What pushes you out of balance?
The connected body
When we get symptoms, we often focus on our bodies and forget about what's around us.
But in reality, our bodies are part of bigger systems. We are connected to the places we spend time and the people we spend time with.
Our surroundings might push the body out of balance, but they can also help the body heal.
A healing environment needs to provide some basic things. We need nutritious food, clean air, safety, shelter, and spaces where we can be active and rest.
Since we’re social creatures, we also need positive and safe relationships with other people and have meaningful things to do.
Symptoms often make us feel alone and disconnected. But it is a good idea to reach out and ask for help. It is easier to make changes with the help of others.
Explore interactions
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The microbiome.
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Symptoms and the internet.
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Co-regulation.
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Myofascial body armour.
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Approaches to discomfort.
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Change and uncertainty.
Tending to connections
You can think of your life world like a garden. You can tend to your different connections and watch them grow or prune them back. What needs watering and what needs digging up? Where can you make space to plant new seeds?
Why?
When looking for ways to feel better, it is always worth looking around.
Symptoms can draw you into a struggle with your body. When we have symptoms, we might only blame our bodies or minds.
This can lead you to overlook things around you that may be keeping you unwell, or resources that could help you heal.
We heal best when we are connected in supportive ways.
Working on the balance in your surroundings and relationships can be the key step to get the body back into balance.
Try asking the following questions:
Look around
- Is there anything in your environment that pushes your body out of balance?
- Do you have healthy connections with food, with work, with technology and with nature?
- What change in your surroundings could help the body recover or heal?
Reach out
- What will help you tune in and re-connect with healing resources around you?
- Could switching off technology give you more time to feel calm and recharge?
- Can you spend more time in places by water, or where it is green?
- Are there any groups you could join in your local community?
- Do you need a different approach in your relationships or with healthcare?
Support
When navigating healthcare with functional symptoms, it is necessary to have good relationships with your healthcare team. For many reasons, this is not always easy. Difficulties with trust or communication can lead to anxiety, unnecessary investigations, inappropriate treatment, or that you avoid medical care when you need it.
Psychotherapy or group therapy can be helpful in working on problems with connecting with others, including if you have unhelpful patterns around trust, shame or boundaries. For some people it might be important to invite your partners or relatives to join therapy sessions. You can speak to your therapist if you feel this might be helpful.
Your healthcare team might also be able to help you get involved in activities in your local area. Examples include volunteering, arts activities, group learning, gardening, befriending, cookery, cooking classes or sports. This is sometimes called a social, or nature, prescription.
