approach is needed for victims of emotional hijacking. For many, these emotional wounds have been held in for decades and are so deep that, like a volcano, they are causing mini-eruptions. However, when the crust of the volcano is finally removed, the fury and rage are released and healing can take place. This process cannot be done alone. If you are willing, God will hold your hand and step-by-step put in place counselors, support groups, and friends to help you along the way. In my food addiction, I attended a 12-step recovery program (Overeaters Anonymous) and an intense in-patient recovery program. Today there are programs for all types of addiction (from A-Z). They allow you to work along with individuals who are nonjudgmental and know firsthand the challenges with which you struggle.
Thirdly, we must come to know the “truth.” John 8:32 states: “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” The word “truth” has two connotations: “truth,” as in having knowledge, and “The Truth,” as in a relationship with God. The Truth (as in knowing Him) involves the process of building a relationship that allows Him to work in and transform our lives. Isaiah 61:1 makes this statement regarding “The Truth”: “The Spirit of the LORD God is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.”
The truth (as in knowledge) gets to the underlying reason for the addictive behaviors; it identifies the root causes of emotional captivity. Jesus has been anointed by His Father to set the captives free. He not only shows us the underlying cause but also leads us into a relationship that provides emotional healing. Are you imprisoned, being held captive to addictions, and longing to be free? Has your life been a rollercoaster of highs and lows in which you see no end? There is a way out! Jesus says of Himself in John 18:37: “To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world.” You need no longer be a victim of emotional hijacking; a way of escape has already been made. Just for the asking, and with commitment and dedication, He (our Creator God) has promised to set the captives free.
Take the Challenge
Jesus invites you to take the challenge; come to know “The Truth,” and the truth shall set you free.
4
A New Way of Looking at Disease
Karen’s Story
We are just starting to realize the power that the mind has over the body and that many diseases have their initial foundations in the mind. Unfortunately, Karen learned this the hard way. Now 45 and single, she got married in her early twenties to a man she felt she could not live without. Tom was tall, dark, and handsome—the envy of many of her girlfriends.
However, a few months into the marriage she saw big red flags, which she had somehow missed while dating. Her husband, Tom was jealous, possessive, and verbally abusive. During their short courtship of three months, she had thought it was wonderful that he was so protective and a little jealous, but now that the knot had been tied, she felt as if she had a noose around her neck.
Up until marriage, Karen had always enjoyed good health. She exercised, was a normal weight, and was free of disease. But over that first year she began to have vague symptoms of chest discomfort and stomach problems for which her doctor could find no physical basis. She later began to binge eat and as a result gained 50 pounds. This did not set well with Tom. He became more abusive; he made her feel stupid, unattractive, and just worthless.
She started to take on more responsibilities trying to prove her worth. In addition to cooking, cleaning, and working full time, she began to care for his aged mother who was moved into their home. Karen continued to go to her doctor, now with symptoms that had a real name. Her list of daily medications began to grow. She was depressed and now on antidepressants, antacids for her stomach, blood pressure medications, medicine for joint pain, and sleeping aids.
Karen decided, “I’m out of here” and, after 20 years of marriage, she finally left!
What happened? Karen was healthy prior to her marriage. What caused such a drastic change? Was she genetically predisposed and destined to get sick anyway? Or did her stressful relationship play a role in its development? What about lifestyle (diet, lack of exercise); did it play a part in her disease?
Can I say with 100% certainty that her diseases were caused by the stressors in her life? No, I can’t say for sure that this was her case, but the scientific research shows that prolonged stress is a major factor in the development of many diseases. When we connect the dots, in many cases stress emerges as the salient feature.
Connecting the Dots
In Western society the field of medicine has exploded with technological advances and is making unprecedented strides in treating disease. If you lived back in the 1800s and had tuberculosis, more than likely you would not have survived. Back then, the disease was a death sentence. Not only was it common to die from TB, but also from pneumonia, simple wound infections, and even diarrhea. With the discovery of antibiotics and proper hygiene, such as simple hand washing, deaths from such previously fatal illnesses are now rare in Western society.
However, in recent times there has been a proliferation of other diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. When it comes to making a diagnosis and treating symptoms, we in the United States are second to none; however, we have failed markedly in identifying the root causes of these killer diseases. I believe that it is time for a new approach to an old way of looking at disease—an approach that focuses on the mind.
There are connections and links traversing the magnificent structures of the mind and the body. They are in constant communication, and when one suffers the other sympathizes. This pathway begins in the brain. Is it possible that some of the most common diseases that afflict us have their origins in the mind? Can our thoughts impact the structure and function of our bodies? Can what is happening in the brain affect the heart, lungs, and even the bones? Can our thoughts change the structure of our cells? Can they influence or cause alterations in the DNA?
An exciting new field of science has weighed in on the subject matter, and it says yes. It is the field of study called psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) and it looks at the connections between the brain, chemical messengers, and the immune system. Scripture weighed in on the subject centuries ago, stating: “For as he thinketh in his heart so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). Yes, our mental status affects the function of our body, and the body affects the function of the brain.
Remember that song from way back years ago “Dem Bones”?
Your hipbone connected to your backbone,
Your backbone connected to your shoulder bone,
Your shoulder bone connected to your neck bone,
Dem bones, dem bones, dem bones.
Just like the bones come together, connecting to give us a frame, we see direct links between body organs. The brain, immune system, and endocrine system are in constant communication with all parts of the body. As they talk, they send impulses, releasing and inhibiting chemicals and hormones through specific pathways. And the brain is the conductor; it sets the tone.
Just imagine your brain, which is only three pounds. It is the conductor of every organ in the body—heart, lungs, the reproductive system; all are servants to the brain. It tells the body what, when, where, and how to behave. And the body obeys (even if the brain is sending bad instructions).
It All Starts in the Brain
How does it all work? How does stress affect the mind and the body? Let’s take a look
