The energy of fear causes predictable results in the body. In the core-energetic framework, people who have a deep-seated terror of life are thin. Such persons tend to leave the body through the crown chakra whenever they feel threatened, or are just startled. "I’m out of here!" is their departing cry. Since their consciousness/spirit/energy field is largely absent, the physical body does not fill out due to lack of energetic nourishment. Such people enjoy extremely strong mental ability because they live in their heads. Our physical body characteristics follow our energy pathways! The color of fear is gray-white, white, or colorless. We read in stories, "His face turned ashen," or, "She became white as a ghost." You may know someone whose hair turned white during an experience of terror. The energy fields of chronically fearful people are almost invisible, and exhibit a very fragile quality. The layers are thin and colorless, and life force is wispy and threadlike. The movement of fear energy is one of contraction, which shrinks all the cells and organs in the immediate vicinity. Terror is fear of extreme intensity, and the body and spirit immobilize. One becomes ice cold, and the blood "freezes." Physical and emotional shock occurs. The perceived threat of soul annihilation feels very real and imminent. The physical body’s constriction responses follow the shrinking energy pathways: the extremities turn cold, there is tightness in the gut and muscles, anxiety increases, the mouth becomes dry, the heart pounds, blood pressure may rise, the mind is confused, and breathing can be difficult. Hair follicles constrict, and the hair stands on end. The throat closes, making it impossible to talk or scream. If the condition remains chronic, the organs will be underdeveloped physically, or they may operate at a very diminished level, such as in hypoglycemia and hypothyroidism. Any part of the body that has constriction, closing, or tightening of the organ may be holding unconscious fear from a past trauma: arteriosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries), fibromyalgia (constriction of the fascia), stiffness of neck or joints, bowel and muscle spasms, "knots" in the stomach, and chronic constipation, which is a classic pattern of "holding it all in." People who are always cold are actually experiencing chronic fear at the deepest levels because the body is funneling all its energy to feed the fear. Being afraid to speak one’s truth causes throat problems. The throat constricts, the energy to all the neck organs is greatly diminished, and the organs break down. Any condition that prevents movement of the whole body or just a body part is the body’s protective device against fear. In other words, the body carries out the mind’s instructions! We injure our legs because moving forward — which will create change — is too threatening. An arm may become arthritic to keep us from a disagreeable painting job or career that is centered on using the arm. Lower back pain may be the spirit’s reaction to lack of financial security, or the fear of poverty. The only time I ever had back pain was when I bought my condo. After giving my money to the lender, I bent down one day to throw paper into the wastebasket, and could not straighten. The pain was agonizing. As I lay immobilized on the couch all day, I talked to that part of myself that was terrified of spending such a vast amount of money. I told her that we could afford it, and reminded her that we even had more money in the bank. I reassured her that we were taken care of, and safe. The pain was totally gone by the next morning! Chest tightness is part of lung and heart conditions because of the fear of life or even of death. Medical research has linked asthma to "smothering mothering." The asthma sufferer grows up with a strong fear of death, and the dynamics of suffocation are played out on the physical level. In codependent relationships, one person may eventually develop lung problems due to the smothering, tentacled, grasping energy of the other person. Past-life drowning will continue the "not-enough-air" drama in this life by manifesting lung problems. When one is in love, an unusual openness is experienced. The heart energy is flowing easily, and this love extends to the whole world. Suddenly, for whatever reason, we come "crashing" down from those majestic heights. The other person has just severed the connection, or we realize that she or he is not perfect after all! The chest pain can be incredible, as the heart energy rips apart with the severing of the cords. As the wound slowly heals, it is likely that the heart will stay closed and tight to keep such pain from recurring with another relationship. The problem is, being closed creates its own pain! Overcoming inertia or outright fear and panic can be an arduous process due to their multiple levels. Here are some tips for overcoming fear and its physical symptoms: • Buy Louise Hay’s book You Can Heal Your Life for a starting point of understanding the spiritual aspect of your problem. I also recommend a much more detailed book, Messages from the Body by Narayan-Singh. • Connect with the frozen part of you and tell him or her that you’re grown up now, and have adult tools to keep you safe. Use the image of your warm, golden breath to melt the ice. • Focus on the part that is tight and imagine directing your warm, golden breath into it. At the same time, imagine wrapping the tight area in your arms to simply hang out with it. Focus on it, and wait for insight to come as to what the real issue is. • Breathe. Breath is movement of spirit and energy. Movement on all levels will transform the fear. • Physical movement is paramount to create inner movement. Dance! Exercise! Walk! Even a little. • See a healer or therapist to transform the fear of the spiritual issue. • When threatened, make yourself stand tall with your head and back straight and your shoulders back. Bend the knees slightly. This posture will immediately lessen the fear. It’s amazing! • Add warming spices to your diet, such as peppers, dried powdered ginger, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, basil, garlic, and hot fluids and food. Take hot showers and baths frequently. Barbara Spargo, R.N., B.S.N., uses a wide variety of techniques to help clients activate their own healing systems to clear and heal emotional, physical, and spiritual trauma. Contact her at <bspargo@earthlink.net>, <http://www.barbaraspargo.com/>, or (425) 556-9536. |
Research has proven that the positive emotions of laughter and joy can heal. So, why can’t the emotions of anger, fear, and sadness cause negative effects to our bodies? The body answers every feeling and thought with a chemical response. When we deny or suppress our emotions, these chemicals become trapped in the body’s cells. Eventually, the physical cells will manifest a disease in response to the stagnant energy and toxic chemical buildup.