The nasopharynx is a cavity that connects the nasal cavity and the upper part of the pharynx, i.e., the nose and mouth. It is likened to a filter, preventing harmful bacteria from entering the body. Medically, the nasopharynx is considered part of both the upper respiratory tract and the beginning of the digestive tract, highlighting its uniqueness and indispensability. The primary diseases of the nasopharynx include: rhinitis and sinusitis, nasopharyngitis (commonly known as a cold), tonsillitis, ARVI and influenza, peripheral nerve damage, and mechanical injury. The physiological causes of nasopharyngeal diseases include:
- Consumption of cold food,
- General body hypothermia,
- Vocal cord strain,
- Allergens,
- Weak immunity,
- Harmful habits, etc.
Psychosomatics of the Nasopharynx
To understand the psychosomatics of the nasopharynx, it is important to recall its function. Being compared to a filter by medical professionals, it not only filters air but also human thoughts and emotions on a metaphysical level, protecting the inner world from negative and destructive influences. For instance, Liz Burbo associates blocked nasopharynx in children with their fear of expressing thoughts or emotions, fearing misunderstanding. Here, the nasopharynx acts as a barrier to negative emotions like fear. The symbolic meanings of the nose and mouth, components of the nasopharynx, are also noteworthy. Louise Hay views the nose as a symbol of self-recognition. Dr. V. Sinelnikov sees the nose as representing self-esteem, individuality, and self-value. Hay also notes that the mouth symbolizes the intake of new ideas and sustenance. Hence, oral diseases suggest rigid thinking and resistance to new concepts. Liz Burbo interprets oral diseases as a refusal to accept and assimilate new ideas due to fear.
The psychosomatics of nasopharyngeal diseases can also be traced through the interconnections within the human body. For example, a depressed mood (nervous system) can lead to disrupted metabolism and blood circulation (circulatory system), resulting in edema. Impaired nasal blood circulation can cause vasomotor rhinitis. Psychological overloads can disrupt the hormonal system, potentially causing allergic reactions and allergic rhinitis. Strong negative emotions, stress, and depression weaken immunity, allowing microbial invasion and resulting in common rhinitis or throat inflammation. The psychological reasons for specific nasopharyngeal diseases merit detailed exploration.
Nasopharyngeal Diseases
Blocked Nose: Louise Hay interprets nasal congestion as a lack of self-recognition. Liz Burbo views it as an inability to live fully, suppressing emotions due to fear of suffering or causing suffering to loved ones. It might also indicate aversion to a person or situation. According to Burbo, the nose responds to distrust and fear, and its problems often arise in confined, socially challenging environments. B. Baginsky and Sh. Shalila see nasal problems as a desire to retreat from the world, possibly to avoid conflicts or from feeling overwhelmed. V. Sinelnikov considers nasal congestion as a manifestation of undervalued self-worth, even relating it to doubts about masculinity in men. Generally, nasal congestion is common in individuals with low self-esteem, feeling unrecognized, unable to express themselves, and perceiving themselves as insignificant.
Runny Nose
Louise Hay sees a runny nose as a cry for help and suppressed tears. Liz Burbo believes it arises from facing confusing situations, feeling overwhelmed by minor details, and resulting anger. This confusion hampers the understanding of true needs and living in the present. According to Burbo, a subconscious calculation exists: falling ill to avoid an unpleasant person due to their fear of infection. A popular belief, as per Burbo, is that colds result from hypothermia, which she considers a self-fulfilling prophecy. She also sees a deeper meaning in colds, suggesting a need for relaxation and emotional expression, rather than blaming others. Most psychosomatic experts link runny nose to unexpressed grievances and internal crying. V. Sinelnikov interprets nasal discharge as subconscious tears, a way of releasing suppressed feelings like sorrow, disappointment, etc. Allergic rhinitis, he notes, reflects a lack of emotional control, a consequence of severe emotional shocks, leading to a negative-focused perception of life.
Psychosomatics in Children’s Runny Nose
V. Sinelnikov’s practice indicates that children’s runny nose often signifies a plea for help. It can be a response to feeling undervalued in parental relationships, expressing helplessness, lack of parental affection, and a desire for attention.
Nosebleeds
Louise Hay associates nosebleeds with a longing for recognition, unnoticed grievances, and a thirst for love. V. Sinelnikov views it as an expression of a need for recognition and love. He reminds that blood symbolizes joy, and its loss signifies a life devoid of love and recognition.
Sinusitis
Most psychologists interpret sinusitis as repressed self-pity, a feeling of isolation, and an inability to deal with perceived loneliness.
Common Cold
Louise Hay attributes colds to narrow-mindedness and a desire for solitude. Some psychologists believe colds and ARVI arise from overburdening oneself with worries and work, failing to rest, thus using illness as a pretext for rest. Another cause is “freezing” one’s emotions, not allowing oneself to express feelings and emotions.
Mouth Inflammations and Ulcers
Liz Burbo links mouth inflammations and ulcers to harboring negative thoughts for too long before expressing them.
Adenoids
V. Sinelnikov sees the cause of adenoids in children as constant family friction, disputes, and frequent quarrels. The prevailing atmosphere is often one of dissatisfaction, irritation, and lack of agreement among family members. This leads to a subconscious belief in children of being unwanted, a sentiment energetically transmitted by one of the parents who feels unloved in the relationship.
Tonsillitis
Liz Burbo considers the cause of tonsillitis as an unwillingness to accept something internally, suppressing feelings due to fear. This internal suppressed conflict manifests physically as inflammation. Dr. V. Sinelnikov believes that if a person restrains from uttering harsh words, suppresses anger and other emotions, or fears expressing their thoughts aloud, their throat reacts with inflammation. The disease, in this case, acts as a barrier to expressing the forbidden. Some psychologists note that frequent tonsillitis occurs in individuals who cannot accept a past event, harboring unexpressed grievances about uncontrollable past occurrences.
Paths to Healing
It is well-known that a psychosomatic illness is a breather, a time for reflection, a signal that a person urgently needs to stop, take a timeout, and focus on themselves, especially their mental state.
Indeed, in our hectic times, when people constantly live at a “rushing” pace (needing to accomplish this and that) and in a stressful mode (with overwhelming negative emotions), and often do not allow themselves to rest, their body, not waiting for permission, decides to take a break itself. In this decision, our body proves wiser than our mind and literally “saves” us: with minor losses, our body protects us and itself from greater ones.
Therefore, all that a person suffering from psychosomatic ailments of the nasopharynx needs to do is give themselves time to relax and rest, distance themselves from problems and people, calm down and introspect, and, most importantly, find the inner strength (which is always there) to continue the race of life.
Whether you’re walking your child to school or going about your errands (to the bank, store, or work) – take a moment to stop and look up at the sky (where there’s the sun or the moon and stars, the blueness or the dark distance), look around (the white snow that brought joy in childhood or the fresh greenery or autumn’s gold, etc.), enjoy the slowly falling snow or the fresh breeze…
Feeling emotionally tired of loved ones? Irritated with them, etc.? That happens too. But now, look at them differently: before you is your child (wife, husband), whom you’ve longed for, who, thank God, is alive and well. Can you imagine your life without him or her? No! Then hug them and say that you love them (it’s true, we just forget about it sometimes), that you are happy to be their mom (dad)!
There’s your relaxation minute!
To do this, you only need one minute, but it will gift you amazing sensations and joyful moments – moments of Life… After this, you won’t feel like “running” anymore, but you will want to LIVE.
Lada
