Illustration by The Epoch Times
Feature from Epoch Times Healthy Corner By Emma Suttie, D.Ac, AP
Sometimes we are so busy and distracted we don’t notice our most basic biological needs. Many people get stuck in shallow breathing patternsor don’t realize they are hungry until they have an outburst of “hanger.”
From caffeine to digital devices, we are constantly bombarded by stimulation, making it difficult to perceive the signals our bodies send us—such as hunger, thirst, and pain.
Medications, ultra-processed foods, stress, and trouble sleeping can also leave us feeling disconnected from our bodies.
One of the more common signals we miss is dehydration. Many people frequently confuse their thirst for hunger and end up eating unnecessary calories when what their bodies desperately need is a drink. They end up taking pain pills for headaches that arise from a lack of simple H2O.
Cues like pain, tension, and brain fog tell us when something is wrong. The cause may be as simple as a poor night’s sleep or as complex as a long-term lack of key nutrients or the onset of disease. If we ignore these signals—and fail to investigate what the body is trying to tell us—problems can grow severe.
Learning to tune into those signals is the first step. The second step is to figure out what they mean. For example:
- Pain: a warning that something is wrong and that we should investigate.
- Digestive discomfort: Bloating or changes in bowel habits like diarrhea or constipation can signal food intolerances, sensitivities, or problems with gut health.
- Fatigue: can indicate inadequate sleep, stress, hormone imbalances, or underlying health issues.
- Headaches: can be caused by eye strain, stress, tension, dehydration, or more serious conditions.
- Getting sick often: can point to a weakened immune system, deficiencies, or chronic stress.
- Sleep disturbances: can indicate stress, anxiety, unresolved emotions, or other issues.
- Vision and Hearing Changes: can be caused by chronic eye strain or exposure to loud noises to neurological conditions.
- Dizziness: can be caused by changes in blood pressure, anxiety, inner ear issues, or heart problems.
- Mood swings: may indicate hormonal issues, insufficient sleep, mood disorders, or can be the side effect of some medications.
Learning to listen to our bodies can also give us critical insight—and motivation—to change habits that don’t serve us well.
For example, do you notice how you feel after eating different foods? Some foods have been linked to depression, mood disorders, and fatigue.
What about your feelings after a bout of exercise? You might feel better after raking up the leaves and wonder if it was the activity itself, being outside, or finally getting the yard in order. Noticing patterns in how we feel after certain activities or foods can give us much-needed incentive to live healthier lives.
The more body-aware we are, the better we can hone in on what’s wrong and correct it. Noticing the first signs of trouble ensures we can do something about it before it gets worse.
We can improve our health and well-being by reinforcing our body awareness.
Tips for Cultivating Body Awareness
We are all born with a deep connection to our bodies, but our lifestyles can make it difficult to decipher the body’s cues. Thankfully, with awareness and practice, we can rekindle this connection.
- Spend time in nature, which helps us slow down, ground, and listen.
- Engage in practices that allow you to spend quality time connecting to your body and its sensations. Have a massage, walk on the beach, or go for a swim, and observe how your body responds.
- Check in with yourself daily. Ask yourself: How does my body feel right now? Do I have any pain? Am I hungry, tired, or stressed? Physical sensations can reflect what is happening mentally and emotionally, such as noticing anxiety due to an upcoming work presentation or feeling rattled after a vivid nightmare.
Developing sensitivity to what our bodies tell us is a worthy pursuit with far-reaching benefits for our bodies and minds. Self-awareness empowers us to make the changes necessary to improve and maintain our health and well-being. Read more