It’s a human response to ignore our own pain. It’s a survival technique that our minds have developed since the dawn of humankind. Both men and women will ignore their own health conditions because they believe it will make things worse somehow. We tend to not want to make a fuss about ourselves, we worry about the health of others, and sometimes, we just don’t want to admit we’re hurting. But several bad things can happen if you allow yourself to ignore your health concerns for too long.
Skin conditions turn to disorders
Eczema and other skin conditions like psoriasis are itching conditions whereby the skin is dry, flaky, and very irritable. The temperature, texture of your clothes, and stress levels all impact your skin condition. If you don’t treat these conditions, you can develop a disorder whereby you disassociate yourself from your own body. This is often called a mind-body disenfranchising effect, whereby your mind is another entity and your body is a foreign entity. This can cause you to hate your skin, body, the way you look and feel. It can lead to more harm, as you scratch just for the pleasure and then the pain. Go see a doctor and talk to them about this separation of personal agency.
Problems hearing and emotional stress
It should come as no surprise to anyone, that having trouble hearing puts a lot of emotional stress on your mind. Again, it’s partly due to how we have evolved. The fear of the unknown is part of it, but it’s also because we know that not being able to hear is potentially very dangerous for us. Take a look at the problems that arise from untreated hearing loss. You will not only have a decline in your cognitive ability but you will suffer from irritability, excessive anger, tension, depression, social rejection, and avoiding social situations. One of the most surprising negative effects is fatigue. You just feel tired because you’re so stressed all the time and you’re hypersensitive.
Coping is not healing
Going back to the original reasons why we ignore what our own bodies are telling us. Just coping is not the same as healing. We all hope, or at least should hope, to get better and one day is rid of our health conditions. At the very least, we find ways to not allow them to change who we are. The only way we can heal is by getting medical help and mental health support. Especially in times like these, reaching out for help is nothing shameful.
- Write down how your health condition makes you feel, emotionally speaking.
- Why do you feel you have to cope? Can you afford health care, medicines?
- Do you feel embarrassed about your health condition? Why?
- Can you speak with someone anonymously to get advice? Online health forums are a good way, but contacting your doctor by phone could be the best thing you do as a first step.
Leaving health conditions untreated will only make things worse. Deep down you know this to be true for yourself. So don’t suffer in silence, reach out to someone for help, and be proactive in seeking a remedy.
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