Inside the brain there's a kind of meat computer. In biological systems there isn't a distinction between software and hardware. There's no sharp boundary between psychosomatic and physiological causes. Most (but not all) medical conditions can be seen as <i>communication</i> between the meat computer and the conscious mind (which is a tiny subset of the actual processing going on in the nervous system at any given moment.)<p>> > the subconscious mind [computer] is unlikely to produce [program] symptoms [output] that will be easily seen [dismissed] as psychological [not a serious fault condition]. But since humans continue to experience great stresses [trauma] and strong emotions, paralysis [ignored signal] has been replaced by [other warning signals] chronic back pain, fibromyalgia, fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, and many other symptoms.<p>Sometimes the communication is as simple as "stop drinking" but other times it's something like "This job sucks." or "You forgot you wanted to be an artist."<p>Another aspect of "psychosomatic" issues is that we develop patterns of chronic tension in the body, which impede the free flow of the various bodily uh, flows of blood, nervous signals, etc., often becoming so severe that numb areas develop where the conscious mind is literally unable to sense some parts of the body. Proprioceptive feedback is distorted or even muted (numbness). In time secondary symptoms develop.<p>Ergo, directed self-awareness is a kind of panacea. As you "irrigate" these neglected areas of the body with your attention (though whatever method, there are dozens) they heal. Correct the conditions leading to the need for the communication signal and the signal "magically" ceases. The meat computer does not experience subjective pain. It has no interest in hurting you, it literally just does what works. If paralyzing your leg or stabbing you in the lower back keeps you from going back to your shitty job that you hate, that is "Works As Intended" from the POV of the meat computer. The good news is that you can reprogram the computer. You can negotiate less painful signals, or simply incorporate its feedback into your life decisions directly. But you can't fight it. The meat computer runs the physical body, you have no leverage to fight it with, and you are not supposed to fight it anyway. You are supposed to work together.<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blind_Man_and_the_Lame" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blind_Man_and_the_Lame</a><p>The ancient tale has a deeper meaning. The meat computer, what we call the "unconscious mind", is the blind giant and the conscious mind is the sighted but helpless lame man.