Body Pains/Aches

October 1, 2024

I was a bit upset last week when a friend messaged to apologise for going black on me for longer than normal. The complexities of losing all their data when migrating to a new mobile together with a health scare – chest pains which made them go into hospital. I was pleased to hear that nothing untoward was found and he was allowed to go home, but a reminder to us all not to leave certain pains in our body go unchecked by our GP.

Even then if you still don’t feel things are right (listen to your gut), you should go back and ask to be sent for tests. I say this because someone I spoke to last week had been told there was nothing wrong, whereas in fact he had a cancerous growth in his bowel; if he had left it a couple more months, then the treatment would have been palliative rather than setting him into remission.

However, if all the necessary medical tests have not shown anything that requires further follow up, then it may be that your body is showing signs of emotions. For example, a sudden boost of adreline can cause stress cardiomyopathy: the heart arteries narrow temporarily mimicking a heart attack. I’ve also found this study which has linked how we are feeling to sensations in a particular area or area(s) of our body:

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1321664111

I know someone who has small water filled blisters that form in the palms of their hands when stressed, which of course was exacerbated during Covid times when we were all washing our hands far more than normal. I know I will hyperventilate when I am wound up which can lead to my chest tightening; i used to reach for my inhalor, but now find that spending a couple of minutes doing slow breathing will help to ease the sensations.

The notion that some psychologists are now looking at encouraging people to focus on adjusting/reducing the physical sensation to see if this helps with the emotional one; early indications show that this could be possible.

Have you experienced anything similar?