Can emotions be linked to cancer?

As they say, always manage your emotions. Of course, there are times it is easier said and done, especially if these are negative emotions such as anger, resentment, hate, fear, regret, shame, or sadness. Emotions do not usually subside quickly, especially for those who have had unpleasant experiences or traumas who at times carry them for the rest of their lives. Unfortunately, negative emotions can bring other negativity in your life too, like cancer.

Cancer is not a word that triggers a happy emotion. It is a word that brings fear, worry, and sadness to all of us. There is at least one person in your life who has been afflicted with this disease, and we all know what it feels to have a loved one go through it or succumb to it.

In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) states that cancer is the second leading cause of death around the world with one in six deaths in 2018. In the Philippines, seven people pass away per hour, according to the Cancer Coalition of the Philippines. Because cancer is brought by different types, it is hard or even impossible to find a cure. So how can we beat cancer? With prevention.

In her book Yes, You Can Prevent and Control Cancer: A Personal Journal for Daily Living and Total Wellbeing, educator and researcher Dr. Christine E.V. Gonzalez, NMD, PhD enumerates the underlying causes of cancer. After all, if you know what causes it, then you also have the power to stop or prevent it. The author indicates that an unhealthy diet, toxic water and dehydration, chemicals, stress, mental and spiritual toxins, and environmental toxicity may all contribute to the big C. But did you know that deadly emotions may be linked to cancer too?

It’s true. According to Dr. Gonzales, deadly emotions are those you have been carrying for quite some time. Since we encounter a lot of things every day, our emotions can vary and change in a day as well. Unfortunately, there are some emotions that linger longer and, when left unaddressed or suppressed, they can affect the body too.

Here are some tips on how to manage your emotions and take care of emotional health. After all, self-care is not just about looking good, but it is also about feeling good too.

• Keep a journal. Writing them down can help you assess and see patterns on why you felt a certain way at a certain time.
• Feel what you feel. Do not try to deny or avoid them, instead address them and know that it is normal to feel a certain way sometimes. This helps you become more familiar with them that can eventually help you manage them later on.
• Be mindful. Breathe, relax, observe, and take in the present moment.
• Forgive. Oftentimes, your lingering, negative emotions are caused by someone who hurt you. Forgiveness is not only moving on, but also helping yourself release this burden of emotions.

Managing emotions is difficult but important because emotions can impact your health as well. If you have always been having difficulty managing them, it is okay to seek help. There are therapists and councilors who can help you unpack these emotions, let go of those that linger too long, and teach you to control them. You can also try inner child therapy, especially if you have had unpleasant experiences in your childhood. Saps Uttam is an integrative and clinical hypnotherapist, who can guide you in getting you deep into your subconscious to know the root causes and help you start to heal.

What cancer teaches us is that when it comes to health, the power is always within us to change for the worse, or for the better. May you always choose the latter.