Healing the Pain of Id from the Inside Out

Pain and I are old acquaintances, so maybe I should call myself a self-proclaimed expert in understanding the root cause of my pain; and then try to do a good job of managing it. I have spent many years dealing with mental, emotional and physical pain. I can now safely say that I understand it better and know what to do to heal it. Also, I have an excellent support system!

As a psychologist and yogini, I am trained to understand and work with the Mind (our thoughts), the Heart (our feelings), and the physical Body (the Soma).
 

During my many years of self-study, with me being my primary guinea pig, and with my amazing clients allowing me the space to be the keeper of their stories, I have understood that physical pain and emotional pain are related to each other and the Mind plays a crucial role in this correlation. 
 

How, you ask? 

One of the first sutras in Maharishi Patanjali's Yoga Sutras expounds, "yoga is citta, vritti, nirodha". Yoga is the cessation of the mental fluctuations and of the vacillations of the mind. The Mind, as our great sage helps us understand, is where all that that is interesting happens. It is in the Mind that the first thoughts take birth, from the head it goes to the heart and from there it moves to the soma or the body. Most physical pain, I have come to realise, is usually unresolved thoughts and emotions. This is not to say that injury or accidents are part of it, they are different. Have you ever experienced pain in your body after an emotionally stressful incident, or, have you ever felt a headache come on after a fight with someone dear to you? Pain is usually an indication of something deeper, that is asking for attention. Why? Because we ignored it, we pushed it down, we did not deal with the mental and emotional content of it. 

How can we heal?
What supports your healing journey is re-establishing your Mind, Body & Heart connection. Use breathwork and healing affirmations (something as simple as "I am safe. I can release this pain now"). Use them well. Take some simple tender-loving-care time, which includes a simple but regular yoga practice,  for yourself. Re-establish your Mind, Body & Heart connection and heal yourself from the inside out. 

Namaste

Column by
Dr Meeta Sharma
meeta0805@gmail.com