Why Understanding Symptoms and Their Causes Matters
Our bodies are powerful messengers. Every ache, pain, or recurring illness is often a signal of something deeper — unexpressed emotions, hidden stress, or unresolved trauma. This is an effort to list symptoms and their causes and understanding what symptoms mean emotionally, so you can heal at the root, not just treat the surface.
Emotional meaning of symptoms As per Louise Hay
Before you go through this list, let me tell you that sometimes you might see your symptoms and their causes that makes you say No, this is not me! And it is okay. In our experience, we have seen that these emotions are usually denied and that is absolutely fine. We would ask you to ask yourself with an open mind or ask someone who knows you well and then decide.
This is not part of psychology but energies that get embedded in the body and create the disease.
Here are the psychosomatic symptoms explained as per Louise Hay’s book ‘Ýou can heal your life‘ and other sources.
Abdominal Cramps – Fear. Stopping the process.
Abscess – Fermenting thoughts over hurts, slights and revenge.
Accidents – Inability to speak up for the self. Rebellion against authority. Belief in violence.
Aches – Longing for love. Longing to be held.
- Acidity – Unable to digest life.
Acne – Not accepting the self. Dislike of the self.
Addictions – Running from the self. Fear. Not knowing how to love self.
Adrenal Problems – Defeatism. No longer caring for the self. Anxiety.
Alcoholism – Feeling of futility, guilt, inadequacy. Self-rejection.
Allergies – Denying your own power.
Alzheimer’s Disease – Refusal to deal with the world as it is. Hopelessness and helplessness. Anger.
Amenorrhea – Not wanting to be a woman. Dislike of the self.
Anemia – “Yes-but” attitude. Lack of joy. Fear of life. Not feeling good enough. lack of love.
Ankle – Inflexibility and guilt. Ankles represent the ability to receive pleasure.
Anorexia – Denying the self life. Extreme fear, self-hatred and rejection.
Anxiety – Not trusting the flow and the process of life.
Apathy – Resistance to feeling. Deadening of the self. Fear.
Appetite, Excessive – Fear. Needing protection. Judging the emotions.
Arm – Represents the capacity and ability to hold the experiences of life.
Arteries – Carry the joy of life.
Arthritis – Feeling unloved. Criticism, resentment.
Fingers – A desire to punish. Blame. Feeling victimized.
Rheumatoid Arthritis – Feeling victimized. Lack of love. Chronic bitterness. Resentment. Deep criticism of authority. Feeling very put upon.
Asthma – Smother love. Inability to breathe for one’s self. Feeling stifled. Suppressed crying.
Athlete’s Foot – Frustration at not being accepted. Inability to move forward with ease.
Back Issues – Represents the support of life.
Rounded shoulders – Carrying the burdens of life. Helpless and hopeless.
Lower Back Pain – Fear of money or lack of financial support. Overthinking about finances.
Mid-Back Pain – Guilt. Stuck in all that stuff back there. “Get off my back!”
Upper Back Pain – Lack of emotional support. Feeling unloved. Holding back love.
Back Curvature – Inability to flow with the support of life. Fear and trying to hold on to old ideas. Not trusting life. Lack of integrity. No courage of convictions.
Bad Breath – Anger and revenge thoughts. Experiences backing up.
Balance, Loss of – Scattered thinking. Not centered.
Baldness – Fear. Tension. Trying to control everything.
Bedwetting – Fear of parent, usually the father.
Belching – Fear. Gulping life too quickly.
Bell’s Palsy – Extreme control over anger. Unwillingness to express feelings.
Bladder Problems – Anxiety. Holding on to old ideas. Fear of letting go. Being “pissed off”.
Bleeding – Joy running out. Anger.
Blisters – Resistance. Lack of emotional protection.
Blood Pressure (High) – Longstanding emotional problem not solved.
Blood Pressure (Low) – Lack of love as a child. Defeatism.
Body Odor – Fear. Dislike of the self. Fear of others.
Bones – Represent the structure of the universe.
Bone Marrow – Represents deepest beliefs about the self. How you support and care for yourself.
Fractures– Rebelling against authority.
Brain – Represents the computer, the switchboard.
Tumor – Incorrect computerized beliefs. Stubborn. Refusing to change old patterns.
Breast – Represents mothering and nurturing and nourishment.
Cysts, Lumps – A refusal to nourish the self. Putting everyone else first. Over mothering. Overprotection. Overbearing attitudes.
