Psychosomatics
Unity of Body & Soul
There is an undeniable interaction between the body and mind. Emotional suffering can manifest as physical symptoms, and vice versa.
The term psychosomatics first appeared in 1818. The German physician Heinroth suspected that physical illnesses might have psychological causes. At the time, he was ridiculed.
However, there are a few simple examples that should serve as enough evidence to convince you that your body is a reflection of your soul: You turn red in the face when you feel embarrassed. You go pale with shock. You get goosebumps when something moves you. You cry when you're sad.
You are probably familiar with the saying about being scared to death. Nervousness, fears, stress, and overload can trigger your bladder to react.
The medical doctor and psychotherapist RĂĽdiger Dahlke describes the psychosomatics of the urinary bladder in his book Disease as Symbol*. In his teachings, the urinary bladder is a place where holding pressure and letting go is key. What is used up and no longer needed should be released.
In TCM, a bladder infection is referred to as the "unwept tear" that finds another way out - namely through the bladder.
In esotericism, a bladder infection is explained by anger energy , which rages in the bladder and clings to a frustrated attitude, rather than letting go.
The Heart in the Lower Abdomen
Because I have personally experienced it, I can confirm the negative impact a sick bladder can have on the psyche. It can manifest differently at various stages of life.
As a child, it filled me with fear and dread. The constant doctor's visits, the fear of urological examinations. At school, I often found it difficult to focus on lessons because of the pain. I would sit on my legs in the chair because it provided relief.
Later, in my first serious relationship, it significantly clouded the joy of sexuality. It even went so far that I tried to convince myself that perhaps I wasn’t made for carefree sex. The more frequent the bladder infections returned, the more despondent and pessimistic I became. As harsh as this may sound: Yes, it destroyed my first relationship.
From fellow sufferers in a Facebook support group, I read about despair, hopelessness, depression, incapacity to work, burnout, and suicidal thoughts.
Pressure & Letting Go
Whether you believe that the bladder is a vent of your soul or just a purely physical process is entirely up to you. Personally, I believe in the interaction between body & soul, but I don't always see emotional problems as the cause.
Nevertheless, especially with chronic complaints, it doesn't hurt to take a closer look, uncover emotional problems and solve them. Here are a few key questions that you should honestly answer for yourself:
- What is putting me under pressure? My own ambition or other external influences (partner, job, family, etc.)?
- What pain / disappointment should I really let go of?
- What should I make peace with, but my inner anger is preventing it?
- What tears have I "swallowed"?
- Where have uncried tears / helplessness possibly even transformed into hardness and heartlessness?
- What do I want to preserve, and what should I let go of?
The hardest step of all: Get help!
If you can no longer move forward on your own, consider mentoring / coaching / psychotherapy. There is an expert in every field.
Strength Lies in Calm
I know how difficult it is to remain calm and positive when the painful bladder infections keep recurring for seemingly inexplicable reasons.
For healing and recovery, calm & relaxation are extremely important. In a relaxed state, the parasympathetic nervous system (also known as the recovery nerve) allows recovery and regeneration. It lowers blood pressure and pulse, stimulates metabolic processes, and activates digestion (you’ve probably noticed that digestive sounds in the stomach usually occur when sitting still or lying down).
The parasympathetic nervous system is also responsible for bladder emptying. It stimulates the bladder muscles to contract and helps empty the bladder.
In a state of relaxation, the immune system is activated, which plays a central role in preventing urinary tract infections.
In today's performance-driven society, unfortunately, the counterpart to the recovery nerve – the sympathetic nervous system – often dominates. When the sympathetic nervous system is active, the body is prepared for fight or flight. The stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline help us perform at our best and ensured our survival in the days of the saber-toothed tiger. Today, we no longer fight or flee, but instead stay stuck in stress. The opportunity to return to relaxation is missing nowadays, leading to insomnia, susceptibility to infections, digestive problems, etc.
Reducing Stress
To activate your parasympathetic nervous system, you can do the following:
- Deep breathing / breathing exercises
- Meditation
- Yoga / Tai Chi / Qi Gong
- Progressive muscle relaxation
- Regular, moderate endurance training such as walking outdoors
- Restorative sleep
"There are plenty of guides and coaches for relaxation & a healthy soul. The challenge is discovering what works for you right now and helps you move forward. Especially with relaxation techniques, you have to figure out through trial and error what works best for you. For me, walks work wonders because the fresh air and movement do me good, and my mind can process a lot and let go at the same time. Sometimes, talking to others who are going through the same thing also helps, such as in the Facebook support group Bladder Infection - Help, Support & Exchange"
