When we are disappointed in this world, people can become ill. It’s a difficult truth to confront, but our negative emotions affect our health; the stronger they are, the more powerful their impact. Our immune system, designed to be our greatest defender, has the complex job of finding and neutralizing threats. But what happens when the threat is our own emotional state? So much is said about psychosomatics these days, and it’s a phenomenon that demands our attention. Let's explore how our inner world of emotion can shape our physical reality, particularly in the realm of autoimmune diseases.

The English neurophysiologist Charles Sherrington outlined a sequence that is fundamental to our existence: first, an emotion arises, and then, changes follow in the physical body. An emotion is a mental process, a subjective reaction to a situation. These reactions differ in intensity, and the more potent the emotion, the greater its influence on our physical well-being. Our response to the world is born in the central nervous system. Signals from our senses travel to the brain, which then forms a set of commands to help us navigate our reality.

The Language of the Body: How Emotions Speak Through Us

When we fail to process our feelings, our body often begins to speak for us, sometimes in a language of pain and disease.

Unchecked aggression can disrupt the delicate balance of the gastrointestinal tract and may provoke headaches or hypertension. Jealousy, a potent cocktail of fear and anger, can lead to digestive disorders, insomnia, and persistent headaches. Fear itself is deeply connected to the heart, capable of causing palpitations and anxiety. In chronic states, it can also be linked to respiratory issues and even problems with our kidneys.

Anxiety, a constant state of low-grade fear about the future, often targets the stomach and spleen, affecting blood circulation. Hatred, a corrosive emotion, is thought to create physiological stress that can contribute to conditions affecting the liver and stomach. Even a sudden burst of anger can put a strain on the heart and liver, while long-held malice can cloud our logical abilities and heighten the risk of vascular diseases. Grief, in its profound sadness, can weaken the lungs, leaving us with a sense of fatigue and difficulty breathing.

From a physiological standpoint, this all makes sense. An insult can trigger aggression, reinforced by the hormone norepinephrine. A sense of danger unleashes fear, fueled by adrenaline. These are ancient survival mechanisms. But when they become chronic states, the body begins to pay the price. Early warning signs can include headaches with neck pain, tinnitus, fainting spells, shortness of breath, or burning pains in muscles and joints—all signals that our internal world is in turmoil.

When the Guardian Becomes the Attacker: The Autoimmune Conflict

The immune system is a powerful weapon designed to seek and destroy harmful invaders. But in an autoimmune disease, this system malfunctions. It begins to perceive the body's own healthy tissues as foreign and launches an attack against them. While doctors point to factors like stress, poor nutrition, and environmental pollutants, there is a profound connection between autoimmune conditions and our emotional state.

At its core, an autoimmune disease can be seen as a kind of internal conflict. This conflict may have roots in early childhood, where a child might have been caught in the crossfire between parents, blurring the lines between “self” and “other.” This can create a lifelong feeling of alienation. A person with an autoimmune condition often embodies this internal war. They can be categorical and principled, seeing the world in stark terms—black and white, with no shades of gray. Patience and loyalty may not come easily to them because their internal world is one of rigid rules and defenses.

Anxiety, in particular, weakens the immune system, making anxious people more susceptible to illness. It’s a state of constant tension, a belief that everything must be under our control. This perpetual state of alert exhausts our defenses, leaving us vulnerable.

Portraits of an Internal War

Let’s look at a few specific autoimmune diseases through this psychosomatic lens.

• Multiple Sclerosis (MS), which affects the brain and spinal cord, has been linked by some psychologists to deep-seated anger, aggression, and a harshness that blocks out softer, more positive feelings. It's as if the body is attacking its own nervous system because the emotional system is in a state of constant, unresolved conflict.
• Lupus, which attacks the body's connective tissue, is sometimes viewed as a signal of deep resignation. It may manifest in someone who has given up, who lacks inner strength, and does not believe they are worthy of love or respect.
• Hyperthyroidism is sometimes seen as the result of living an inauthentic life, driven by envy for a reality that isn't one's own. Such a person may constantly seek approval, haunted by a feeling of guilt for not being true to themselves. This guilt breeds other negative emotions, creating a daily reality of inner turmoil.
• Rheumatoid Arthritis, a disease of the joints, can be seen as the physical manifestation of being under immense pressure from public opinion or an authoritative figure. Those who suffer from it often report feeling emotionally numb, describing an emptiness inside and a lack of vitality, as if their very flexibility has been crippled.

Reclaiming Your Health: A Path to Inner Peace

How can someone caught in this cycle find a way out? The path forward is one of self-awareness and courageous action.

First, you must recognize the desire to make your life better. Then, the difficult work begins: trying to find the true cause of your psycho-emotional state. This requires admitting that you might need help and developing the strength to accept it. Acknowledge the cause of the illness without falling into the destructive trap of guilt. What is done is done; feeding your anxiety with thoughts of what might have been will only drain your energy.

The next step is to find an outlet for your emotions. This doesn't have to be dramatic. It can be as simple as taking a trip, finding a new hobby, or creating a new environment for yourself. Action is key.

Ultimately, the most crucial step is to sincerely and wholeheartedly accept and love yourself. Fill yourself with good and positive emotions. It is possible, and necessary, to learn how to control your emotional state. Activities like sports, art therapy, music, or any creative passion can help. But this work can only begin after you have honestly sorted through your own thoughts and feelings.

By understanding the link between our emotions, our bodies, and our psyche, we can start to heal. Good luck in everything. Believe in this world, be grateful, and enjoy life. Live here and now.

References

• Maté, Gabor. (2003). When the Body Says No: The Cost of Hidden Stress. Alfred A. Knopf Canada. This book explores the profound connections between chronic stress, emotional repression, and the onset of a range of chronic illnesses, including autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Dr. Maté uses patient stories and medical research to argue that illnesses are often the body's way of speaking a truth the conscious mind cannot express. The discussions on the "cancer personality" and the emotional patterns behind autoimmune conditions are particularly relevant to the article's themes. (See Chapters 15-18 for specific case studies on ALS, MS, and Arthritis).
• Pert, Candace B. (1997). Molecules of Emotion: The Science Behind Mind-Body Medicine. Scribner. Neuroscientist Candace Pert provides the scientific foundation for the mind-body connection discussed in the article. She explains how neuropeptides and their receptors act as the "molecules of emotion," forming a dynamic information network that links our brain, glands, and immune system. Her work demonstrates that emotions are not just in our heads but are tangible, biological phenomena that directly influence our health and susceptibility to disease. (See Part I for the foundational science on the chemical communicators of emotion).