Breath – Represents the ability to take in life.
Breathing Problems – Fear. Not trusting the process of life. Getting stuck in childhood. Fear of taking in life fully.
Bronchitis – Inflamed family environment. Arguments and yelling.
Bruises – The little bumps in life. Self-punishment.
Bulimia – Hopeless terror. A frantic stuffing and purging of self-hatred.
Burns – Anger. Burning up. Incensed.
Bursitis – Repressed anger. Wanting to hit someone.
Calluses – Hardened concepts and ideas. Fear solidified.
Cancer – Deep hurt. Longstanding resentment. Deep secret or grief eating away at the self. Carrying hatreds. Also See this.
Candida – Feeling very scattered. Lots of frustration and anger. Demanding and untrusting in relationships. Great takers.
Canker Sores – Festering words held back by the lips. Blame.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – Anger and frustration at life’s seeming injustices.
Cataracts – Inability to see ahead with joy. Dark future.
Cellulite – Stored anger and self-punishment.
Cerebral Palsy – A need to unite the family in an action of love.
Chills – Mental contraction, pulling away and in. Desire to retreat.
Cholesterol – Clogging the channels of joy. Fear of accepting joy.
Circulation – Represents the ability to feel and express the emotions in positive ways.
Colds – Too much going on at once. Mental confusion, disorder. Small hurts.
Colic – Mental irritation, impatience, annoyance in the surroundings.
Colitis – Insecurity. Represents the ease of letting go of that which is over.
Coma – Fear. Escaping something or someone.
Conjunctivitis – Anger and frustration at what you are looking at in life.
Constipation – Incomplete releasing. Holding on to garbage of the past. Guilt over the past. Sometimes stinginess.
Corns – Hardened areas of thought – stubborn holding on to the pain of the past.
Coughs – A desire to bark at the world. “Listen to me!”
Cramps – Tension. Fear. Gripping, holding on.
Crohn’s Disease – Fear. Worry. Not feeling good enough. Resentment and anger.
Crying – Tears are the river of life, shed in joy as well as in sadness and fear.
Cuts – Punishment for not following your own rules.
Cysts – Running the old painful movie. Nursing hurts. A false growth.
Cystic Fibrosis – A thick belief that life won’t work for you. “Poor me.”
Deafness – Rejection, stubbornness, isolation. What don’t you want to hear? “Don’t bother me.”
Depression – Anger you feel you do not have a right to have. Hopelessness.
Diabetes – Longing for what might have been. A great need to control. Deep sorrow. No sweetness left. Life is bitter and total denial
Diarrhea – Fear. Rejection. Running off.
Dizziness – Flighty, scattered thinking. A refusal to look.
Dry eyes – Angry eyes. Refusing to see with love. Would rather die than forgive. Being spiteful.
Dysmenorrhea – Anger at the self. Hatred of the body or of women.
Ear – Represents the capacity to hear.
Earache – Anger. Not wanting to hear. Too much turmoil. Household arguing.
Eczema – Breath-taking antagonism. Mental eruptions.
Edema – What or who won’t you let go of?
Elbow – Represents changing directions and accepting new experiences.
Emphysema – Fear of taking in life. Not worthy of living.
Endometriosis – Insecurity, disappointment and frustration. Replacing self-love with sugar. Blamers.
Epilepsy – Sense of persecution. Rejection of life. A feeling of great struggle. Self-violence.
Epstein-Barr Virus – Pushing beyond one’s limits. Fear of not being good enough. Draining all inner support. Stress.
Eye – Represents the capacity to see clearly past, present, future.
Eye Astigmatism – “I” trouble. Fear of really seeing the self.
Hypermetropia (Farsightedness) – Fear of the present.
Myopia (Nearsightedness) – Fear of the future.
Face – Represents what we show the world.
Fainting – Fear. Can’t cope. Blacking out.
Fat / Weight issues – Oversensitivity. Fear. Need for protection. Hidden anger and resistance to forgive. Running away from feelings. Insecurity. Self-rejection. Seeking fulfillment.
Arms – Anger at being denied love.
Belly – Anger at being denied nourishment.
Hips – Lumps of stubborn anger at the parents.
Thighs – Packed childhood anger. Often rage at the father.
Fatigue – Resistance, boredom. Lack of love for what one does.
Feet – Represent our understanding of ourselves, life, others.
Foot Problems – Fear of the future and of not stepping forward in life.
Fever – Anger. Burning up.
