Stress occurs when life events surpass your abilities to cope. The bad news is that high levels of chronic stress can overwhelm your immune system. This leaves you more susceptible to infection. The good news is that you can improve your immune system by calming your nervous system.
Kelly Turner, Ph.D. analyzed over 1,500 cases of “radical remission.”
Radical remission is when someone heals from a life-threatening disease without Western medicine. Dr. Turner has a new documentary with stories that will inspire you to improve your own body’s innate healing potential. The great news is that the series is offered free over the next 10 days! Just click this link to sign up. I’m also sharing more of her healing insights below.
Improve Your Immune System by Understanding and Appreciating Emotions
If you’ve ever felt “sick to your stomach,” then you know the impact your emotions can have on your health. While it can be challenging to understand and appreciate emotions, it’s worth it. It will lead you to your own personal insights for healing.
Work It Out by Writing it Out
Ideally you’ll work with a therapist who is skilled at helping you navigate your challenging emotions. If you don’t have a relationship with a therapist, you could accomplish a lot by writing about your emotions. As Turner states, “the physical act of writing about thoughts and emotions allows you to transfer pain, frustration, resentment, and anger out of your body and onto paper.”
Consider writing one letter a day for the next two weeks to someone in your past, present, or maybe even future life. You don’t need to send these letters. In fact, you may find it therapeutic to ceremonially burn them.
Practice Daily Forgiveness
Are you holding onto any emotional baggage that’s doing nothing but weighing you down? We all are. It’s time to let it go, and you can start with the following daily practice. Every morning, think of someone from your past or present life (including yourself), and write them a letter expressing forgiveness.
My favorite definition of forgiveness is “giving up the hope that the past could have been any different.”
With this in mind, devote some of your daily letters to people to whom you want to express this sentiment. Again, you don’t have to actually send the letters.
Increase Positive Emotions to Improve Immune System
Bringing joy and laughter into your life supports healing and promotes overall wellness directly in your physical body. Plus, it makes every day more fulfilling—and that’s worth celebrating.
Many of us believe we are happy, but can you remember the last time you truly had fun? When faced with their mortality, many radical remission survivors recognize that they have lost touch with true happiness—and we can learn from their experiences.
What were your favorite pastimes as a child? Mine was riding my bike and whenever I need a happiness boost I hop on my bike and tool around the neighborhood. I feel like a happy-go-lucky kid again. This week, revisit at least one of your favorite childhood activities and see if it rekindles a youthful joy.
Turn to a Furry Friend
I’ve written about this before, but it bears repeating. Animals can reduce anxiety, depression, and even pain. Petting them naturally reduces the body’s stress hormones (like cortisol and adrenaline). I also triggers the release of more healing hormones (like oxytocin, dopamine, and endorphins).
You don’t have to have a pet to benefit from petting them. There’s probably one in your neighborhood who’d love to be your emotional support animal.
If you want to explore more ways to calm your nervous system and improve your immune system, click the button below and schedule a free, 15-minute call with me.
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