Our bodies have physical memories, systematically organized in our tissues and our organs; a record of something that has happened and affected us in ways we may never have completely grasped or grappled with. They linger in the deep recesses of our brain but are also sequestered in our bodies.
How do we know that memories exist in the body? We might have a hard time believing that every part of the body is associated with its own specific emotions. But there is support to demonstrate that the body is the repository of actual physicalized memories of events and emotions that have happened to us and continue to affect us in the present.
Do you get a headache whenever a certain person approaches you? A stomach-ache when you have to visit your family? Anxious at the thought of having to go to the dentist?
There is no doubt that emotions have physical manifestations. You FEEL fear, anxiety, pain, joy...
Let's say one day you go for a lovely walk down a country road. Your feet crunching on the gravel. The smell of lilacs in the air and the breeze against your arms and face. You're feeling strong, carefree, when suddenly a dog rushes out of the bushes snarling and baring his fangs. You panic and run. That evening when asked how your day was you don't mention the incident. In a sense, you've already begun to forget it because it was unpleasant and frightening and something you don't want to confront again - so it is not laid down in your verbal memory but rather it stays in your body memory. What you have done is to dissociate it from your consciousness and isolate it as painful and unacceptable. This is what we do with trauma.
By doing this we will experience consequences in our emotional state, our physical state or the state of our organs and tissues.
The body is divided into 7 emotional centres and each of these encompasses a particular group of organs and is associated with a given set of emotions.
The first emotional centre contains memories that are located in the blood and bones, the immune system, the spine and the hips. Emotions stored in this centre have to do with issues related to your family; your physical safety, security and support in the world; and to helplessness and hopelessness.
Have you experienced any physical issues in this area?
Our emotional centres contain contrasting sets of emotions, the powers and vulnerabilities which we must balance for best health. When an imbalance occurs, our intuition knows it and it speaks to us through our bodies in illness.
Which side do you fall on? Balance between both is key.
First Emotional Centre - Power: Sense of self, independence, self-sufficiency, fearlessness, trust
First Emotional Centre - Vulnerability: Sense of belonging, dependence, helplessness, fearfulness, mistrust
Ask yourself if any of these cliches ring true and see what side you tend to fall on - again, remember one isn't better than the other, but rather that we are seeking balance.
1) "That's okay, I'll do it myself" (independence)
2) "No one's ever there for me" (poor sense of belonging)
3) "If you want something done right, do it yourself" (self-sufficiency)
4) "The world is a dangerous place" (fearfulness)
5) "You can't trust anyone but yourself" (mistrust)
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