12 replies to this topic

[Paracelsus]

Has anyone else notice they can THINK themselves into breaking out? I know for certain I can... If I'm really thinking about the presence of a zit I can almost feel it growing and becoming more and more inflamed. On the other hand, if I have a nice relaxing day my skin seems to mellow out alot. It's like there's a psychic link between my thoughts and my sebaceous glands lol.

Something kinda interesting... my sister is a total hippy (flawless tan skin) and she told me perhaps my "manipura" or third chakra is clogged. Not sure if I believe this, but this website does list eczema and acne as a symptom. Basically if you're third chakra is out of whack, you feel inferior and worried alot. Also, the third chakra controls the "sweetness of life" aka blood sugar.

Here's the link: http://www.bioenergyassociates.com/reikichakrabasics.htm

Sound crazy to you guys??

[Timehealsall]

i know that when im spawning a zit... if i worry about it or stress it just gets more inflamed... it sucks so bad

[mythai05]

Lol thats pretty weird ive never thought about that! Something similar happens to me though. If i have been having a bad day (and thinking about my skin a lot) then i usually have a break out when i go home and look in the mirror. But i guess it could just be because i have been feeling stressed out. I dont know i feel like my skin is always on my mind haha. not sure, but thats an interesting point you have...

mythai05

[Melie87]

Everything is in our heads.

It's about time we stop focusing on our skin.

I don't and I am doing well. Busy with life, and bein healthy

Boom.

[BabyFirefly]

I agree and disagree. When I have so much stress that my skin seems like nothing, I get a lot of breakouts. But when I have a "normal" amount of stress and don't worry of my skin, it gets better. So I don't know.

[AKL]

Isn't the mind a wonderful thing? Also have a look at Grossbart: www.grossbart.com. Free e-Book here: http://www.grossbart.com/SkinDeep.pdf

[03GT]

I used to think acne was semi-psychosomatic as well because when I'd feel stressed that I would get a pimple I eventually would. But then I went on low carb dieting, I would still have those feelings yet that pimples would never come. Yes, stress, excerbates acne, but I don't beleive that 'thought' entirely precedes acne.

[AutonomousOne1980]

i believe there may be a mild link, between stress and all bodily functions.

the majority of the processes are largely under the governance of real physical substances, like protiens fats carbs minerals and vitamins.

[Paracelsus]

i believe there may be a mild link, between stress and all bodily functions.

the majority of the processes are largely under the governance of real physical substances, like protiens fats carbs minerals and vitamins.

Yes, I think diet is the number one factor. Was just reading that stress and diet are very inter-related so it's a one two punch if you tackle both.

[OmegaisJaded]

I agree that obsessing over your skin can cause a psychological issue where you think it's worse than what it actually is. Extreme cases are classified as BDD.

Stress can also possibly trigger an inflammatory response.

The body and mind are definitely connected in a lot of ways.

[PaulH85]

I don't and I am doing well. Busy with life, and bein healthy

There's the key - being busy.

I was talking to another Org member at the weekend how that's usually the time when my skin breaks out. It seemed that the cycle it was in meant it broke out Saturday through to Monday, then looked a mess for a couple of days before it started to heal up a bit by Friday, only to break out again by Saturday.

I always thought that my skin had this cycle and it behaved like this entirely on it's own accord. I was so involved in my negative behaviours to the point that I was totally blind to the fact that I was causing it to act that way and I couldn't even see the pattern.

The pattern, of course, was that I was going home after work on a Friday evening with no plans fo the weekend. So I'd be spending Friday night, all of Saturday and all of Sunday at home, by myself. Alone, with my thoughts about my skin. Alone, looking at my reflection in the mirror.

I'd see the odd pimple, maybe the slightest blemish, and I'd think, 'Give it a couple of days and the little pimples will be massive monsters taking over my face, causing me pain and making me look gross'. Sure, I helped them on their way, but I certainly think focusing on them so much and obsessing over them mentally plays a part. I was essentially telling my body what to do.

Thinking of it that way - that I was telling my body what to do - I guess I could say that my mind did a great job and followed my orders perfectly! In that respect, if I spin things around and use my mind to send my body positive messages, that could work too and help me clear up.

And, if I keep myself busy at the weekends, I won't have time to think about my skin, pick, stand in fronr of the mirror, and so on. By chance, I had a busy weekend and today, my face is looking the same as it did on Friday. To me, that speaks volumes.

[Timehealsall]

Isn't the mind a wonderful thing? Also have a look at Grossbart: www.grossbart.com. Free e-Book here: http://www.grossbart.com/SkinDeep.pdf

or a terrible thing in my case..

[Freejoy]

Hi,

I been studying about the mind-body connection or psychosomatic causes of acne and found some interesting links that might be the key to this whole thing ...hopefully!

Maybe others might find these links interesting too.

Youtube video interview with Dr Sarno: The Divided Mind - The Epidemic of Mindbody Disorders

Hypnosis in Psychosomatic Medicine

Book: The Mindbody Prescription: Healing the Body, Healing the Pain Amazon Customer Reviews

YouTube Video: David R. Hawkins On Love

If anyone has anymore information or links related please let me know. Because there doesn't seem to be much on this subject. Personally in my experience of having acne for years and years I've notice sometime everything just clears up for no apparent reason in one day. It's sometime amazing.