The Creation of Health: The Emotional, Psychological, and Spiritual Responses That Promote Health and Healing

by Caroline Myss, C. Norman Shealy

A collaboration between a traditionally trained physician and a medical intuitive, The Creation of Health illuminates the deep connection between emotional dysfunction and physical illness. It describes the role that emotional disturbances play in the most common diseases and ailments from the common cold to arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

After providing an introduction to intuitive medicine and its history, method of diagnosis, and relationship to traditional medicine, Myss and Shealy detail the deeper emotional and psychic reasons why illness develops in the body. Dr. Shealy offers a traditional account of a particular disease or ailment, while Dr. Myss sheds light on the deeper causes through her corresponding energy analysis.

Confirming the link between illness and emotion, The Creation of Health puts forth a groundbreaking vision of holistic healing.

Genres: Health, Spirituality, Self Help, Nonfiction, Psychology, Medicine, Inspirational

416 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1988

About the author

Caroline Myss was born on December 2, 1952 in Chicago, and grew up with her parents, and two brothers, one elder and one younger, in the Melrose Park, Illinois neighbourhood near Chicago. Caroline was raised a Catholic, and attended the Mother Guerin High School, River Grove, Illinois, run by the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. She completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from the Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in Indiana in 1974, and started her career in journalism in Chicago.

In the course of her career, she interviewed Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, M.D., the author of the famous book, On Death and Dying, which inspired her to pursue a Master's degree in theology from Mundelein College, Chicago, which she completed in 1979. She also claims to hold a Ph.D in "intuition and energy medicine", but the degree was granted by Greenwich University, a now-defunct correspondence school that was never accredited to deliver higher education awards by any recognized government accreditation authority.

She started giving medical intuitive readings in 1982 and co-founded a small New Age publishing company, Stillpoint Publishing in Walpole, New Hampshire, where she also worked as an editor in 1983, next she began consulting with holistic doctors, which in 1984, led to her extensive collaboration with Dr. Norman Shealy, an M.D. schooled at Harvard, and the founder of the American Holistic Medical Association, with whom she later co-authored, "Aids: Passageway to Transformation," in 1987, followed by "The Creation of Health: The Emotional, Psychological, and Spiritual Responses that Promote Health and Healing," in 1988. Deriving from her practice as a medical intuitive, she started writing books, in the field of energy medicine, and healing, all of which became New York Times Best Sellers.[18] Starting with Anatomy of the Spirit: The Seven Stages of Power and Healing (1996), which overlapped seven Christian sacraments with seven Hindu chakras and the Kabbalah's Tree of Life to create a map of the human "energy anatomy"; this was followed by Why People Don't Heal and How They Can (1998), which explored the reasons people do not heal through her concept of "woundology." Her next book, Sacred Contracts: Awakening Your Divine Potential (2002) dealt with the issue of finding "Life Purpose," while describing Sacred Contracts as "a set of assignments that our soul had formed around before incarnation". She has since appeared on the The Oprah Winfrey Show numerous times.

By 2000, she discontinued doing private medical intuitive readings, and instead started teaching it, through her workshops, seminars, radio shows and guided tours. She tours internationally as a speaker on spirituality and mysticism, and lives in Oak Park, Illinois, near Chicago. In 2003, she started the Caroline Myss Educational Institute, with Wisdom University in San Francisco.

Her 2007 book, "Entering the Castle" draws upon the writings of Saint Teresa of Ávila, a 16th century Carmelite nun, who wrote her most important work, The Interior Castle, towards the end of her life.

Reviews

[Charmin · Rating 5 out of 5]

HIGHLIGHTS:
1. Heart Disease & Cancer: Coffee intake, when it exceeds 5 cups per day, is similarly risky.
- A weight of more than 10% above ideal shortens life expectancy.
- Low levels of fiber and high levels of sugar and fat are also associated with increased cancer.
- Mitral Valve Prolapse: emotional denial
- Continually not having one’s own emotional needs met with satisfaction.
- High blood pressure occurs primarily from obesity, excessive consumption of salt, or adequate intake of calcium and magnesium.
- The average American eats 10 to 20g of salt per day. The ideal is two grams.

2. Acute Diseases & Injuries: Our immune system‘s response to our sense of safety.
- Adequate calories and sufficient protein are essential for the basic integrity of the immune system.
- A manifestation of the herpes virus in the genitalia region is strongly related to stress.
- Shingles tend to affect individuals when their immune system is already weakened.
- Individuals who take quite large doses of vitamin C do not catch colds nearly as often and recover from them much quicker.
- There are only experiences and situations that remain unexplainable because of their lack of awareness about the dynamics and principles of Co-creation.