Fibroid Tumors – Nursing a hurt from a partner. A blow to the feminine ego.
Fingers – Represent the details of life.
Thumb – Intellect and worry.
Index – Ego and fear.
Middle – Anger and sexuality.
Ring – Unions and grief.
Little – The family and pretending.
Food Poisoning – Allowing others to take control. Feeling defenseless.
Frigidity – Fear. Denial of pleasure. Belief that sex is bad. Insensitive partners. Fear of father.
Fungus – Stagnating beliefs. Refusing to release the past. Letting the past rule today.
Gallstones – Bitterness. Hard thoughts. Condemning. Pride.
Gas – Gripping. Fear. Undigested ideas.
Gastritis – Prolonged uncertainty. Feeling of doom.
Genitals – Represent the masculine and feminine principles. Worry about not being good enough.
Gland Problems – Holding stations. Self-staring activity. Holding yourself back.
Gout – The need to dominate. Impatience, anger.
Glaucoma – Stony unforgiveness. Pressure from longstanding hurts. Overwhelmed.
Gray Hair – Stress. Belief in pressure and strain.
Growths – Nursing old hurts. Building resentments.
Gum Problems – Inability to back up decisions. Indecisive about life.
Hands – Hold and handle. Clutch and grip. Grasp and let go. Caressing. Pinching. Ways of dealing with experiences.
Hay Fever – Emotional congestion. Fear of the calendar. Belief in persecution. Guilt.
Headaches – Invalidating the self. Self-criticism. Fear.
Heart – Represents the center of love and security.
Heart Attack – Squeezing all joy out of the heart for money or position. Feeling alone and scared. “I’m not good enough.”
Heart Problems – Longstanding emotional problems. Lack of joy. Hardening of the heart. Belief in strain and stress.
Heartburn – Fear. Clutching fear.
Hemorrhoids – Fear of deadlines. Anger of the past. Afraid to let go. Feeling burdened.
Hepatitis – Resistance to change. Fear, anger, hatred. Liver is the seat of anger and rage.
Hernia – Ruptured relationships. Strain, burdens, incorrect creative expression. Rigidity.
Herpes Genitalis – Mass belief in sexual guilt and the need for punishment. Public shame. Belief in a punishing God. Rejection of the genitals.
Herpes Simplex – Bitter words left unspoken.
Hip – Carries the body in balance. Moving forward. Fear of going forward in major decisions. Nothing to move toward.
Hives – Small hidden fears. Making mountains out of molehills.
Hodgkin’s Disease – Blame and tremendous fear of not being good enough. Frantic race to prove oneself. Forgetting the joy of life.
Hyperactivity – Fear. Feeling pressured and frantic.
Hyperventilation – Fear. Resisting change. Not trusting the process.
Hypoglycemia – Overwhelmed by life’s burdens.
Impotence – Sexual pressure, tension, guilt. Social beliefs. Spite at a mate. Fear of mother.
Incontinence – Emotional overflow. Years of controlling emotions.
Indigestion – Gut-level fear, dread, anxiety. Griping and grunting.
Infection – Irritation, anger, annoyance.
Inflammation – Fear. Seeing red. Anger and frustration about conditions in life.
Influenza – Response to mass negativity and beliefs. Fear. Belief in statistics.
Ingrown Toenail – Worry and guilt about moving forward.
Injuries – Anger at the self. Feeling guilty.
Insanity – Fleeing from the family. Escapism, withdrawal. Violent separation from life.
Insomnia – Fear. Not trusting life’s process. Guilt.
Intestines – Represent assimilation and absorption.
Itching – Desires that go against the grain. Unsatisfied. Remorse. Itching to get away.
Jaundice – Internal and external prejudice. Unbalanced reason.
Jaw Problems – Anger. Resentment. Desire for revenge.
Kidney Problems – Criticism, disappointment, failure. Shame. Reacting like a child.
Kidney Stones – Lumps of undissolved anger.
Knee – Pride and ego. Stubbornness. Inflexibility. Fear. Won’t give in.
Laryngitis – So mad you can’t speak. Fear of speaking up. Resentment of authority.
Left Side of Body – Receptivity, taking in, feminine energy, women, the mother. Also See – Roby Chart
Leg – Carries us forward in life.
Liver – Seat of anger and primitive emotions. Chronic complaining. Justifying fault-finding. Feeling bad.
Lockjaw – Anger. Desire to control. Refusal to express feelings.
