Emotional causes of osteoarthritis, arthritis and polyarthritis by Jacques Martel (Psychotherapist)

THE ARTROSIS
Osteoarthritis is the intensified manifestation of arthritis.
It is a disease of joint wear of the bones, of mechanical and non-inflammatory origin such as arthritis, a deep aggravation of the bone structure, located or usually generalized to the whole body.

However, the joints undergoing major mechanical stresses are those that are most affected, such as those of the spine (cervical vertebrae [of the neck], lumbar vertebrae [lower back]), of the hips, of the hand, Of the knees, of the ankles.

The pain it causes is of a "mechanical" and non-inflammatory origin and usually appears after sustained effort and disappears at rest (this disease is also called rheumatic attrition).

When I suffer from osteoarthritis, it is as if I increase my attitudes and my rigid thoughts more.

This disease is linked to a mental hardening, to an absence of "heat" in my thoughts (cold and humidity accelerate the onset of osteoarthritis), often in relation to authority.

It is the exaggerated motivation to accomplish an action without seeking rest or balance (I give myself to the end of my limits, without stopping to know if I demand too much), an impression of enduring a person or a situation that has now become intolerable, or a strong inhibited reaction in relation to any form of authority.

I am very uncompromising and rigid towards myself.

My body speaks to me and I am interested now in listening to you. I can integrate this disease by consciously accepting that I live an anger and that my thoughts are rigid.

The energy that flows through me is fluid, harmonious, moving. Being open-hearted to this energy and recognizing that I have to change something, can reverse the process and improve my health. I become more flexible and accept others as they are, without wanting to change them. Flexibility at the level of my physical body will then reappear.

THE ARTHRITIS
Arthritis is defined as inflammation of a joint.

It can affect each part of the human locomotor system: the bones, ligaments, tendons or muscles

.
It is characterized by inflammation, muscle stiffness and pain that correspond, in the metaphysical plane, to a closure, criticism, grief, sadness or anger.
Symbolically speaking, grace and freedom of movement are the main qualities, linked to articulation.

When it becomes inflexible, or when it hardens, arthritis is associated with a certain form of rigidity of my thoughts (crystallized thoughts), of my attitudes or of my behaviors, so that all the deep emotions that I should normally express, They are for the physical manifestation of this disease.

Thus, arthritis occurs if I am too inflexible, too demanding, stubborn, intolerant, very moralistic, critic, restricted or too proud in relation to myself, others or the situations of my existence.

A feeling of helplessness usually accompanies the suffering that slows me down. I live the particular feeling of being badly loved, of not being loved and appreciated at my fair value, which brings me much disappointment and bitterness in the face of life and bad mood.

I manifest then an excessively rational spirit. I often criticize all or nothing because I am afraid of life and often feel a form of chronic insecurity.

I feel exploited: I take actions and make gestures more to please others than by real will and interest, so I say “yes” because of duty when, in truth, it is “no”.

Perhaps I have experienced childhood trauma and I now inhibit my emotions, without admitting what happened (concealment) because "I suffered a lot in such an experience and I allow myself to unconsciously censor and complain so that others can understand how much I suffered."

This manifestation is related to self-sacrifice. Arthritis can also proceed in the way I treat or treat others in relation to criticism.

Arthritis also causes a kind of retrograde action; I have the feeling of going back in the energy plane, as if I was instructed to do something else in a different direction, instead of going forward.

Since my fear, my weak self-esteem and my rigidity cause deep emotions to be created regarding why, how or the direction of my movements in life, I may have the feeling of being bound, restricted, immobilized or locked up.

Then, I will feel an inability to bend (my attitude), to be mentally flexible or capable of abdicating.

The arthritic joint tells me what I live and gives me more information. At the level of the hands (fingers), the question is: Am I really doing what I want and what I want to do? My own affairs are "right in my hands"? There are people who no longer have the pleasure of "shaking hands"?

My freedom and my spontaneity in "managing" what happens in my universe are limited by my rigidity and my hardness. At the level of the elbows: “Am I adamant about changes in directions to take in my life? Let others be free and express their full potential?

On the knees: In front of who or what I have the feeling of having to kneel and in front of who or what I do not want to bend?

From now on, I check my true intentions in relation to love. I must change my way of thinking and adopt a new attitude towards the situations of my life.

By being open to the love that is omnipresent (everywhere) and expressing it in a more honest, free and spontaneous way, my heart will be radiant and I will respect others as much as myself. Friendship, understanding and forgiveness are now available to me.

THE Rheumatic ARTHRITIS
Rheumatic arthritis is currently considered the most serious joint condition. It is usually generalized to the whole body instead of a single joint.

The immune system is so ill that it begins to destroy itself, attacking the connective tissue of the joints (collagen), so that the risk of a generalized cripple with pain and pain can be feared. joint swelling

It is directly a fault of my own self, because the strong emotions of resentment and pain fail to express themselves.

Rheumatoid arthritis is linked to a deep disregard of yes, hatred or rage that has been inhibited for a long time, to a critique of such intense intensity that this affects energy even more. fundamental of my existence.

I lived experiences in which I felt ashamed or guilty. It is the manifestation of a much more important critique against authority or everything that authority represents for me: individual, government, etc.

I refuse to bend to this authority, the consequences matter little. It is as if he were constantly ruminating authority, criticizing it.

My mobility becomes limited and I cannot express myself freely (particularly in the case of certain directions to be taken and that I must communicate with my environment in a fluid and funny way) because my joints are too painful. My body becomes rigid, just like my attitudes.

I can't express my strong emotions and I have the feeling of being constantly oppressed and subjugated. Then I adopt behaviors of recollection, self-sacrifice, and ruminate my emotions without being able to express them. I serve as a victim of mercy by sacrificing myself to any cause ; They are always on top of me.

Opening at the heart level is essential if I want to release all the emotions that poison my existence. From now on, I recover my full power over my life, starting with loving myself and accepting myself as I am. I take the rightful place.

ARTHRITIS IN THE FINGERS
Arthritis symbolizes criticism, self-punishment, reprobation, a deep lack of love. Thus, the arthritic fingers (that is, the details of everyday life) indicate the feeling of being badly loved and of being a victim of events in my life every day. I give power to others. I agree to love and forgive myself because, if I don't love myself, how can others love me?

THE POLYARTHRITIS
Polyarthritis is a simultaneous inflammation over several joints.

This disease comes to indicate a difficulty in making the gestures that I was able to execute with great skill once.

Now, I have the feeling of being more clumsy or less skilled. Therefore, I am devalued in relation to this activity in which it was excellent and I have the sensation of losing skill, strength or precision.

This disease is found in the dressmaker for example, who, after a few years, has the feeling of being slower, less skilled. Athletes are frequently affected by polyarthritis, mainly because of the feeling of devaluation they may experience because they are not 100% optimal or that their optimal performance has decreased.

I learn to accept myself with my strengths and my weaknesses. Even if I have the feeling of being less good or less effective, I look at all the experience I gained over the years. I recognize that it was a precious gift that makes me an exceptional person. Polyarthritis can also occur if I am compulsive, very stubborn or moralizing.

I tend to sacrifice myself for others, which often results from inhibited aggression; But to what extent do I act with love, respecting myself? The physical and internal stiffness is aggravated because of this deep stubbornness to not want to change.

Source: The Great Dictionary of the ailments and diseases of Jacques Martel (Psychotherapist)

Emotional causes of osteoarthritis, arthritis and polyarthritis by Jacques Martel (Psychotherapist)