3. Stress: Chronic diseases develop as a result of chronically or continuously dysfunctional emotional psychological and/or spiritual patterns that remain ongoing sources of stress in a person's life.
- Healing chronic illness requires that the chronic patterns of inner stress be effectively challenged so that their capacity to exert a controlling influence in a person's life can be released.
- Seizures indicate a person who is overwhelmed by intense emotions can cope through normal channels of expression.
- There seems to be a great deal of suppressed anger in people who develop MS.
- Dependency is a major issue, the individual has not completed the dependency phase of childhood and is overwhelmed at the prospect of taking responsibility for his or her life.
- All forms of arthritis are created in response to feelings of irritation, frustration, and anger. Like small deposits of energy grit, they get caught in the joints of the body.
- Osteoporosis, this disease is largely absent in those who eat a vegetarian diet and obtain adequate physical exercise. The important consideration is that no matter what one does he or she finds value.

4. Chronic Pain: In acute lumbar pain, most patients can be adequately treated with acupuncture.
- From the moment our insecurities are activated, we automatically begin to behave in ways to protect ourselves.
- The breakdown of the thyroid represents the struggle over the development of our willpower.
- Migraine headaches, trying to prevent an emotional explosion from occurring externally and thus it occurs internally. Migraines are more common in women since women tend to be more aware of their emotional energy and are prone to internalize their reactions.
- Another source of stress is the grinding of teeth, which becomes a habit when one unconsciously releases tension yet another source is that the jaw area becomes the receptacle of the energies of anger and frustration, holding the words we would like to say to someone but cannot, for whatever reasons. Mental / Emotional

5. Disorders: Neuroses is a disorder not accompanied by any apparent physical change in the nervous system.
- “Dark Night of the soul” will enter into each person's life, at some point, without exception.
- Energy has variations of density to it, and the dense or heavy it feels, the closer that energy is to fully merging with physical matter.
- Diseases such as Alzheimer’s are directly related to the breakdown of the family unit and the dissolving of familial bonds of security that once extended naturally from birth to death.
- People are no longer able to realize that the underlying motivation for most, if not all, of their activities, is chronic insecurity and they need to prove self-worth until the day they die.
-- Addictions are a study of one's personal power and the development of strength of one's willpower. We withdraw to protect ourselves from what we are experiencing, largely because it is so difficult to know how to respond effectively when the trauma happens. Addictions are statements people make regarding what they cannot cope with. The majority of addictions are rooted in emotional traumas that have resulted in serious damage to a person's sense of self-worth and self-esteem.
-- Negative thoughts and behavioral patterns are also forms of addictions. We can become addicted to losing control of our tempers, for instance, because the release of anger in that fashion temporarily feels empowering. It would seem practically impossible to give up an addiction without a support system that recognizes the emotional damage the individual needs to confront in addition to an effective method for developing self-love, which is certainly the greater challenge.
-- In a panic attack, one’s fears become more real than one’s ability to recognize them as fears, and that challenges them with inner resources. It is a type of circuitry overload that is becoming alarmingly common in our society. Whether or not stress causes illness seems to be largely the result of how we view the troubles or react to them.
- A sense of control in our lives can keep our stress chemicals from becoming imbalanced enough to lead to illnesses. Those individuals who have a sense of personal control and challenge as their commitment to life have a sense of meaning, direction, and excitement and survive most stressors. Adrenaline blocks the ability of white blood cells to kill tumor cells.

6. ACTIONS:
— Watching an inspiring movie improves immune function.
— A sense of humor enhances health. Some individuals have found that laughter is as effective as biofeedback training and reduces stress.
— Visualizing the body responding to the messages of the mind exactly as they are transmitted, present tense.
— Burn incense or candles to enhance the feeling of your sacred space.
— Have an effective voice in making your own choices.
-- Sacred Space: It is wise to have an area in which no one but you enters where you can keep religious symbols or any other personal objects that, to you, radiate a sense of security.
-- Thoughts are power, develop a quality control check-up on yourself regularly.
— Avoid the intake of violence. Remember that violence breeds disease and destroys the human emotional system.
— Set aside each day for your spiritual practice. Meditation and prayer are essential. Learn to be still and hear the inner voice of your soul.

