The Healing Circle Common Ailments & Their Metaphysical Causes The Underlying Causes Of Illness As we mentioned in a previous posting, our own thought patterns effect the health of our body. Each emotional thought pattern is really an underlying "cause" of a physical illness, understanding the illness can help you address the cause and thereby riding the body of the disease.   There are many books on this subject that describe this system of belief and understanding, but for me, Ms. Hay has created one of the best definitive sources for emotional/mental causes, their corresponding illness and a metaphysical affirmation to help the individual deal with the originating issue. You can learn more about this concept in our Understanding Illness In The Body.   One way to help bring about change in your life it so focus on replacing negative thinking with positive thinking through affirmations. Affirmations are a way of reprogramming the subconscious to think differently and to automatically react in a more positive way when trigger situations occur in your life. You can read Affirmations Evolving The Spirit to learn more about how to change negative patterns, how to create your own affirmation and how to use affirmations in your daily life.   If you find one of these underlying causes hits home with something you're suffering and you're interested in the specific affirmation for that ailment, send me an email and I'll send you the affirmation. My intention here is to provide an alternative way of thinking that might help people understand why they are fighting an illness.   ~ Alphabetical Index ~ ~ A ~ B ~ C ~ D ~ E ~ F ~ G ~ H ~ I ~ J ~ K ~ L ~ ~ M ~ N ~ O ~ P ~ Q ~ R ~ S ~ T ~ U ~ V ~ W ~ X ~ Y ~ Z ~   <-- click the filigree to return to the top. Ailment Underlying Cause A Aches Longing to be loved or held. Acne Not accepting or disliking of self. Addictions Running away, not facing the fear or love of self. AIDS Feeling defenseless and hopeless. Denial of the true inner being, or sexual guilt. Alcoholism Self rejection, feel inadequate. "What's the use". Allergies Denying your own power. Who or what are you allergic to? Alzheimer's Disease Refusal to deal with the world as it is. Anemia Fear of life, or a lack of joy. A "Yes, but" attitude. Ankle Problems Inflexibility on what your stand is. Inability to receive pleasure. Anorexia Denying the self life. Extreme fear of rejection. Anxiety Not trusting the flow of life. Arm problems Can't hold on to lifes experiences. Arteriosclerosis Hardened narrow-mindedness. Arthritis Feeling unloved and criticized. Strong resentments. B Back Problems Lower - Financial woes and concerns. Middle - Guilt. Stuck in all that stuff back there, or Get off my back. Upper - Lack of emotional support, or feeling unloved. Baldness Fear, tension. Trying to control everything and not trusting in the process of life. Birth defects Karmic. Dealing with unfinished business. Bites Animal - Anger turned inward. Bug - Guilt over small things. Blackheads (Pimples) Small outbursts of anger. Blood Pressure High Hypertension - Long standing emotional issues gone unresolved. Low - Lack of love, and defeatism. "What's the use." attitude. Blood Problems Lack of joy or the lack of circulation of ideas. Bone Problems The structures of life/universe. Breaks - Rebelling against authority. Deformity - Mental pressures and tightness. Bowel Problems Fear of letting go. Breast Problems Left - Feeling unloved, refusal to nourish oneself. Putting everyone else first. Right - Over protection, over bearing, difficulty in giving love. Breathing Problems Fear or the refusal to take in life. Not feeling worthy to take up space. Bronchitis Inflamed family environment. Bruises Self-punishment. Bulimia Hopeless terror. Purging self hatred. Burns Anger, burning up inside. C Cancer What's eating at you? Deep hurt, secret or grief. Carpal Tunnel Anger and frustrations at life's seeming injustices. Cataracts Inability to see ahead with joy. Cerebral Palsy A need to unite the family in an action of love. Chest  A lack of compassion. Not feeling that your emotions are valid or considered. Cholesterol Clogging the channels of joy. Cold Sores (fever