Often, when the chakra is “off,” we’ll experience the first signals through emotional, mental, and spiritual symptoms because they show up in the energy body first. If they are not addressed while in the energy body, they become physical symptoms. In this article, we’ll go through many common symptoms and ailments as well as the affected chakras. These can range from simple symptoms, such as neck pain, to more complicated issues, like an addiction. Because a person may experience a particular symptom/ailment for different reasons, we’ll look at a number of possible explanations.
1. Anger
CHAKRAS AFFECTED mostly Root Chakra, but other chakras are affected
Anger, by itself, is a healthy emotion. It helps us stand up for ourselves, create healthy boundaries, initiate action and change, and escape harmful situations. However, when it is unexpressed, channeled in unhealthy ways, or harms ourselves or others, it can cause discord in our lives.
When we are angry over a situation or at someone, the root is often fear—fear that our safety, livelihood, or survival is being threatened. Because of this, anger often resonates with the root chakra, which is our survival chakra.
But fear turning into anger can affect the other chakras, too. For instance, our crown chakra may need balancing if we feel like we’ve been dealt a bad hand in life and are angry at the Divine/Source/Universe/God for the perceived injustice. Our third eye chakra may be involved if we are not in touch with our emotional intelligence, we’re unable to trust beyond what we can physically see(such as being frustrated with a current situation without seeing the bigger picture, nor trusting that we have options other than what’s in front of us), and we rely only on our intellect. If we feel triggered into anger by being silenced or unable to express ourselves, our throat chakra is out of harmony. If our anger is due to feeling like our heart has been trampled on, we’re focused on past hurts, we feel lonely, or we find it hard to forgive, our heart chakra needs healing. If we are angry because we have been placed in an unhealthy power dynamic (like dealing with toxic coworkers or an unhealthy relationship), or if we feel things are out of control in our lives, our solar plexus chakra is out of balance.
Lastly, our sacral plexus chakra might be out of balance if our creativity is being stifled or our emotions are repressed. Our anger can be simmering and may eventually blow up, unexpectedly. Our anger will also come from here when we have experienced sexual abuse, or feel our sexuality has been threatened.
2. Anorexia and Bulimia
CHAKRA AFFECTED Solar Plexus Chakra
Anorexia is an eating disorder characterized by abnormally low body weight, a distorted perception of one’s weight, and intense fear of gaining weight. Individuals suffering from anorexia severely restrict the amount of food they eat. Bulimia, on the other hand, is when a person binges (or eats large amounts of food), followed by an episode of purging—often through forced vomiting, taking laxatives, or doing unhealthy levels of exercise. Because both eating disorders are about harshly judging one’s physical appearance, equating thinness with self-worth, and trying to control one’s own self-image to correct perceived physical flaws, anorexia and bulimia both result in an out-of-balance solar plexus chakra, the power center for issues around control, self-esteem, and confidence.
3. Anxiety
CHAKRAS AFFECTED All Chakras, depending on what type of anxiety
Occasional anxiety is often a part of regular day-to-day life. However, when a feeling of intense, excessive, and persistent worry permeates our everyday existence, it can be debilitating. For some who suffer from anxiety, it can peak into fear or terror within minutes, causing a panic attack. Oftentimes, it can interfere with our quality of life.
Depending on what kind of anxiety you may have, any of the chakras may be involved. For instance, the crown chakra is out of balance may cause anxiety if we feel like the Divine/Source/Universe/God does not have our back. If our anxiety is caused by an imbalance in the third eye chakra, it is usually because we do not trust our own intuition, and feel anxious about the unknown. If it is caused by a throat chakra that is out of harmony, we are anxious about expressing ourselves, communicating with others, and saying how we really feel. If we are holding onto past hurts, or, conversely, if we are anxious because we are disconnected from our feelings, our heart chakra may be out of balance.
If we feel anxious because we are simply overwhelmed by everything, feel intimidated, feel caught in some kind of power dynamic in a relationship, or feel pressure to perform well in our lives, our out-of-balance solar plexus chakra is causing our anxiety. If our sacral plexus chakra is involved, guilt or shame is propelling our anxiety, usually over intense emotions that haven’t been fully processed. This also happens when there’s anxiety related to past trauma, especially sexual trauma. If we are feeling anxious about our material survival in this world (food, shelter, money, and so on), our root chakra is out of balance, making us feel like we are in constant survival mode.
4. Asthma and Allergies
CHAKRA AFFECTED Heart Chakra
When we experience narrowing airways, and they produce extra mucous, it can trigger coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. When we have allergies, our immune system makes antibodies that identify a specific allergen as harmful, even if it may not be. Both conditions can affect one’s quality of life. Oftentimes, these conditions are due to a compromised immune system and may cause respiratory distress and inflammation in our skin, airway, sinuses, or digestive system. But, because they are in the realm of the heart chakra, sometimes these types of physical reactions can be linked to an imbalance in that chakra, particularly if we are having issues around grief, heartache, love, and compassion.
5. Back Pain
Pain in any area of the back—upper back, middle back, or lower back— that hasn’t been caused by physical trauma or repetitive physical stress may be saying something about chakra health. Pain can range from a dull chronic ache that keeps the back tight to sharp acute pain that limits the range of motion.
5.1 UPPER BACK
CHAKRAS AFFECTED Throat Chakra, Heart Chakra
Sometimes, when we are not speaking our truth or when we are experiencing heartbreak, a threat to self-love, or difficulty in love with others, the resulting tension can actually manifest physically as tension or pain in the upper back. We may also be feeling unsupported, unloved, or that we are holding back love.
