It’s alarming to see news of someone famous that collapses or is diagnosed with an illness. Or to hear reports of the death of someone when you least expect it.
Regardless of personal story, income, or popularity, there’s one thing we all have in common. We have one body.
Everyone is susceptible to health situations. Events in recent years have shown the truth of this concept more than ever before. Not to mention situations that take place behind the scenes in healthcare.
After spending three decades in healthcare, one point resonates clearly. We usually don’t see the detriment or difficulties of wellness in their true light. It’s more common to naturally view your body as it was when you were more capable of physical activities and healthier.
This is proven time and again in situations after major health onset, surgery, during rehabilitation, and with other wellness issues. This displays firsthand the importance of listening to your body rather than viewing it incorrectly or with denial.
In This Article
Whole View for Listening to Your Body
In whole-body articles, we’ve covered the topic that each portion of your being is connected. While this seems obvious, it is often overlooked in a world full of specialists and a variety of doctors for each area of your body.
It’s important to have accurate healthcare information, but it becomes challenging when we recall how things are connected. This point is often made when you have multiple situations that require attention. You become the advocate joining each part of treatment.
For example, abdominal pains can be a symptom of multiple circumstances. Testing can take place but hearing the story of what led to the pains, a timeline, and other issues happening simultaneously in your body are all a part of the bigger picture. It’s not uncommon to report multiple aches or pains and these may fall under the scope of different doctors.
No one is closer to your body than you. No one knows the ins and outs like you. Foundational and baseline information are presented when there’s an issue. The point of visiting a doctor comes when something has occurred that strays from your norm.
Listening to your body is what allows understanding of your baseline, as well as the knowledge that something out of the ordinary has happened.
Sensations, Signs and Symptoms
It’s important to realize that your perception of health is an important place to begin. Staying healthy, keeping fit, and being educated about body awareness helps you understand when things go awry.
Your body has many sensory receptors which send messages to your brain. Paying attention prior to a health issue is a great way to combat confusion or denial about a problem.
Recognizing your baseline presents a healthy way for you to understand when signs or symptoms out of the ordinary occur. Listening to your body is important for your well-being.
Sensory input allows excellent information about your health and teaches you how to differentiate between baseline and alternate signs or symptoms. This is how we detect issues and points that needs attention. However, ignoring or overlooking any part of this process can change your outcome.
Mind-Body Connection When Listening
As we’ve mentioned, it’s impossible to separate parts of your body. This includes the mind also. Your mindset about health, perception of your body, and open-mindedness toward situations determines your view of issues that arise.
Once a sign or symptom is detected, it’s important to take the right steps for assessment, healing, or treatment. Often, it happens that we try to take control and use thoughts to convince against the obvious. This is a form of self-preservation and easier to face than other possibilities.
Your thoughts can be shaped as proactive to your health while attempting to recognize situations within your body. So, along with sensory input, choosing to focus your thoughts is important. Consider each part of this connection when trying to listen to your body.
Healthy vs Hypochondriac
While we need to realize a health baseline and stay aware of senses, signs, and symptoms, it should be stated that exaggeration of these can be unhealthy.
Wellness balance comes from using your baseline knowledge and paying attention to alternatives versus assuming the worst before you know the truth. Hypochondriac is a familiar word that represents someone who worries about every little ache or pain.
Exacerbation of multiple possibilities brings on stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental setbacks. On the other hand, completely ignoring these situations can be detrimental also.
Finding balance and listening to your body increases wellness and helps you remain mindful about your health. It’s important to remain in control of your thoughts that pertain to wellness.
Make It Your Business to Listen to Your Body
Another point that keeps us from listening to the body is running and “busyness” we experience daily. Rather than acknowledge a symptom of illness, it’s common to tuck it away assuming things are fine.
Often this choice stems from the decision that a new onset or problem doesn’t fit into our plans. This is another reason why we’re in shock when upsets hit close to home. No one wants to imagine what might take place or alter the status quo.
Rather than assume that you can’t make time for a physician, lab, or any number of healthcare settings, be honest about the situation when you know it’s needed.
Your busy life can be abruptly disrupted by a health occurrence that might have been prevented. Taking the time to address when there’s a new onset creates the habit of increasing body awareness and understanding that you’re taking the right steps.
Results from Listening to Your Body
Listening to your body is of utmost importance. Not only does this choice prepare you for a view that magnifies your baseline, but it can often help you determine health issues when they first arise.
There have been numerous cases where an onset was overlooked while someone waited for the right time or ignored a sign. When you make a conscious effort to listen to your body, you’re more likely to stay focused and catch issues early rather than wait or avoid them altogether.
In addition, don’t be discouraged if you are in a situation where medical gaslighting is taking place. Stand your ground and be a strong advocate for your wellness.
Overall, good things come from discovering your health baseline and attempting to listen to your body with an open mind and willingness to act.
5 Steps to Use When Listening to Your Body
It’s been established that health situations happen whether you’re on board or not. Remember the comment about “having one body”? It rings true when we discuss the need for proactive health steps, especially listening to your body.
Let’s look at the steps that will help you increase your wellness by listening.
1. Know Your Baseline
The first point is to understand the current state of your body. Take time to observe any aches and pains, chronic situations, health issues you’re monitoring, signs that you frequently recognize, and any symptoms that you notice. There are numerous points that make up your baseline. The best way to think about it is everything that’s going on in your body and how you react to anything that’s introduced.
2. Assessment
Once you’re aware of the overall status of your body, it’s easier to assess when you feel something out of the ordinary or when situations arise. Don’t jump to the worst conclusion or ignore signs and symptoms. Assessment is the time to recognize these points and compare them to your baseline. This phase increases your attention when listening to your body.
3. Discernment
After recognizing a present situation comes the time to discern your next steps. This is when you decide to make an appointment with a physician, research symptoms, speak with someone, etc. This stage is important because it often creates a gap where we feel uneasy to act. Accepting that we don’t have all the answers, but we do need to take appropriate steps, is the foundation of discernment.
This phase is where “waiting’ is often created as a solution. Sometimes time will tell, and the outcome is a passing occurrence. However, don’t forget the situation at hand or attempt to kick the can down the road so to speak. This can create larger problems later. This article covers when to act immediately for certain health issues.
4. Make Note of Your Discoveries
It’s good practice to note anything outside of your baseline as you discover and assess these points. When listening to your body, if an issue arises, it’s best to remember the specifics. This is especially needed if the time comes to visit a healthcare professional. You want to report what has happened, symptoms, and anything that you’ve assessed is different from your baseline. Recall is improved with noting exact information and dates as the description of what took place.
5. Be Intentional with Your Steps
When looking at the previous points, each is an intentional step to increase your health and wellness. While it’s impossible to know things before they happen, these ideas create a better outcome for improvement of your mindset, preparation, and preventative steps. Trust the process. Equally important is the ability to declare your capability with intention for wellness.
Final Thoughts About Listening to Your Body
We’ve discussed the importance of recognizing your health baseline and how to assess signs and symptoms within your body. Finding a balance is needed versus ignoring issues or exacerbating them into something terrible.
In addition, there are steps to increase your abilities when listening to your body for improved wellness. They involve recognition, making decisions, and taking note of each situation. With intentional steps, it’s easy to increase the skills involved with listening to your body.