Lump in the Throat – Fear. Not trusting the process of life.
Lung – Ability to take in life. Depression. Grief. Not feeling worthy.
Lupus – Giving up. Better to die than stand up for oneself. Anger and punishment.
Lymph Problems – Warning to recenter on essentials of life: love and joy.
Malaria – Out of balance with nature and life.
Menopause Problems – Fear of no longer being wanted. Fear of aging. Self-rejection. Not feeling good enough.
Menstrual Problems – Rejection of one’s femininity. Guilt, fear. Belief that genitals are sinful or dirty.
Migraine – Dislike of being driven. Resisting the flow of life. Fight with own sexuality/sensuality, Resistance of intimacy (physical, mental or emotional).
Miscarriage – Fear of the future. Inappropriate timing.
Mononucleosis – Anger at not receiving love and appreciation. No longer caring for the self.
Motion Sickness – Fear. Bondage. Feeling trapped.
- Motor Neuron Disease – Rejection during childhood, Abandonment, rejecting self, anger
Mouth – Represents taking in of new ideas and nourishment. Set opinions. Closed mind. Incapacity to take in new ideas.
Multiple Sclerosis – Mental hardness, hard-heartedness, iron will, inflexibility.
Muscles – Resistance to new experiences. Represent our ability to move in life.
Muscular Dystrophy – “It’s not worth growing up.”
Nails – Represent protection.
Nail Biting – Frustration. Eating away at the self. Spite of a parent.
Narcolepsy – Can’t cope. Extreme fear. Wanting to get away. Not wanting to be here.
Nausea – Fear. Rejecting an idea or experience.
Neck – Represents flexibility. Seeing what’s back there. Stubbornness, inflexibility, unbending.
Nephritis – Overreaction to disappointment and failure.
- Nephrosis – Disharmony with Parents/ amongst them
Nerves – Represent communication. Receptive reporters.
Nervous Breakdown – Self-centeredness. Jamming the channels of communication.
Nervousness – Fear, anxiety, struggle, rushing. Not trusting life’s process.
Neuralgia – Punishment for guilt. Anguish over communication.
Nodules – Resentment and frustration. Hurt ego over career.Nose – Represents self-recognition.
Nosebleeds – Need for recognition. Feeling unnoticed. Crying for love.
Runny Nose – Asking for help. Inner crying.
Stuffy Nose – Not recognizing self-worth.
- Numbness – Withholding love and consideration. Going dead mentally.
Osteomyelitis – Anger and frustration at life’s structure. Feeling unsupported.
Osteoporosis – Feeling no support left in life. Mental pressures, tightness. Loss of flexibility.
Ovaries – Points of creation. Creativity.
Pain – Guilt. Guilt always seeks punishment.
Paralysis – Paralyzing thoughts. Stuck. Terror leading to escape from situation or person.
Pancreas – Represents the sweetness of life.
Pancreatitis – Rejection. Anger and frustration because life has lost its sweetness.
Parasites – Giving power to others. Letting them take over.
Parkinson’s Disease – Fear and intense desire to control everything and everyone.
Peptic Ulcer – Fear. Belief that you are not good enough. Anxious to please.
Phlebitis – Anger and frustration. Blaming others for limitation and lack of joy.
Pimples – Small outbursts of anger.
Pituitary Gland – Represents the control center.
- Plantar Fasciitis – Stubbornness with self, fear of future.
Pneumonia – Desperate. Tired of life. Emotional wounds that are not allowed to heal.
Poison Ivy – Feeling defenseless and open to attack.
Polio – Paralyzing jealousy. A desire to stop someone.
Premenstrual Syndrome – Allowing confusion to reign. Giving power to outside influences. Rejection of feminine processes.
Prostate – Represents masculine principle. Mental fears weaken masculinity. Giving up. Sexual pressure and guilt. Belief in aging.
Psoriasis – Fear of being hurt. Deadening the senses of the self. Refusing responsibility for feelings.
Rash – Irritation over delays. Immature way to get attention.
Right Side of Body – Giving out, letting go, masculine energy, men, the father. Also See – Roby Chart
Ringworm – Allowing others to get under your skin. Not feeling good enough or clean enough.
Scabies – Infected thinking. Allowing others to get under your skin.
Sciatica – Being hypocritical. Fear of money and of the future.
Scleroderma – Protecting the self from life. Not trusting yourself to take care of yourself.
