High blood pressure: emotional and spiritual meaning
Updated
What high blood pressure is
Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps. High blood pressure, or hypertension, means this force stays too high over time. It is generally diagnosed when readings are repeatedly at or above 140/90 mmHg in a clinic, although some guidelines use lower thresholds.
High blood pressure is extremely common, affecting more than a billion people worldwide, and becomes more frequent with age. It is often called a "silent killer" because it rarely causes symptoms, yet over the years it raises the risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease and vision problems. Risk factors include genetics, age, excess salt, being overweight, lack of physical activity, alcohol, smoking and chronic stress. Treatment usually combines lifestyle changes and, when needed, medication that must be taken as prescribed.
The emotional reading below does not replace this, and it is never a reason to stop or delay treatment. It offers another angle, for those who feel that their blood pressure also reflects the pressure they live with.
The emotional meaning of high blood pressure
In the emotional approach, high blood pressure is often pictured as a pressure cooker: a sealed pot where the steam keeps building up.
Emotions held back for a long time
The central theme is accumulation. Over long periods, we keep thoughts and emotions to ourselves instead of expressing them. Anger and frustrations for which we have not yet found a solution are swallowed, and they "boil" inside us. We may be very sensitive and find it hard to manage our reactions.
Putting things off
High blood pressure is also associated with procrastination: postponing what we have to say or do, out of fear or lack of self-confidence. Everything then looks like a mountain, and we wonder whether we will manage to achieve all our plans. Blowing problems out of proportion, and the guilt that follows, add to the pressure.
Control and performance
The wish to control everything and to solve every situation in our life can make the pressure unbearable. We may feel we must be the best, perform at the top of our abilities, physically and intellectually. When we fall short, tension rises sharply. We may also feel responsible for harmony everywhere, even when other people are involved. That is quite a mandate to give ourselves.
Feeling powerless and on guard
The source also links high blood pressure to feeling powerless, especially at work, for instance when we can no longer accept orders. A deep fear of rejection can keep us on guard, as if we were in danger, or leave us feeling crushed and defenceless.
Closed to love
Another theme is difficulty feeling and receiving love. After being hurt, we may close our heart so as not to suffer again, and then no longer want to give or receive love.
Staying busy
Finally, high blood pressure can go hand in hand with hyperactivity, which helps us forget our worries. We may want to make the most of life and reach the many goals we have set ourselves, without giving ourselves time to feel what is going on inside.
Questions the source invites you to ask
- Am I putting pressure on myself, or do I feel it comes from others?
- Am I denying parts of my personality that are trying hard to come out?
- Do I feel compressed, squeezed in by my life?
- Do I feel it is dangerous to express my real feelings?
A gentler way to hold it
The aim is not to feel guilty about your blood pressure. It has real physical causes and needs proper medical follow-up. The emotional perspective simply invites you to look at the pressure you carry.
- Let the steam out gently. Express your emotions a little at a time, rather than letting them build up until they explode.
- Set priorities. Choose what really matters, and let some things wait or go.
- Make time for yourself. Give yourself moments to notice what is happening inside, without distraction.
- Hand back some responsibility. You are not in charge of everyone's harmony.
- Trust yourself. You do not need to be perfect to be worthy.
- Accept yourself as you are. You are unique, and you do not need pressure to feel alive.
Questions to ask yourself
Take your time with these. There are no right answers; simply notice what comes up.
- Which emotions or frustrations have I been swallowing instead of expressing?
- Is the pressure I feel coming from others, or am I putting it on myself?
- What have I been putting off saying or doing, out of fear or lack of confidence?
- Do I feel responsible for keeping the peace everywhere, even when others are involved?
- Have I closed myself off to love so as not to be hurt again?
- Do I keep busy so that I do not have to feel what is going on inside?
“I let the steam out gently. I accept myself as I am, and I no longer need pressure to feel alive.”
When to see a doctor
- A very high reading, around 180/120 or above, with chest pain, breathlessness, severe headache, confusion or vision problems. Call emergency services.
- Weakness on one side of the body, facial drooping or difficulty speaking. Call emergency services.
- Regular blood pressure checks, even if you feel perfectly well. High blood pressure usually has no symptoms.
- Readings that stay high at home or at the pharmacy.
- Side effects from blood pressure medication. Never stop or change your treatment without talking to your doctor.
- High blood pressure during pregnancy, especially with headaches, swelling or vision changes.
Related conditions
Sources and inspiration
- Jacques Martel, Le Grand Dictionnaire des Malaises et des Maladies.
This page is an original interpretation written by Body Hemi-Sync. It is inspired by these sources and does not reproduce them.