blisters) Festering words of anger and fear of expressing them. Colds Too much going on at once. Mental confusion and disorder. Colic Mental irritation. Annoyance with surroundings. Coma Fear. Trying to escape from something or someone. Constipation Refusing to release old ideas. Coughs A desire to bark at the world. "Listen to me!" Cuts Self punishment for not following your own rules. D Deafness What don't you want to hear? Fear of rejection, feeling isolated. Depression Anger, hopelessness. Diabetes Longing for what might have been. No sweetness left in life. Diarrhea Fear and rejecting. Running off or away from something/someone. Dizziness Flighty, scattered thinking. E Ear Problems Not wanting to hear. Anger or too much turmoil. Elbow Problems Not being flexible, not able to change directions or accept new experiences. Eye Problems Astigmatism - Fear of "seeing" the self. Cataracts - Inability to see joy ahead. In Children - Not wanting to see what's going on in the family. Farsighted - Fear of the present. Nearsighted - Fear of the future. F Fainting Fear, can't cope, blacking out what's really going on. Feet Problems Fear of the future or not wanting to move forward. Female Problems Denial of the self and rejecting the feminine aspects within. Fever Anger, burning up. Finger Problems Thumb - Worry, always thinking. Being 'under someone's thumb'. Index Finger - Fear of authority, or egotistical; abusing your authority. Middle Finger - Anger or insecurities of intimacy. Ring Finger - Grief of love, issues with commitment. Little Finger - Ignoring your own creativity, or issues with linking to family. Flu Responding to mass negativity. Putting too much faith in statistics. G Gas Pains Undigested ideas or concerns. Gray Hair Stress, feeling under pressure and strain. Gum Problems Inability to back up decisions. Being wishy-washy about life. H Hand Problems Grasping on to tight, not wanting to let go. Not 'handling' things well. Headaches Self-criticism. Not wanting to accept what is going on. Heart Problems Lack of joy, dealing with issues from anger, not love. Heart Attack - Squeezing all the joy out of life, in favor of money or position. Heartburn (Ulcers) Clutching onto fear. Not trusting in the process of life. Hemorrhoids Fear of deadlines. Afraid to let go and move on. Hernia Ruptured relationships, feeling the burdens. Hip Problems Fear of going forward in major decisions. Hyperactivity Feeling pressured and frantic. Hyperventilation Resisting change. Not being able to take it all in. I *-itis Any disease ending with 'itis' is often a representation of fear. Impotence Sexual guilt or pressure, feeling spite against a previous mate. Indigestion Dread or anxiety about a recent or coming event. Infections Irritation, anger or annoyance about a recent situation. Insomnia Fear, not trusting the process of life. Itching Un-satisfaction, having desires that go against the grain. "Itching to get out." Ailment Underlying Cause J Jaw Problems Anger, resentment, having a need for revenge. Not letting go. K Kidney Problems Criticism, or shame. Feeling like you didn't do enough. Kidney Stones Lumps of undissolved anger. Knee Inability to bend. Stubborn pride. L Laryngitis Fear of speaking up. Left side of the body The feminine side. Represents receptivity, taking in, women, mother, love. Leg Problems Fear of the future, not being able to carry things forward. Lung Problems Depression, grief or fear of life. Not feeling worthy. M Menopause Problems Fear of no longer being wanted. Menstrual Problems Rejection of one's femininity. Guilt or feeling "dirty". Migraine Headaches Sexual fears, or fear of being close, letting someone in too close. Feeling driven or pressured. Mono.. Anger at not receiving love and appreciation. Mouth Problems Being closed minded, not able to discuss new ideas or possibilities. Muscles Resistance of new experiences. Not able to move freely, or with ease. N Nail biting Frustration, eating away at the self. Nausea Fear, rejecting an idea or experience. Neck Problems Refusing to see another's side or position. Stubbornness. Who/what is being a pain in the neck? Nervousness Fear, anxiety, always rushing. Nose