Psychosomatics of Otitis on a Nervous Basis in Children and Adults

Otitis is an ear inflammation caused by the activity of pathogenic bacteria. It often arises from other inflammations (like sinusitis), poor hygiene, and colds. However, otitis is also considered a psychosomatic illness, meaning it develops due to stress.

Why Ears Hurt

Psychosomatics of the ears:

• Ears are needed to listen and understand people. They have the same significance at a metaphysical level.
• Accordingly, ear diseases indicate that a person can no longer hear or accept something.
• Ear pain suggests a loss of connection with the external world. Consciously or subconsciously, the person tries to escape from reality. They are tired of others’ thoughts, scandals, and insults.

However, attention should be paid to which side the pain occurs. Psychosomatics of otitis:

• If the right ear hurts, it indicates a desire to avoid hearing what others say. It’s a way to abstract from conflicts and criticism.
• Pain on the left indicates a reluctance to listen to oneself. This arises from self-misunderstanding, excessive self-criticism, and internal conflict.

Ear pain is accompanied by symptoms like ringing and noise in the ears, cephalgia and dizziness, a sensation of ear blockage, partial hearing loss, and hip joint pain.

Interesting! According to another psychosomatic theory, the right ear is associated with success in work and career, while the left is linked to family relationships. This should also be considered in psychodiagnostics.

Risk Factors

People with the following characteristics are at risk:

• Shyness;
• Rigidity;
• Anxiety;
• Stiffness;
• Tendency towards depression;
• Rage and irritability;
• Chronic stress;
• Fears;
• Anger and restlessness.

Ear problems may arise from other disorders and harmful habits: biting lips and nails, sucking fingers or pens, chewing gum addiction, jaw clenching, and teeth grinding. These lead to increased tension in the jaw muscles and can cause spasms.

Risk factors include micro and macro traumas. The former includes eating hard food and rubbing gums with fruits and meat. The latter involves head and neck injuries (accidents, sports).

Interesting! 90% of ear problems occur in people living under constant criticism and pressure.

Psychosomatic Cause of Otitis

Chronic otitis develops against the background of prolonged conflicts with close people or colleagues. It’s likely that the person is tired of seeking reconciliation and has become desperate. Ear disease becomes the simplest way to abstract away from the ongoing issues.

The main psychosomatic cause of otitis is stress. During stress, all muscles tense up, including the jaw and neck muscles. The anatomical structure of the ears is such that they are closely connected to these muscles. Hence, discomfort arises: pain, a feeling of congestion, noise and ringing, pressure.

However, the psychosomatics of otitis in children and adults differ. Let’s look more closely.

Children’s Ear Diseases

Ear diseases are more common in children from overprotective families. Perhaps the child is so tired of the instructions from teachers or parents that the only way to hear their own opinion is to fall ill.

Also, ear diseases strike children from authoritarian families or families where parents do not get along. In this case, the child becomes ill to shield themselves from constant quarrels, criticism, insults, and condemnation. Ear diseases work as a shield for them.

Characteristics of the Disease in Adults

Ringing in the ears occurs in irritable people. They are so annoyed by what they’ve heard that they are on the verge of fury and attacking someone. Ear congestion in this case helps to step away from the situation and cool down.

Sensitive people often suffer from noise in their ears. They find it difficult to perceive others’ pain, so they prefer not to hear about other people’s problems.

Self-confident people suffer from deafness. They are used to hearing and listening only to themselves, ignoring others’ opinions. To firmly shield themselves from recommendations and criticism (including constructive) from loved ones, the person becomes deaf.

Important! Ear discomfort can only arise against the background of stress. In such cases, medical examination does not reveal any disorders, and symptoms are associated with muscle spasms. All unpleasant sensations will pass after relaxing the facial and neck muscles.

