Human emotions on their effects on the nervous system. The influence of emotions on human health
Emotions are an integral part of the reaction of humans and other higher animals to environmental factors. They appear constantly and influence the behavior and actions of any thinking being all his life, so it is obvious that not only a person’s spiritual state, but also his physical health, to a certain extent depends on the emotional background.
The word “emotion” itself comes from the Latin “emoveo”, which means excitement, shock, experience. That is, it is logical to perceive the emotions that arise in us as vibrations passing throughout the body, affecting all organs and systems that connect them together.
Since ancient times, scientists interested in medicine have observed a correlation between the prevailing emotional state and human health. This is written about in the treatises of oriental medicine, the works of Hippocrates and other ancient Greek scientists. We can also trace the understanding of the connection between emotional and physical health among the people thanks to the well-known sayings: “joy makes you young, but grief makes you old”, “like rust eats iron, sadness eats away the heart”, “you can’t buy health - it is given by the mind”, “all diseases come from nerves." These statements call for attention to the destructive influence of heavy emotional stress on the nervous system, which negatively affects the health of other organs and systems.
In modern science, the connection between physical health and emotions has been confirmed by neurophysiologist Charles Sherington, Nobel Prize laureate. He deduced a pattern: the emotional experiences that arise flow into somatic and vegetative changes.
- Physiology of the influence of emotions on the body.
The reaction to the world around us, first of all, occurs in the central nervous system. Receptors from the senses send signals to the brain, and it responds to emerging stimuli, forming a set of commands to help overcome an obstacle or reinforce the correct action.
- Scheme of the impact of negative emotions.
With negative emotions, for example, in response to insult, aggression occurs, supported by the adrenal hormone norepinephrine; when there is a feeling of danger, fear arises, supported by adrenaline; the appearance of a rival or competitor for resources becomes a cause of jealousy and envy. Regular irritation accordingly transforms ordinary, controlled emotions into something more: in the first case, aggression develops into hatred, in the second - fear into anxiety (the state of the victim), in the third - into irritability and dissatisfaction.
- Scheme of the action of positive emotions.
Positive emotions are accompanied by the release of happiness hormones (endorphin, dopamine), they give a euphoric effect that makes a person try harder to get joy and calm again. Serotonin works in a similar way, the level of which in the blood determines sensitivity to pain and physical factors (it is thanks to it that children so easily forget about injuries and are able to not notice obvious damage for a long time, such as cuts, tears, etc.).
- Physiological manifestations of emotions.
Hormones prepare the body to respond to irritation: the heart rate accelerates, blood vessels dilate, characteristic facial expressions appear, abdominal muscles contract, breathing quickens, the evacuation function of the gastrointestinal tract is stimulated, “goose bumps” appear (adaptation to air temperature), fever, and nervous excitement.
When the border of regular influence is overcome, this means that the person has not independently coped with the problem that constantly evoked the corresponding emotions. When a certain limit, individual for each person, is reached, the body itself takes control of the body. Thus, when a stimulus reappears, the conscious part of the personality loses control. In this case, a person begins to behave like an animal and is capable of harming himself or others, that is, emotions can not only harm the physical body, but also seriously undermine spiritual health.
In the case of constant emotional influence, be it positive or negative, the body self-destructs, as a person stops paying attention to its primary needs. A constant strong reaction (excitement, concern, fear, euphoria) exhausts the body, which becomes the cause of the disease.
Each of us knows that the emotions that arise as a result of any events help to form a mood. And the ability to cope with certain problems, in turn, depends on mood. Cheerfulness is always accompanied by success and joy, while depression and fatigue are always accompanied by illness and misfortune.
Eastern medicine has an extensive knowledge base on searching for the relationship between individual internal organs and the external manifestations of their condition. For example, it was Eastern doctors who created maps of bioactive points, a urine analysis system, diagrams of the type and color of plaque on the tongue, and determined by what changes in facial features a particular disease can be detected.
How negative emotions affect health:
Worry, anxiety, depression - these emotions extinguish the manifestations of energy in a person and make them fear the world around them. The consequence of constant restraint is problems with the tonsils (tonsillitis) and throat (bronchitis, laryngitis) up to loss of voice;
Jealousy - unrest caused by the desire to limit the freedom of a person nearby and greed, provoke insomnia and frequent migraines;
Hatred - sudden surges of energy that overwhelm the body, splash out to no avail, shaking the human psyche. He often suffers greatly from the slightest setbacks, and improper impulsive behavior leads to problems with the gall bladder, stomach and liver.
Irritation - when a person is irritated by every little thing, we can talk about sensitization of the body caused by a weakening of protective functions. It is not surprising that such people suffer from frequent attacks of nausea (a physiological reaction to poisoning), which no medications can cope with;
Arrogance and snobbery - arrogance provokes constant dissatisfaction with the things and people around a person, which causes problems with the joints, intestines and pancreas;
Fear appears in people for whom the main goal is survival. Fear absorbs energy, makes a person cynical, withdrawn, dry and cold. Suspicion and confidence in the hostility of the world provoke arthritis, deafness and senile dementia in such a person;
Lack of self-confidence - the feeling of guilt for every misstep and mistake overloads thoughts and causes chronic headaches;
Dejection, boredom, sadness - such emotions stop the flow of energy in the body, provoke stagnation, loss of motivation. In an effort to protect himself from risks and new attachments, a person retreats into his own sadness and loses the opportunity to receive bright positive emotions. As a result, he suffers from constipation, asthma, immunodeficiency, impotence, and frigidity.