Scratches – Feeling life tears at you. Life is a rip-off.
Senility – Returning to childhood “safety.” Demanding care and attention. A form of control. Escapism.
Shin – Represents the standards of life. Breaking down ideals.
Shingles – Waiting for the other shoe to drop. Fear and tension. Too sensitive.
Sinus Problems – Irritation with someone close.
Skin – Protects individuality. Anxiety, fear. Old, buried things. Feeling threatened.
Slipped Disc – Feeling totally unsupported by life. Indecisive.
Snoring – Stubborn refusal to let go of old patterns.
Solar Plexus – Gut reactions. Center of intuitive power.
Sores – Unexpressed anger that settles in.
Spleen – Obsessions. Being obsessed about things.
Sprains – Anger and resistance. Not wanting to move in a certain direction.
Sterility – Fear and resistance to the process of life. Not needing to go through parenting.
Stiffness – Rigid, stiff thinking.
Stomach – Holds nourishment. Digests ideas. Dread. Fear of the new. Inability to assimilate the new.
Stroke – Giving up. Resistance. Rather die than change. Rejection of life.
Stuttering – Insecurity. Lack of self-expression. Not being allowed to cry.
Sty – Looking at life through angry eyes. Angry at someone.
Suicidal thoughts – See life only in black and white. Refusal to see another way out.
Teeth – Represent decisions.
Teeth Problems – Longstanding indecisiveness. Inability to break down ideas.
- Clenching or Grinding – Tension, Fear, Trauma or Oppression.
- Crowded Teeth – Blurred boundaries, struggling for space, parentification.
Impacted Wisdom Teeth – Not giving yourself mental space to create a firm foundation.
Root Canal – Can’t bite into anything anymore. Root beliefs being destroyed.
- Lower Left Teeth – Mother’s Maternal side issues.
- Lower Right Teeth – Mother’s Paternal side issues.
- Upper Left Teeth – Father’s Maternal side issues.
- Upper Right Teeth – Father’s Paternal side issues.
Throat – Avenue of expression. Channel of creativity.
Throat Problems – Inability to speak up for oneself. Swallowed anger. Stifled creativity. Refusal to change.
Sore Throat – Holding in angry words. Feeling unable to express.
Thrush – Anger over making wrong decisions.
Thymus Gland – Feeling attacked by life. “They’re out to get me.”
Thyroid Gland – Humiliation. “I never get to do what I want. When is it my turn?”
Hyperthyroid – Rage at being left out.
Tics, Twitches – Fear. Feeling watched.
Tinnitus (Ringing in Ears) – Refusal to listen. Not hearing inner voice. Stubbornness.
Toes – Represent the minor details of the future.
Tongue – Ability to taste life’s pleasures with joy.
Tonsillitis – Fear. Repressed emotions. Stifled creativity.
Tuberculosis – Wasting away from selfishness. Possessive. Cruel thoughts. Revenge.
Urinary Infections – Pissed off, usually at opposite sex or lover. Blaming others.
Uterus – Represents the home of creativity.
Vaginitis – Anger at a mate. Sexual guilt. Punishing the self.
Varicose Veins – Standing in a situation you hate. Discouragement. Feeling overworked and overburdened.
Vitiligo – Feeling completely outside of things. Not belonging.
Vomiting – Violent rejection of ideas. Fear of the new.
Warts – Little expressions of hate. Belief in ugliness.
Plantar Warts – Anger at the basis of your understanding. Frustration about the future.
- Weight Gain – Fear/ Insecurity, protection by wearing armor.
Wrist – Represents movement and ease.
How to Begin Healing Emotionally & Physically
- Reflect on your feelings when symptoms arise
- Identify emotional triggers & patterns
- Work with a guide or coach to process & release trapped emotions
- Cultivate mindfulness & self-compassion
- Consider shadow work coaching
Recommended Reading 📚
If you’d like to dive deeper into understanding the emotional roots of your health, here are some highly recommended books that align with what we explored in this post:
Mind Over Medicine: Scientific Proof That You Can Heal Yourself — Lissa Rankin
The Emotion Code: How to Release Your Trapped Emotions — Bradley Nelson
Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers — Robert Sapolsky
Heal Your Body A–Z by Louise Hay
The Meaning of Illness by Pierre Weil
Your Body Speaks Your Mind by Debbie Shapiro
Emotions and Healing in the Energy Body by Robert Henderson
The Healing Power of Illness by Thorwald Dethlefsen
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