The Emotional Side of Adult Asthma with Heather McKean
In this episode of The Mind Change Podcast emotional drivers series, Heather McKean delves into the emotional drivers behind adult asthma, exploring how this chronic condition, often seen as purely physical, is deeply intertwined with emotional and environmental factors.
Asthma, affecting millions globally, shows a pattern where male children are more likely to develop it than female children, a trend that reverses in adulthood. Heather suggests this shift may reflect underlying emotional dynamics linked to childhood experiences and evolving emotions with age. While environmental factors are significant, they don't fully explain asthma's occurrence, pointing to a complex interplay of genetics, environment, and emotional health.
Asthma also disproportionately affects low-income groups and minorities, a disparity Heather attributes to healthcare access as well as ancestral and epigenetic trauma. This suggests that asthma might be a manifestation of unresolved emotional and historical trauma.
Central to Heather’s discussion is the concept of “anticipation of attack,” where individuals who experienced criticism, accusation, or even physical abuse in childhood develop a chronic state of holding their breath, metaphorically and literally. This emotional suppression, particularly of crying, can lead to shallow breathing patterns that resemble asthma attacks. Heather also touches on the role of overprotective yet emotionally distant parenting, particularly from mothers who, due to their trauma, may smother rather than nurture their children. This dynamic often leaves children feeling unloved, fostering a deep sense of inadequacy that persists into adulthood and manifests as asthma.
Furthermore, Heather explores how asthma sufferers often feel alone despite being surrounded by people, driven by a fear of abandonment and a tendency towards self-destructive behaviors. This emotional isolation is compounded by a need to perform or prove oneself to gain approval, often rooted in childhood competition for parental attention. The emotional burden of anger, resentment, and unprocessed pain from the past also plays a significant role in the development of asthma, as individuals struggle with letting go of their stories of hurt and betrayal.
Asthma, Heather argues, may also serve as a subconscious escape from overwhelming situations, where an asthma attack shifts focus away from insurmountable challenges. This avoidance mechanism underscores the profound fear of failure and the self-sabotaging behaviors that often accompany it.
Heather emphasizes that while asthma is considered incurable, Mind Change has successfully helped many clients resolve their asthma, even when it wasn’t the primary focus of treatment.
Dive in! You will understand that asthma may not only be a physical condition but also deeply connected to unresolved emotional issues and past traumas. By exploring these emotional drivers you will find a new way to address and potentially alleviate your condition.
If you're interested in diving deeper, we invite you to join the Mind Change Community. A fantastic starting point is our book clubs, which are held globally. These clubs are designed to support and guide you on your journey.
In this episode, you will:
🌟 Discover how asthma, often seen as a physical condition, is deeply intertwined with emotional and environmental factors.
🔄 Learn about the pattern where asthma affects male children more frequently than female children, and how this shifts in adulthood, possibly reflecting emotional changes over time.
🌍Understand how ancestral and epigenetic trauma can contribute to asthma, particularly in low-income and minority groups.
🌀 Explore the concept of “anticipation of attack,” where past experiences of criticism and abuse contribute to chronic breath-holding and shallow breathing patterns.
👩👧 Examine how overprotective or emotionally distant parenting, especially from mothers with their own trauma, can contribute to feelings of inadequacy and asthma.
💔Delve into how asthma sufferers may experience a sense of loneliness and fear of abandonment, leading to self-destructive behaviors and a need for external validation.
😠 Learn about the role of unprocessed anger, resentment, and past pain in the development of asthma.
🛑 Understand how asthma can act as a subconscious escape from overwhelming situations and a mechanism for avoiding failure.
✅ Discover how Mind Change has successfully helped people resolve their asthma, even when it wasn’t the primary focus of treatment.
📚 Find out how joining the Mind Change Community and participating in global book clubs can support you in addressing the emotional drivers behind your asthma.
Get in touch with Heather McKean:
Web: https://www.mindchange.com/our-story
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindchange/?hl=en
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/MindChange
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindchange