are suffering because of what you eat, or it could be what’s eating you. Recognizing the role trauma plays in our bodies can help reduce many digestive issues you may have thought were medical. If you would like to determine the root causes of trauma please reach out to our practice.

Emotional Trauma is the emotional response resulting from incomprehensible experiences based on various types of trauma. Suffering an attack, surviving an accident, or experiencing a natural disaster isn’t something everyone goes through. It’s not normal or natural to face these types of experiences. When we do, our brains and bodies remain impacted from emotional trauma. What we see, feel, and experience has a direct impact on our minds and our bodies which means trauma and health are very connected.

Three Types of Trauma

Trauma isn’t limited to a one-off event or accident. There are three main types of trauma.

1. Acute
2. Chronic
3. Complex

 

Acute trauma: This type of trauma comes from a single incident that is often out of the blue and not typical for the environment. It can include witnessing a trauma, experiencing a trauma, or surviving an accident or illness. The emotional trauma attached to this is shock, grief, denial, and more.

 

Chronic trauma: This type of trauma is repeated over time and includes issues like domestic violence, homelessness, and other prolonged exposure to dysfunction. This can create more complexity in emotional trauma such as stress, fear responses, uncertainty.

 

Complex trauma: This represents someone exposed to a variety of traumas including multiple traumatic experiences as well as prolonged traumas combined. This emotional trauma is the most complex as it involves many layers of emotions such as anger, rage, fear, powerlessness, victimhood, snd more.

 

The Body Keeps the Score

Author Bessel Van Der Kolk, MD published the popular book The Body Keeps the Score illustrating how trauma impacts the body and causes a wide variety of mental and physical problems as well as emotional trauma.

Our bodies are designed to withstand emotional trauma. Our brains are specially hardwired to kick into gear when we face a traumatic experience. Moreover, our brains secrete hormones and send signals to our nervous system that help us act in the face of a threat and keep ourselves safe. But the experiences imprint on our mind too and can cause immediate and long-term issues, including-

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Anxiety and other mental health disorders
• Digestive issues and autoimmune diseases
• Increased risk for stroke or heart attack

 

You May Not Be Aware of the Impact of the Types of Trauma Has on Your Body

Sometimes a traumatic situation will immediately trigger a response in your body. Witnessing a tragedy or experiencing something traumatic can cause upset stomach, headache, or any number of other symptoms. Other times, your body may protect itself in the moment and seem to disregard what’s happened only to react later on when you may not make the connection. Either way, your body is keenly aware of what’s going on and has a conscious or subconscious reaction. The body is responding to emotional trauma.

People living with chronic or complex trauma may have normalized the sensations in their bodies. And have no awareness of the connection between their illnesses, diseases, or poor health and trauma.

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It’s Time to Connect the Dots

If you haven’t given much thought to your health and how it may be impacted by trauma, it’s time to connect the dots. Taking a look at your personal history and comparing it with your medical history can be eye-opening. Once you recognize a potential connection between your physical health and any emotional trauma you may have experienced (or are experiencing) you can begin to take a holistic approach to healing by looking at all aspects of health and healing to include mental, emotional, and even physical ramifications surrounding your health.