PlanetLightworker - January 2008

Metaphysical 'Cures' For What Ails Us
Why Do We Feel Sick All The Time?
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B Y S T E V E N E. H O D E S, M. D.

MANY OF US SUFFER from the "I feel sick syndrome."

We are not truly "ill," in the sense that we do not have a significant malfunction of an organ or organ system that can be readily diagnosed by traditional contemporary medical testing. But we certainly experience bouts of discomfort, pain or distress - in other words, we just don't feel right - we just feel sick!

And we often feel it physically - in particular parts of our bodies - our heads, our backs and joints, our chest, our abdomens. We experience pain, discomfort, heaviness and a variety of other vaguely abnormal sensations which seem to either focus in on one part of our bodies, or in an overall sense of general discontent and 'dis-ease'.

We feel it emotionally as well - blues and blahs, anxiety, fatigue, frustration, unhappiness, lack of focus, lack of strength, lack of appetite, sleep, sex drive - an absence of enthusiasm, of motivation, of joie de vivre. From a spiritual perspective, it may be experienced as a sense emptiness, confusion, lack of direction and focus, an absence of meaning and also, a loss of faith. I am not referring to a loss of faith in a Divine Being but in oneself and the reason for being here on earth.

But rest assured, we are not alone. We are in the midst of an epidemic of feeling sick - one that has metaphysical implications, one that involves our body, mind and soul.

Have we become a nation of hypochondriacs? No! Not really. Our confusion is real. Our discomfort is real. Our pains and insomnia are real. We are not faking, or deluding ourselves or others. The ache in our heart and soul is palpable. We are suffering from a sense of detachment and discontinuity from our whole being - from the body/mind/soul.

We are in need of 'healing' in its true sense and meaning - to make 'whole' because it is this fragmented sense of self which is responsible for our feeling sick. The first step towards reclaiming health is to change our approach and understanding of what we mean by 'feeling sick'. By reclaiming our inner metaphysician, we can assist in our own healing.

Some Metaphysical 'Cures'
We should approach a sense of feeling sick by addressing issues of body, mind and spirit - simultaneously. The first step is to consult a physician and rule out any predominantly physical illnesses. This is crucial because there is a danger in assuming we automatically know which aspect of our being is dysfunctional. Also be aware that emotional distress can lead to physically disorders that can be addressed and corrected. But do not hesitate to simultaneously explore the mind and spiritual aspects of our being.

Taking a metaphysical approach can be the source of great healing.

Examine our attitudes. How we 'feel' about how we 'feel' is crucial. The way we interpret the inevitable ups and downs that come with living makes an enormous difference. If we see ourselves as strictly physical beings composed of a conglomerate of organ systems, we will be constantly rattled by the daily changes in how we experience our physical bodies. If we understand that we are essentially spiritual beings having a physical experience, we can stand back and observe the imperfections of our bodies as inherent in the nature of being. The emotional roller coaster of our lives will manifest itself through physical symptoms sometimes. Not that we should ignore them, but we can adopt a mindful approach to our physical complaints. We can observe them, acknowledge them and explore them, unaccompanied by panic and anxiety. Such an approach will enable us to calmly work through the physical and emotional factors which contributed to their manifestation. Don't be surprised if this attitude leads to a significant reduction in the very symptoms which concerned us in the first place.

Welcome the lesson of the blahs. It is easy to be irritated, annoyed and sometimes totally exhausted by the challenges life. But from a spiritual perspective we are not victims of the chaos of existence. Sickness, in fact, offers us opportunities to evolve by facing and overcoming its challenges. Feeling sick can be a clue that change is needed in our attitudes, relationships, careers - or our general approach to living. Life is imperfect, and illness will touch us all in some way eventually. Accept the truth that pain is part of living, while suffering ultimately depends upon how we perceive and interpret that pain.

Let our karma run over our dogma. Getting stuck in myths and belief systems that perpetuate guilt, fear and restrictive thinking will not empower us toward health.

Whether or not we believe that physical death is the end of existence or that we possess a spiritual dimension which continues afterwards will impact on our attitude about health and disease as well. Our souls incarnate in order to evolve and grow. Pay attention to what your feelings are telling us. Blues and blahs and feeling bad might be a cue to clean up some of our karma.

Redefine what feeling sick is all about. Our emotional states often heighten our awareness of discomfort, at times exaggerating them. This often sets us up for a vicious cycle in which symptoms causes fear and anxiety which heighten our sensitivity to discomfort and further increases symptoms. Our attitude will impact powerfully on subsequent symptoms. If we are the kind of person who immediately believes the worst, rushes to a physician to undergo extensive testing, and catastrophizes a horrendous condition, we are more likely to drown in our own fear and magnify our feeling of being sick. If we tend to secretly seek attention from others by playing the 'sick' role to its fullest, we will become the "sick person" in real life. Besides, this plea for attention will often backfire as people around us will feel exhausted and drained by our demands. Don't become an energy vampire!

Learn to accept that which cannot be altered. We've heard it in the Serenity Prayer: "Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." How we 'manage imperfection' in our lives reflects upon our maturity and spiritual evolution. We are impermanent beings living in an impermanent world. Death is an unavoidable consequence of living for all of us. When we accept this metaphysical truth we can surrender to the flow of life and become healed even in the face of death.

Take a vacation from illness, emotions, and negative thoughts. Go on a literal vacation and use it to heal, or find a way to tap into serenity wherever you are,But even within the heart of a city we can escape the chaos that constantly bombards us by finding a favorite park, a stream, water fountain or even a tree or garden. Connect to the sacred space within by taking time out to reflect, breathe , and meditate as a way to find peace and solace anywhere. Step back from the 24hour bombardment of media:print, TV, internet, which relishes violence, hatred and negativity. Seek the place of tranquility in the eye of the storm of existence.

Get enough sleep. A huge factor in the malaise of modern living is that we simply do not get enough sleep or rest. We are chronically fatigued. Our minds are going a mile per minute and we can gel lost in the unending chatter within. A good night sleep can heal many ills. Even a short 'power nap' will offer tremendous healing. Sleep is the body/mind/spirit's way of 're-booting'.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Steven E. Hodes, M.D. author of Meta-Physician on Call for Better Health: Metaphysics and Medicine for Mind, Body, and Spirit (Praeger Publishers, 2007), is a board certified, traditionally trained physician with a metaphysical point of view about healing. He has been in private practice for almost 30 years and also devotes himself to teaching, lecturing, and sharing his wisdom on the connections between metaphysics, medicine, and healing. Find out more at www.meta-md.com.