Problems Self recognition Nose Bleeds - Crying out for love and recognition. Runny Nose - Asking for help; inner crying. Stuffy Nose - Not recognizing your own self worth. O Ovaries Inability to express or accept your own creativity. Overweight Fear, feeling a deep need for emotional protection. Running away from feelings, insecurity. P Pain Self punishment, feeling emotional guilt. Pancreas Problems Not being able to enjoy the sweetness in life. Pimples Small outbursts of anger. Pink Eye Anger and frustration at someone/something. Not wanting to see. Pituitary Gland Feeling out of control, or not in control of your own destiny. Pneumonia Feeling desperate, not allowed to heal deep emotional wounds. "Drowning under it all." Poison Ivy Poison Oak Feeling defenseless and open to attacks. PMS Allowing confusion to reign. Rejection of feminine process. Prostate Problems Mental fears weakening the masculinity. Sexual pressure and feelings of guilt or inadequacy. Psoriasis  Fear of being hurt. Deadening the senses of the self. Refusing to accept responsibility for your own feelings. Q Quiver (Shake) Feeling hopeless, can't regain control of ones life. R Rash Irritation over delays Respiratory Ailments  Fear of taking in life fully. Rheumatism Feeling victimized, lack of love or chronic bitterness. Rheumatoid Arthritis Deep criticism of authority. Feeling very put upon. Right Side of the body Masculine energies, giving, putting out, the "do side", or physical side. Men, or father. Root Canal Root beliefs being destroyed. Can't bite into it anymore. S Seizures Running away from the self, family or from life. Senility Returning to the "safety" of childhood. Demanding care and attention. Shin(s) Problems Breaking down your ideals. Not living up to your own standards, or not being able to meet your standards. Setting your standards to high? Shoulder Problems Carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. Feeling like life is a burden. Sinus Problems Irritation to someone, usually someone close to you. Skin Problems Anxiety, fear, feeling threatened. Slipped Disc Feeling unsupported in life. Snoring Stubborn refusal to let go of old patterns. Solar Plexus Ignoring 'gut reactions', or your own intuitions. Sore Throat Holding in angry words. Feeling unable to express the self. Spasms Tightening our thoughts through fear. Spine Problems Not feeling a flexible support of life Sprains Not wanting to move in a certain direction. Anger and resistance to change. Stiffness Rigid, stiff thinking. Stomach Problems Dread, fear of the new, or not feeling nourished. Stroke Giving up, rejecting life. "I'd rather die than change." Stuttering Insecurity, lack of self- expression. Not being allowed to cry. Sty  Looking at life through angry eyes. Angry at someone. T Teeth Problems Being indecisive, not being able to break down ideas for analysis and decisions. Testicle(s) Problems Not accepting masculine principles, or the masculinity within. Thyroid Problems Humiliation. Feeling repressed or put down. Feeling as if you never get to do what you want. Tumors Nursing old hurts and shocks. Building on remorse. U Ulcers Fear, a strong belief that you are not good enough. "What is eating away at you?" Urinary Infections Feeling pissed off! Usually at the opposite sex or lover. V Varicose Veins Standing in a situation you hate. Feeling over worked and over burdened. Venereal Disease Sexual guilt. Feeling a need for punishment. A belief that sexual intimacy is a sin or dirty. Viral Infections Lack of joy flowing through life. Living through bitterness. Vomiting Violent rejection of ideas. Fearing the new. W Warts Little expressions of hate. Feeling or believing your ugly. Weakness  A need for mental rest. Wisdom Tooth, Impacted Not giving yourself mental space to create a firm foundation. Wrist Problems Not being flexible on an issue or situation. Not handling things with ease. Stubbornness. X Xenophobia Fear of acceptance, feeling unworthy or fear of rejection. Y Yeast Infection Denying yourself of your own needs. Not supporting self. Z Zoo phobia ;-) Fear of accepting lifes gifts and joys. Source: 1, h4, h9, h10 Created: 03/20/1999     Updated: 03/25/2008