Psychosomatists on Ear Diseases and Their Psychosomatic Causes

According to psychosomatics, different ear problems arise from various psychological reasons:

• Otitis reflects weak communicative skills, irritability, and an unwillingness to listen to others. The individual experiences difficulties in establishing contacts with others.
• Tinnitus indicates poor self-control and an inability to analyze one’s actions.
• Ear pain is a sign of guilt for not wanting to listen to someone.
• Deafness results from escaping others’ opinions, stubbornness, and an inability to listen to constructive criticism.
• Mastoiditis is a result of exhaustion or severe shock.

But these are not the only reasons for the development of ear diseases. Let’s look at the theories of several well-known psychosomatists: Louise Hay, V. Zhikarentsev, and Liz Burbo.

Louise Hay’s View

Louise Hay believes that ear diseases will pass if a person learns to receive and radiate positive energy. One must learn to listen and want to hear and heed others. It is essential to learn to hear another person’s point of view. You don’t have to agree or accept it, but you should be able to calmly listen to an alternative opinion. To do this, you need to respect, love, and accept yourself and others. It’s crucial to change your attitude and perception.

Healing affirmations:

• “I listen to the world and accept it with love.”
• “I am glad and grateful that my ears help hear beautiful sounds.”
• “I can enjoy the sounds present in nature.”
• “My ears are filled with love, I am ready to accept any information.”

V. Zhikarentsev on Otitis

V. Zhikarentsev believes that the causes of otitis are:

• Anger.
• Uncertainty and confusion.
• Domestic scandals.
• Unwillingness to listen to someone. He offers the following affirmation for healing: “I am surrounded by harmony. In the words of those around me, I hear love, understanding, and support. I am a center of love.”

Ear Problems According to Liz Burbo

Liz Burbo believes that ears are responsible for the ability to listen to what is happening around. Hearing problems indicate that a person does not want to accept what they hear. The surrounding information provokes anger and criticism. In children, otitis develops as a response to tiresome parental guidance and unjustified prohibitions.

Deafness develops in those accustomed to hearing only themselves and those who think about what they will say, rather than listening to the opponent. But such a position is caused by an internal sense of danger. The person feels constantly attacked and criticized, so they take a defensive position.

What to do: It’s important to understand that it’s not others’ opinions that irritate you but your attitude towards their words. As soon as you love yourself and gain confidence, you will become more kind and open. You’ll realize that people don’t wish you harm. Yes, their opinion may and probably will differ from yours, but that doesn’t mean it’s dangerous. And if you’re becoming deaf to escape requests and complaints from others, it’s time to learn to say no.

Methods of Treating Psychosomatic Otitis

Escaping reality and isolation are the destructive tactics of a weak person. Learn to resolve conflicts, accept the peculiarities of others, find compromises, and defend your rights. It’s essential to change your perception and ways of responding to external stimuli. Then, otitis will recede on its own.

From a medical standpoint, treatment has a different character. Firstly, it’s crucial to consistently stretch and widely open the mouth. This is because muscles respond to symptoms with even greater spasms. Secondly, medications are sometimes prescribed to relieve spasms and relax muscles. Or, a special device is recommended, preventing the muscles from clenching.

Important! Diagnosis and treatment of otitis require a comprehensive approach involving both a psychologist and an otolaryngologist. As with the treatment of other psychosomatic illnesses, both psychotherapy and medication are necessary.

Prevention

Preventive methods are obvious: avoid yelling and scandals, listen only to pleasant things, and interact only with interesting people. Of course, this isn’t always feasible in practice, but it’s a goal to strive for. To do this, you need to radiate love, warmth, and understanding yourself. Learn to hear other people, give compliments, and admire the achievements of others.

Other important preventive measures include:

• Getting enough sleep (about 8 hours).
• Walking daily, or even better, doing gymnastics in the fresh air.
• Monitoring the balance and correctness of your diet.
• Avoiding psycho-physical exhaustion.
• Learning to relax (yoga, warm baths with aroma candles, listening to music, etc.).

Important! The less negativity inside and around you, the lower the likelihood of developing otitis. Remember, it develops as a means of escape from unpleasant information. What do you not want or are not ready to hear? And why?