5.2 MIDDLE BACK
CHAKRAS AFFECTED Heart Chakra, Solar Plexus Chakra
When we have issues around love, feeling loved, holding onto past hurts, or feeling challenged in our power, we may experience tension or pain in the middle back. Sometimes this happens because we are stuck in those past feelings, and may feel racked with a sense of guilt over what we have done or said to create a situation.
5.3 LOWER BACK
CHAKRAS AFFECTED Sacral Plexus Chakra, Root Chakra
When we are feeling challenged in our abundance, relationships, creative expression; holding back emotions or simply not processing them; having issues around survival and obtaining the basic necessities, we may suffer tension and pain in the lower back. We may especially have back pain (not due to physical trauma) when we feel financially unsupported.
6. Cancer
Cancer occurs when abnormal cells develop and divide uncontrollably, infiltrating and destroying normal body tissue. It can happen on many different levels, and the symptoms vary depending on which parts of the body are affected. Some symptoms include fatigue, weight changes, skin changes, palpable lumps or areas of thickening under the skin, unexplained and persistent muscle or joint pain, and unexplained and persistent fevers or night sweats, among others. Factors known to increase the risk of cancer include age, habits, family history, health conditions, and environment. However, the Mayo Clinic states that the majority of cancers occur in people who don’t have any known risk factors at all. In terms of energy, cancer can be the result of long-standing resentment and deep hurt that has been left unprocessed, ignored, or denied, manifesting in carrying hatred, grief, or other toxic emotion that eats away the self.
These can manifest on many levels, and as a result of an imbalance in various chakras:
- Brain tumors: Crown chakra
- Lung cancer: Throat and heart chakras
- Cancers of thyroid, larynx, and esophagus: Throat chakra
- Breast cancer: Heart chakra
- Cancers of stomach, liver, intestines, and pancreas: Solar plexus Chakra
- Cancers of cervix, ovaries, uterus, colon, prostate and rectum: Sacral plexus and Root chakras
7. Constipation
CHAKRAS AFFECTED Root Chakra, possibly Solar Plexus Chakra
Difficult or infrequent bowel movements may indicate constipation. Because the rectum and anus are at the level of the root chakra, any dysfunctions involving these parts of our bodies can indicate that our root chakra is out of balance. It may be helpful to consider whether you are feeling triggered with survival issues that are causing stress primal needs like having food to eat, water to drink, clothes to wear, a home to sleep in, and feeling safe and secure. Because constipation is physically a result of an imbalanced digestive system, it would also be helpful to make sure the solar plexus chakra is balanced. Experiences of fear, lack of confidence, lack of self-respect, and difficulty feeling in touch with our power may also affect the digestive process, creating colon or intestinal problems and other disorders. As a result, an imbalance in the solar plexus chakra may contribute to a root chakra’s constipation issue.
8. Depression
CHAKRAS AFFECTED Crown Chakra, Heart Chakra
Depression can happen for a number of reasons. Sometimes it passes through temporarily. Other times, it can be a constant presence in our lives. Oftentimes, for those who suffer from chronic depression, it can be debilitating. Depression can feel like persistent sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness, the absence of pleasure in day-to-day activities, and as though life at times is not worth living. It can also affect our appetite and our sleep—either keeping us up or making us need too much sleep. Sometimes there will even be recurrent thoughts about death or suicide.
When we are depressed, one of the main root causes is a deep feeling of loneliness. This is why depression is mainly linked to the crown chakra. When we feel connected to the rest of the world, and the Divine, our crown chakra is open and balanced. When we feel disconnected from the world, and even have anger toward the Divine at how our life has unfolded, it is usually an indication that our energy in this chakra is out of harmony. In addition, an unbalanced heart chakra may cause depression, due to a lack of connection with ourselves.
9. Digestive Issues
CHAKRA AFFECTED Solar Plexus Chakra
When we have difficulty digesting problems that arise in our physical lives, we feel it energetically, too. If you’ve ever lost your appetite, or conversely, had a ravenous one as a response to stress or overwhelming news, you already understand the effects of the solar plexus chakra. Because this chakra is our power center, when we feel challenged in our power—such as feeling low self-esteem, intimidation, or powerlessness—this chakra becomes imbalanced. And, because of this, digestive issues can result.
10. Disconnection from Self and Others
CHAKRA AFFECTED Heart Chakra
When we are disconnected from who we are, from how we feel, and from our dreams, passions, and what lights us up, our heart chakra is out of balance. Oftentimes, this first displays as frustration with not feeling connected with others. We may find ourselves spending long periods of time by ourselves, but not in a way that rejuvenates our spirit or helps us feel connected with ourselves. It’s usually accompanied by a general feeling of malaise or discontent about life. We want to feel joyful, but don’t, or are not in touch with what makes us happy. Sometimes, we may be depressed, which often happens when we are disconnected from ourselves. We all want to
connect—with ourselves and with others. It is hardwired into our human existence. People who are fully disconnected from themselves may not even be aware that they are. They may be fully entrenched in their daily schedule, living on autopilot or in survival mode, not from a place of gratefulness, engagement with who they are, or connection and awareness of how their daily activities make them feel. Those who are able to create awareness around their daily activities, and even do quick check-ins with themselves during the day, are more able to create a connection with themselves and can begin a more healthy connection with the heart chakra.
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