7. When individuals believe change is taking place in the body, the self-healing process is initiated. Most of the drugs currently dispensed are minimally pharmaceutically effective the quite commonly have harmful or dangerous side effects.
— Our belief system and our basic attitude seem to be the most important factors affecting our health. Knowing all the facts, we can choose an attitude that leads to disease or health. Let us choose wisely.
— Astrological influences do not control one’s life, they merely indicate potentials and possibilities.
— Transformation is the process of becoming conscious of the many levels on which we make our choices in learning to recognize what it is we create as a result of our choices. Ego pain and soul pain both produce the experience of suffering. Be open to learning what is present in the situation. Making anything personal adds to the difficulty of releasing it (“my” cancer).
- The human spirit naturally flows in the direction of that which enhances life. ** Optimism and humor during difficult situations are the energy of the human spirit on a rescue mission. God within, we can heal ourselves through the power inherent in our being. Spirituality is the practice of honoring your relationship to the God force as a partnership.
— Confronting one's life openly and honestly inevitably means change. Energy is honest. Healing requires transformation. Healing is a path of action. We generate anxiety by projecting our present difficulties into our tomorrow.
— “Miracle cures” resides in the ability to focus their attention so clearly and thoroughly in the present moment that the condition of disease is immediately transformed.
— Self-examination is a catalyst for change.

8. HEALTH & HEALING: Health is our most precious commodity.
- Health is the result of a commitment to live a more conscious life, to become more responsible for one’s emotional health and well-being, and that is an overwhelming challenge to many people.
- Built into each of our lives are countless challenges that highlight what we fear and what we find difficult to confront.
- The underlying purpose inherent in every one of these situations is the opportunity to respond in ways that increase our awareness of our inner strength and power.
- The path of genuine healing will always direct us towards expanding our capacity to take more responsibility for our inner selves and the power of creation that exists within us.

9. A strong dose of negativity or fear will contaminate any human being.
— Hotspots or areas in which the vibration is noticeably different than it should be normally. These hotspots indicate the presence of bodily dysfunction in the exact nature of the illness. When stress settles in a particular area of the body, it is because that part of the body corresponds to the type of stress we are experiencing.
— The sixth chakra is particularly recognized as the entry point of intuition, wisdom, and inspiration. The third chakra guidance relates to assistance provided on daily, practical matters.
— Within each of our lives are challenges in which we are allowed to act according to the dictates in the strength of our spirits.
— A healthy life force has vitality and a very clear focus on it. The person has a level of awareness regarding where he or she invests the energy of their life. Compassion can be learned through having to serve those in need or through being a person requiring the compassion of others. We will always find ourselves on the receiving end of what we give others.

10. The principle of healing is spirituality in motion. We create our realities in the activity of spirituality-in-motion. It is simply not productive to deny one’s power. It is self-defeating.
— The quality of personal power transforms ordinary human consciousness into a force that radiates elegance and grace. It is your emotional warehouse that holds your fears, insecurities, and lesser qualities. Healing these inner limitations will be your challenge, again and again. Your life will most certainly change if you direct it toward spiritual awakening.
— The wisdom of your soul will take over the driver's seat of your life, and your lesser needs, those coming from fear or illusion, will ride along like hitchhikers until you are ready to drop them off.
— The quality of health is how effectively we exercise the power of choice in terms of holding dominion over the movement and activities of our own life.
— The body reflects or manifests the deeper struggles of the person’s entire life.
— Self-responsibility and personal empowerment are potent internal mechanisms of change, signaling that a shift in awareness is occurring in terms of how individuals perceive the balance of power that exists between themselves and the outside world.

[Annabelle Schaefer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Myss’ words are poignant as ever, but being published in ‘99 means there are noticeable gaps in research. Half brilliant, half out-dated.

[Na'ama Yehuda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not gospel, but excellent information about body-mind connections in ways that truly get down to the 'how' and 'why' and 'what to do now'. Excellent. You don't have to read the whole thing, either--the set up of the book allows reading by condition or complaint. I do recommend reading it more thoroughly if you can. Lots of good information for you to then decide what to do with. A little preachy, but less so than most mind-body books out there. This is a classic.

