This has gone on for way too long…
The pain you’re experiencing doesn’t make sense. You’ve done everything you’re supposed to and can’t shake it. But the thought “I’m sick and tired of feeling sick and tired” plays in your head on a loop.
After going to your doctor, you still don’t know the root cause of your pain – which leaves you feeling confused and frustrated. You know there’s something wrong, but what?
Unfortunately, modern medicine tends to focus on our physical pain and symptoms. It often disregards the other interconnected layers (mental, emotional, and spiritual) within us. But the root cause of our pain and illness could reside on these other levels.
As a spiritual counselor who’s worked with hundreds of clients, I’ve seen people discover the source of their pain in unexpected places. This brings my clients so much joy because they finally have the answers they’ve been searching for.
It’s something you can uncover, too. And the first step is understanding how the term “root causes” relates to your healing journey.
What Does “Root Causes” Mean?
In healthcare, the term “root causes” refers to the core issue of a problem. It’s the source of your symptoms causing pain or discomfort.
For example, a queasy stomach is a symptom that causes discomfort in your body. When you describe this symptom to your doctor, they’ll search for the source, or root cause, of your nausea – which could be a physical illness like the flu or emotional distress like anxiety.
While this seems like a straightforward concept, many healthcare professionals don’t look beyond the physical level for the source of your pain or illness. They might ignore your mental, emotional, or spiritual state – wrongly assuming the root cause of your symptoms is purely physical.
But pain, illness, or trauma can reside in the other layers of our being.
Root Causes in Other Parts of Your Being
As I explain to my clients, there are four layers or levels within each of us: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. These layers are connected like the rungs of a ladder. So what happens on one rung can move up (or down) the “ladder” and affect the other “rungs.”
This concept is also supported by science. Studies show that our brains process emotional and physical pain in the same part of the brain.¹ Getting a headache or being socially rejected by your peers activates the same neural pathways – our brains can’t tell the difference between the two.
So when you experience the symptoms of pain or illness on one level (like the physical), the root cause of it could be located on another level (like the spiritual).
An Example of How Root Causes Occur on Other Levels
The father of one of my clients passed away recently. She was incredibly close to him and extremely upset at his passing.
After giving the eulogy, my client left the podium, and something strange happened: her lower back seized up, her muscles clenched and spasmed, and tingles ran up and down her spine.
Startled by these strange symptoms, she didn’t know what they meant. So we talked about it at her next session. After a few minutes, she told me, “I think that’s where all my grief and sadness lives,” – and I couldn’t agree more.
Even though she experienced physical pain in her back, the root cause of that pain lives in her emotional (and probably spiritual) levels. It simply manifested as a tangible symptom she could experience.
Since she discovered the root cause of her pain – her grief over her father’s passing – she can now address the root cause of this in our sessions together. (Instead of popping a pill for back spasms and ignoring her sadness.)
This is the perfect example of the strength and connection between our bodies, minds, spirits, and emotions – but many of us only look for answers in our bodies.
Why Do We Focus Only on the Physical?
When it comes to dealing with illness or pain, many of us search for the root cause in our body or physical self. We often ignore the idea that the source of our pain could be a mental, emotional, or spiritual wound.
Why? Because of how the modern healthcare system is structured and our training within this system:
- Western medicine ignores the mind-body-spirit-emotion connection – Many doctors specialize and focus on healing one part of the body. They often ignore the connections within our physical selves and search for ways to “fix” that one part. This means they address your symptoms but don’t uncover the root cause of the issue.
- The healthcare system encourages you to take a passive role in your healing journey – It’s a common belief that “doctors know best.” So you trust that your doctors have the answers and can discover the root causes of your illness or pain. This type of dependent thinking means you won’t question their methods or solutions, even if those solutions ignore your mental, emotional, or spiritual circumstances.
- Society trains you to follow a structured way of healing – When you experience illness or pain, you follow specific steps to “fix” your problem and get medical attention. You go to the doctor or hospital, describe your symptoms, get a diagnosis, and receive a prescription or medicine to take. Once you feel better, you assume the problem is “fixed” – and ignore any mental, emotional, or spiritual distress that could have caused it.
- Many people find it easier to deal with tangible symptoms than intangible ones – When you experience pain or illness, it’s common to feel a variety of tangible (i.e., nausea or headaches) and intangible (i.e., anxiety or fear) symptoms. Tangible symptoms tend to be easier to identify, acknowledge, and resolve, even if you don’t find the root cause of your problem.
It’s common to assume the root cause of your illness or pain is a physical problem – and neglect your emotional, mental, or spiritual levels as the source. Because that’s what you were taught.
But you can learn how to pay attention to the connections between your mind, body, spirit, and emotions – and discover the root cause of your pain in these unexplored places.
Discover the Source of Your Pain
Discovering the root causes of your pain and illness isn’t always easy – especially when Western medicine and modern society teach us to focus only on our physical selves.
But your body is also connected to your mind, spirit, and emotions. These other layers within you can be the source of any illness or pain. With the guidance of a spiritual counselor (like me), you can discover the root cause of your symptoms using techniques like:
With these methods and my guidance, you can dive deep and find the answers you’ve been searching for. To start uncovering the root causes of your pain, book a call with me today.
Sources
- Fogel, Alan. “Emotional and Physical Pain Activate Similar Brain Regions.” Psychology Today, 19 Apr. 2012, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/body-sense/201204/emotional-and-physical-pain-activate-similar-brain-regions.
