Have you seen the movie, “What the Bleep” (2004)? This movie examines how our thoughts elicit a physiological response and how our emotions determine our biochemistry.
In this movie, the main character is able to change her distorted perceptions and physiology. With successive steps, she is able to progress toward a serene, optimistic physical state that was largely reflected at a cellular level. By the end of the movie, she is able to overcome addictions and past injuries.
While there are many compelling ideas raised, in particular this movie discusses the integral role emotions play in our well being and its activation of our limbic system (which is responsible for our emotions, memory formation and autonomic nervous system). This movie highlights the science of our neural networks, which assembles peptides that match daily experiences with emotional state. The reference that “nerve cells that fire together, wire together” speaks to the idea that our experiences are affected by our emotional experiences. This comments on how emotional suppression is something we learn in early childhood. While emotional suppression may sometimes serve a useful purpose, over the course of a lifetime this can cause serious damage to our bodies and minds.
Maybe it is time we increase our awareness of how our emotions impact our physiology, and in turn our biopsychosocial health and wellness and ultimately undermines the healthy function of the body and mind.
It is necessary that we understand the role our thoughts, attitudes and emotions play in reclaiming health. Ask how we can help you get started, today!
Dr. J. Ancheta Goguen, BSc (Hons), ND 