The Truth Behind Plantar Fasciitis
In this episode of The Mind Change Podcast's Emotional Drivers series, Heather McKean delves into the emotional underpinnings of plantar fasciitis, a common source of foot pain affecting one in ten adults according to the National Institute of Health. Despite various theories and treatments, many individuals continue to struggle with this condition.
Heather shares her personal battle with plantar fasciitis, recounting her attempts at numerous treatments and therapies. Interestingly, her foot pain disappeared once she addressed her underlying emotional issues and past traumas, a phenomenon attributed to the positive side effects of mind change work. This approach involves healing past negative experiences and limiting beliefs, which can inadvertently alleviate physical ailments.
A historical tidbit is highlighted: plantar fasciitis was once known as "policeman's heel" due to its prevalence among police officers. The host posits that this correlation is less about the physical demands of the job and more about the emotional and psychological traits common among those who pursue law enforcement careers.
Referencing research, certain personality traits are noted as prevalent in law enforcement officers, including bravery, loyalty, authoritarianism, cynicism, and aggression, among others. These traits, while beneficial in policing, can stem from deep-seated childhood experiences and traumas. Epigenetics, which studies how behaviors and environment can cause changes that affect the way genes work, supports the idea that these traits can be passed down through generations.
Heather theorizes that individuals with plantar fasciitis often have backgrounds involving significant emotional shock absorption, witnessing or experiencing major hardships without adequate protection or support. This lack of safety in childhood can lead to issues with vulnerability and a reluctance to accept help from others in adulthood.
Moreover, those suffering from plantar fasciitis may have grown up in environments where they felt controlled or dominated by authoritarian figures, leading them to subconsciously strive for power and control in their own lives. This can manifest as a need to feel bigger and stronger than those they perceived as threats during their childhood.
It is also explored how people with plantar fasciitis often seek out conflict or high-adrenaline situations as a way to feel alive, a behavior rooted in their nervous system's response to childhood chaos. They may internalize a belief that they deserve negative events, driving them to adopt a "serve and protect" mentality in an effort to earn love and acceptance.
Further, early childhood experiences, particularly a lack of maternal connection, can leave individuals feeling ungrounded and out of step with themselves. This search for approval and connection can influence their life choices, making them more susceptible to conditions like plantar fasciitis.
Dive in! By addressing and healing past traumas and limiting beliefs through mind change work, you can transform your perceptions, reduce negativity, and move forward with more positivity and less pain. Ultimately, this leads to a more joyful and liberated existence.
In this episode, you will learn:
🌍 Plantar fasciitis affects 1 in 10 adults, making it a common and often persistent source of foot pain.
🌟 Addressing emotional drivers and past traumas can lead to unexpected healing of conditions like plantar fasciitis, showcasing positive side effects of mind change work.
📜 Plantar fasciitis was once called "policeman's heel," highlighting potential psychological and emotional factors rather than just physical causes.
👮 Traits associated with police officers, such as bravery, cynicism, and aggression, may correlate with the emotional drivers behind plantar fasciitis.
🧸 Traumatic or challenging childhood experiences can shape personality traits and contribute to conditions like plantar fasciitis later in life.
🤔 Experiences of helplessness in childhood can lead to subconscious decisions to avoid vulnerability, impacting behavior and health as adults.
💔 Those with plantar fasciitis may struggle with accepting support and help, often due to past experiences of feeling controlled or dominated.
⚡ A tendency to seek out conflict and high-adrenaline situations can be linked to a nervous system conditioned by childhood chaos.
💪 Feelings of unworthiness or a need to earn love and acceptance can drive individuals to adopt a "serve and protect" mentality.
🌈Removing negative thoughts, memories, and beliefs through mind change work can expand perceptions and reduce pain, leading to a more joyful and liberated life.
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