Negative manifestations of emotions also include excessive joy, since because of it, a person’s energy dissipates without a trace, getting lost and wasted in vain. Due to constant losses, a person is forced to look for new pleasures, which he is again unable to retain. The cycle closes, and life turns into a constant search for entertainment, which leads to anxiety (fear of losing access to what you want), despair and insomnia.
Of course, it should be taken into account that one-time, rare manifestations of negative emotions are a completely normal reaction to the problems that every person has. To a certain extent, they even turn out to be useful, since, firstly, they are able to push a person to an important decision and stimulate the desire to correct a problematic situation in the right direction, and secondly, they are a contrast against which positive emotions become more desirable and better felt .
Problems bring long-term emotional impacts that become pathological over time. They are the ones who undermine the body from the inside and can make a person defenseless against harmful environmental factors, creating the ground for the development of all kinds of diseases.
I think not only scientists, but we all know that emotions and human health, are inseparable from each other. Our emotions influence our state of health and well-being; depending on our emotions, we laugh, or cry, rejoice, or mourn - and all these feelings are reflected in the state of our organs and systems.
emotions and human health
Basically, they have different effects on the health of each person - different in terms of the strength of the impact, but there are also those that equally negatively affect everyone - for example, a feeling of fear.
But they only have a positive effect on health - we realize this intuitively, although this has long been a scientifically proven fact! Positive emotions tend to tone the human body and promote excellent health. People experiencing constant confusion of feelings, anxiety, and depression are at risk of various diseases.
the influence of emotions on the human body
Has anyone ever wondered why emotions such as fear, for example, are capable of increasing a person’s internal resources?! When frightened, a person is able to run much faster than he thinks - and he runs! In a state of excitement, our heartbeat quickens - waiting for the verdict of a medical commission, or the assessment of an examiner, while speaking in front of a huge crowd of public - the sensations are strong, aren’t they - emotions and human health…
And all of them, one way or another, are reflected in the functioning of human systems and organs. The impact of emotions on the functioning of our body prepares it for a certain reaction to an upcoming event. Fear mobilizes our body to avoid danger with all its might - that is, it prepares us for a quick death. The feeling of anger prepares our body for the fact that it will be necessary to attack in order to defend itself... In other words, appropriate changes occur in our body that prepare us for certain actions under certain conditioned circumstances. For example, a sense of danger is capable of producing more prothrombin in order to prevent bleeding in the event of a sudden injury.
And these are not fictions, these are scientifically proven facts! As well as the fact that a feeling of joy can release catecholamines, substances produced in the adrenal cortex, which tend to prevent inflammatory processes. Along with catecholamines, endorphins enter the blood. another hormone, only from the pituitary gland, reducing painful sensations - and all this from a feeling of joy - emotions and human health... The human cardiovascular system reacts most strongly to emotions of all systems. A constant and strong feeling of anger, prolonged irritability, simply have a destructive effect on blood vessels... The result of such emotions, most often, is hypertension. Emotions also affect blood circulation - the pulse rate changes, blood pressure jumps, and vascular tone changes.
Our thoughts and feelings are reflected in our lives. Our health is related to our lifestyle, genetics and susceptibility to disease. But beyond that, there is a strong relationship between your emotional state and your health.
Learning to cope with emotions, especially negative ones, is an important part of our vitality. The emotions we keep inside can explode one day and become a real disaster for ourselves. That's why it's important to release them.
Good emotional health is quite rare these days. Negative emotions such as anxiety, stress, fear, anger, jealousy, hatred, doubt and irritability can greatly affect our health.
Getting laid off, a turbulent marriage, financial difficulties and the death of loved ones can be detrimental to our mental state and affect our health.
This is how emotions can destroy our health.
The influence of emotions on health
1. Anger: heart and liver
Anger is a strong emotion that arises in response to despair, pain, disappointment and threat. If dealt with immediately and expressed correctly, anger can have health benefits. But in most cases, anger destroys our health.
In particular, anger affects our logical abilities and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Anger causes blood vessels to constrict, increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and rapid breathing. If this happens frequently, it causes wear and tear on the artery walls.
A 2015 study found that the risk of a heart attack increases 8.5 times two hours after an outburst of intense anger.
Anger also increases levels of cytokines (molecules that cause inflammation), which increases the risk of arthritis, diabetes and cancer.
To better manage your anger, engage in regular physical activity, learn relaxation techniques, or see a psychologist.
2. Concern: stomach and spleen
Chronic anxiety can lead to a variety of health problems. It affects the spleen and weakens the stomach. When we worry a lot, our body is attacked by chemicals that cause us to react with a sick or weak stomach.
Worrying or obsessing over something can lead to problems such as nausea, diarrhea, stomach problems and other chronic disorders.
Excessive worrying is linked to chest pain, high blood pressure, weakened immunity and premature aging.
Severe anxiety also harms our personal relationships, disrupts sleep, and can make us distracted and inattentive to our health.
3. Sadness or grief: mild
Of the many emotions we experience in life, sadness is the most lasting emotion.
Sadness or melancholy weakens the lungs, causing fatigue and difficulty breathing.
It disrupts the natural flow of breathing, narrowing the lungs and bronchi. When you are overwhelmed with grief or sadness, air can no longer flow easily into and out of your lungs, which can lead to asthma attacks and bronchial disease.
Depression and melancholy also damage the skin, causing constipation and low oxygen levels in the blood. People suffering from depression tend to gain or lose weight and are easily addicted to drugs and other harmful substances.
If you're feeling sad, there's no need to hold back your tears because this way you can release those emotions.
4. Stress: Heart and Brain
Each person experiences and reacts to stress differently. A little stress is good for your health and can help you perform daily tasks.
However, if stress becomes too much, it can lead to high blood pressure, asthma, stomach ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome.
As you know, stress is one of the main causes of heart disease. It increases blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and encourages bad habits such as smoking, physical inactivity and overeating. All these factors can damage the walls of blood vessels and lead to heart disease.
Stress can also lead to a number of diseases such as:
Asthmatic disorders
· Hair loss
Mouth ulcers and excessive dryness
Mental problems: insomnia, headaches, irritability
· Cardiovascular diseases and hypertension
Neck and shoulder pain, musculoskeletal pain, lower back pain, nervous tics
Skin rashes, psoriasis and eczema
· Reproductive system disorders: menstrual irregularities, relapses of sexually transmitted infections in women and impotence and premature ejaculation in men.
· Diseases of the digestive system: gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel
The connection between emotions and organs
5. Loneliness: the heart
Loneliness is a condition that makes a person cry and fall into deep melancholy.
Loneliness is a serious health risk. When we are lonely, our brain produces more stress hormones such as cortisol, which cause depression. This in turn affects blood pressure and sleep quality.
Studies have shown that loneliness increases the chances of mental illness and is also a risk factor for coronary heart disease and stroke.
In addition, loneliness has a negative impact on the immune system. Lonely people are more likely to experience inflammation in response to stress, which can weaken the immune system.
6. Fear: adrenal glands and kidneys
Fear leads to anxiety, which wears out our kidneys, adrenal glands and reproductive system.
A situation where fear arises leads to a decrease in the flow of energy in the body and causes it to defend itself. This leads to a slowdown in breathing rate and blood circulation, which causes a state of congestion that makes our limbs almost freeze in fear.
Fear affects the kidneys the most and this leads to frequent urination and other kidney problems.
Fear also causes the adrenal glands to produce more stress hormones, which have a devastating effect on the body.
Severe fear can cause pain and disease of the adrenal glands, kidneys and lower back, as well as diseases of the urinary tract. In children, this emotion can be expressed through urinary incontinence, which is closely related to anxiety and self-doubt.
7. Shock: kidneys and heart
Shock is a manifestation of trauma caused by an unexpected situation that knocks you down.
Sudden shock can upset the balance of the body, causing overexcitement and fear.
Severe shock can undermine our health, especially the kidneys and heart. A traumatic reaction leads to the production of large amounts of adrenaline, which settles on the kidneys. This leads to increased heart rate, insomnia, stress and anxiety. Shock can even change the structure of the brain, affecting areas of emotion and survival.
The physical consequences of emotional trauma or shock often include low energy, pale skin, difficulty breathing, rapid heart rate, sleep and digestive disorders, sexual dysfunction, and chronic pain.
8. Irritability and hatred: liver and heart
Hateful emotions and irritability can affect gut and heart health, leading to chest pain, hypertension and heart palpitations.
Both of these emotions increase your risk of high blood pressure. Irritable people are also more susceptible to cellular aging than good-natured people.
Irritability is also bad for the liver. When verbally expressing hatred, a person exhales condensed molecules containing toxins that damage the liver and gallbladder.
9. Jealousy and Envy: Brain, Gallbladder and Liver
Jealousy, desperation and envy directly affect our brain, gallbladder and liver.
Jealousy is known to slow your thinking and impair your ability to see clearly.
In addition, jealousy causes symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression, which leads to excessive production of adrenaline and norepinephrine in the blood.
Jealousy has a negative effect on the gallbladder and leads to stagnation of blood in the liver. This causes a weakened immune system, insomnia, increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, high cholesterol and poor digestion.
10. Anxiety: stomach, spleen, pancreas
Anxiety is a normal part of life. Anxiety can increase your breathing and heart rate and increase concentration and blood flow to the brain, which can be beneficial for your health.
However, when anxiety becomes a part of life, it has a devastating impact on physical and mental health.
Gastrointestinal diseases are often closely related to anxiety. It affects the stomach, spleen and pancreas, which can lead to problems such as indigestion, constipation, and ulcerative colitis.
Anxiety disorders are often a risk factor for a number of chronic diseases, such as coronary heart disease.