[Paula Cappa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Health consciousness. Heightening self-awareness. Achieving health, and healing, in the body from achieving health in the mind and spirit. If you’ve read authors like Bernie Siegel, Judith Orloff, Marianne Williamson, Deepak Chopra, Donna Eden, Louise Hay, and others, this book reflects similar theories but presents healing into a deeper path. How our diseases and chronic pain are hinged, in fact caused by, our psychological and spiritual issues is not new, but Caroline Myss and Norman Shealy apply principles to the source of disease in a way that makes clear and convincing sense, is practical and wise. “The principle of healing is spirituality in motion.” This is the core and Myss brings it to water the roots of our own thought processes that rule our lives. I found myself shifting my understanding about causes of pain and illness that I hadn’t known before. Even though I’ve read about this from so many other authors, I think it is Myss and Shealy’s analysis of the physical illness and how it intimately is sourced from our own fears and angers that play such a powerful and controlling role in our lives. If you have chronic pain or any form of serious disease, this is a book to have on your shelf if you want to understand the nature of your illness. The stress factor is monumental, as you might suspect. Our own responsibility too in how we think or react to life’s difficulties is equally monumental. If you are asking yourself, why do I have this constant pain? Why do I have this disease? Myss and Shealy have a number of ways to answer that question and open the door to true physical and mind/spiritual healing. Yes, they address energy fields and the chakras, the ego and the soul. I especially liked Myss ‘energy analysis’ about cancer, and heart disease, and migraines. Remember the old saying, ‘we are what we eat’? This books addresses ‘we are what we think.’ I read this book via my library but purchased it because it’s a must-have on my shelf. Highly recommended. Paula Cappa is an avid book reviewer and an award-winning supernatural mystery author of novels and short stories.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only reason why this isn’t a 5 star read for me is that it is a little dated. That doesn’t detract from its inspiring message though. You need not consider reading this unless you are totally in agreement with the philosophy of self responsibility. If you believe that mainstream medicine has all the answers then this is definitely not for you.

This was originally published in 1988, but my copy is dated 1999 and I’m not sure if some of the material was updated or not. I feel a little sad that some of the authors’ visions of the 21st century have not yet come to pass, but others are startling in their accuracy.

The book deals in very great detail with the causes of disease and the remedies that we all have within our power to alter our mindsets and the course of our illnesses. I guess the reason why this is not yet more mainstream is that the big shots of the pharmaceutical industry work incredibly hard to protect the idea that only chemical compounds can heal.

This book forms the basis of a theory now more commonly known as Epigenetics. It is fascinating to see how far things have gone without becoming mainstream in the least. There is no great conspiracy here, other than greed, that has halted the progress of the debate and research. Given the horrendous virus we are currently dealing with, this is valuable food for thought and I recommend it wholeheartedly.

[Susan Srnovrsnik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very rarely buy a book, I'm a library person. However, I bought this book. It is one of the best and most helpful books I have ever read! I highly recommend it.

[Holly Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute must read. Common sense. It makes one realize how blatantly ignorant society has become, especially regarding health, both physical and mental. Every doctor should prescribe this book before prescribing a pill.

[Casey Emerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredibly insightful book and an unconventional look at how our emotions affect our health.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Caroline Myss. This book is not overtly different from others except she cowrote it with Dr Shealy. Recommend.

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

good insight on thinking about dieases and health. your thoughts and mind set, energy and emotional health make a difference.

[Madhvi Rao · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t believe this book was written so long ago. It feels so damn forward for its time. Like, how did they even think of these things back then? With all the societal pressure and people blindly following whatever was told, to go against all that, build a whole theory, and actually stand by it — that takes a lot.

I guess it’s people like them who made it possible for us to even live a more conscious life now. It blows my mind how they saw what most people couldn't, way before it was even a thing."

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book promotes some methods of modern medicine like biofeedback and some kind of subcutaneous stimulation (30 Years ago), but there is a lot to read about getting sick, instead about being healed.

It is based on the prejudice that people cause their own sickness, or the sickness of others, by the power of their emotions. Those are scary medieval and even older beliefs, much older than the modern science.

It is very interesting from the historical point of view how the authors put terms from different ages, places and systems together like Chacras and Sarcomas for example.

Today's psychologists recommend not to blame patients for being sick because of having the wrong attitude. Comforting and supporting people instead of blaming them is today's right moral way.

Anyway this book inspires us to keep on searching for our own way of thinking besides the everyday patterns and fears like the ones spread in this book.

Allowing ourselves to think however we want, gives us additional possibilities to deal with the stress of being alive.

[Kelly D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

An older book but still has some great gems for self-healing.

[Tori Franklin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seriously a great read! Highly recommend to anyone and everyone.

[Ross Dadds · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is deeply enlightening, exploring the science of wellness, taking into account empirical research and spiritual, mind-body relationships. Thoroughly recommend!

[Angela Peacock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't wait to read this. Just ordered it and looks awesome!