What is Your Body Trying to Tell You?
Have you ever had strange a symptom in your body during stress or a time of high emotions? It’s relatively normal, for example, that a twitching eye can indicate increased or prolonged stress. Your body might be telling you something with the sensations you experience. But can you understand the message?
Organ Jargon
Unexpressed emotions, stress, and trauma can manifest in your body. This is the basis of somatic therapy and somatic work. Did you know that Alfred Adler coined the term “organ jargon” to refer to the physical manifestation of psychological pains in the early 1900s? Similar to modern “bodywork,” Adler might ask a patient with stomach pains if something in their life made them feel “sick to their stomach.” In this way, organ jargon or “organ dialect” is a symbolic expression of a true feeling that corresponds with an individual’s lifestyle.
If this sounds like a heady topic, you can read about organ jargon on Adlerpedia to become more familiar with this concept.
Special note: Self-exploration questions may trigger an emotionally charged memory. If you feel triggered by certain bodily sensations or activities, exploring your symptoms can enhance this experience. If you find yourself becoming triggered, switch your focus from your symptoms to grounding exercises to calm yourself.
Recommended Reading:
The Three Registers by Chris Shelley
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