The Hidden Connection: How Grief and Emotions Shape Your Wellbeing

As a chiropractor and holistic practitioner, it's apparent that I'm dedicated to supporting my patients' physical health. Yet what others might not realize is that I also understand the importance of one's emotional wellness and how mental health impacts our physical wellbeing. This connection is particularly evident when dealing with grief, loss, and bereavement.

Sometimes, life's unexpected challenges can disrupt our journey and leave us feeling uncertain. Whether it's grief from losing a loved one, doubts about the future, or dealing with feelings of unworthiness, these disempowering emotions can weigh us down. The process of coping with loss and navigating the stages of grief can be particularly challenging, often leading to complicated grief or even depression.

Believe it or not, grief does serve a purpose in helping us process loss and maintain social connections, but when unprocessed, it can cause significant psychological pain.

I know this firsthand. Twenty five years ago when I started chiropractic college I began to experience a mysterious deterioration of health.  I visited medical doctors, and no one could give me an answer as to why I had digestive issues and felt so fatigued. At that time, I was navigating a demanding schedule with classes and tests, yet I didn't put the two and two together as a cause and effect. Looking back, I realize I was experiencing emotional symptoms related to unresolved grief and loss.

Then one day, a close friend and colleague asked me if I knew how emotions could affect our physical health. I was flabbergasted and didn't understand how the two were related. I will share more details about this in my upcoming book; yet, long story short, I was experiencing the aftermath of unprocessed grief from my mom passing from cancer four years prior. This led me down the path to discover how emotions affect the mind and body, and how trauma and loss can manifest as physical symptoms. This experience taught me the importance of addressing grief and bereavement for overall wellbeing.

If we choose to ignore disempowering emotions like grief, sadness, anxiety, or depression, these emotions can become trapped in our physical body and cause us physical distress. This is particularly true in cases of complicated grief or disenfranchised grief, where the mourning process is prolonged or socially unacknowledged.

Instead of ignoring these emotions, I invite you to consider them as your "check engine light." These emotions can be reminders that you may be living away from your heart, away from the essence of who you truly are. They are part of the natural healing process and can guide us towards resilience and adaptation. Recognizing and addressing these feelings is crucial for moving through the stages of grief.

 I encourage you to take a moment to check in with the emotions you are currently experiencing. Are you feeling any anxiety? What about grief or sadness? Do you have feelings of unworthiness? Are you struggling with anger or denial as part of your grieving process? How has your relationship with the deceased evolved through your bereavement journey?

Rather than pushing these emotions aside, acknowledge them and allow them to guide you back into your heart. What lessons and insights can you collect from these emotions that could put you on a path back to your true self?

It's time to reconnect with your heart and rediscover the joy and peace that reside within you. If you feel ready to reconnect with your heart and rediscover the joy and peace that reside within you, take this complimentary analysis I created:

"10-Step Analysis to Measure Grief Severity and Possible Impacts on Wellbeing"

With this free analysis, you can take the first step in listening to the connection between your heart and mind, and begin your journey towards healing from grief and loss. Take that first step HERE.

Remember, everyone's grief journey is unique, and cultural differences can play a role in how we process loss. Whether you're dealing with the loss of a loved one, a relationship, or a significant life change, know that support is available.

You can learn to work through your emotions; you can reconnect with your true self to walk in more peace and joy.

Happy Heart Month!

In health,

Dr. Chris 

Dr. Chris Hengesteg has been helping people restore their health as a Chiropractor and holistic practitioner for over 20 years.  He combines science-based healing practices and Christ-centered techniques for whole heart restoration to provide you with a dynamic healing experience sure to change your life.

Over 22 years ago, while attending Chiropractic school at Palmer, he discovered that he had never allowed himself to process the grief of losing his Mom to a six year battle with cancer.  His health began declining drastically for over 2 years with symptoms of chronic fatigue and digestive issues until he almost dropped out of Chiropractic school. This led him on a journey of discovering how emotions are stored in the body and can manifest as disease if not processed properly. He learned techniques to release the grief and slowly his body began to restore its natural healthy state. As he processed the associated emotions around the grief he was able to experience joy and wholeness again.  It is his mission to share these healing practices with others to set them free from the grief and restore their hearts to wholeness.  Stay tuned for Dr. Chris' upcoming book Healing From Grief: 3 Steps to Restore Your Heart to Wholeness and feel free to download this complimentary analysis:

"10-Step Analysis to Measure Grief Severity and Possible Impacts on Wellbeing"

To discover more visit: www.HealingWithDrChris.com