The body has tremendous healing power and the ability to regenerate after illness, injuries, or age-related pathogen invasions. The aim of this study was to explore how self healing mechanisms could be enhanced.
A semi-structured interview was conducted with 15 participants (9 experts and 6 older adults aged 65 years or older). Themes from these transcripts were identified and grouped into four categories of self healing: physiology, psychology, spiritual aspects and interpersonal relations.
1. Take care of yourself
Self care can be anything from taking a relaxing bath to meditating to getting enough sleep. It involves meeting your physical, emotional and spiritual needs with healthy habits that can help you be the best version of yourself when loved ones and co-workers need you.
For example, you might drink more water, eat more fruits and vegetables and avoid caffeine or alcohol. You might try a new yoga class or meditation technique, and you might set aside time to call or text a friend to check in.
Self healing also means having fun and taking a break from work to spend time with friends and family. You might try a board game night, go to the movies or see your favorite band in concert. And don’t forget to take time for exercise, whether it’s a walk or a jog or dancing to your favorite music. Just remember to pay attention to your breath, and don’t overdo it.
2. Talk to yourself
Research suggests that talking to yourself — also known as self-talk, inner dialogue or internal monologue — can be beneficial. It can keep you focused, calm and motivated, especially if you’re trying to overcome a challenge or push through a tough situation.
People who are lonely and have a strong need for connection are more likely to talk to themselves, often using negative psychological messages that can include personalising, magnifying or catastrophising (blaming yourself or seeing the worst-case scenario). Negative self-talk can lead to a variety of mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression, so it’s important to replace these unhealthy messages with positive ones.
If you’re noticing that your self-talk is highly negative or accompanied by auditory or visual hallucinations, it’s recommended to seek the help of a therapist as part of your healing journey. It’s also important to remember that self-healing is a process, so you may need to try out different practices before finding what works best for you.
3. Be grateful
Practicing gratitude is an important tool in our emotional well-being toolbox. It has been shown to be a protective factor against several conditions and diagnoses, including depression and anxiety and substance abuse issues.
To get started with this practice, try taking note of the things you are grateful for in a journal or a simple list. It is best to focus on a few specific items rather than a broad list of many things. Try to delve deeper with the list; for example, think of an item you are grateful for that evokes emotion or is meaningful to you, as opposed to something generic like “my family.”
Another way to foster gratitude is to remember a difficult time in your life, such as a period of suffering or illness. This helps to create an explicit contrast that makes it easier to be grateful for the good times in the present.
4. Forgive yourself
Forgiving yourself can help you move on from the mistakes you make and become more positive about the future. Forgiveness can involve accepting responsibility, feeling remorse, and making amends. It can also include changing negative beliefs or behaviors, practicing mindfulness, and creating a plan to act in line with your values in the future.
Forgiveness can be a difficult process, but it’s important to remember that mistakes don’t define you. It is also essential to be compassionate with yourself, and to recognize that your feelings of guilt are normal.
Forgiving yourself can also involve learning from your experiences and making sure that the past doesn’t negatively influence your present and future decisions. For example, you may learn that certain situations are more likely to lead to a mistake, or that the way you react to stressors can contribute to negative behavior. If you need help forgiving yourself, consider talking to a therapist. They can help you through the forgiveness process and help you find a path forward that’s right for you.
