How do depressed emotions cause ulcers to form?

Hi Andreas,

I just received and started reading your book, “The Key...” On page 14, under A Disease is not it’s symptom you gave an example of how an ulcer is formed from constant irritation of the stomach lining by eating wrong foods. 9 years ago, there was woman chasing after my husband. I wasn’t sure how he felt about her (and he was flirting as well), thus I was in agony with thoughts that my marriage was about to end.

Although, I tried to explain to my husband that this was a bad situation, he refused to hear my plea for 2 months. Over that time period, I could hardly eat or sleep. At a certain point, I began to have pain in my stomach. The little food I was eating was probably not the best and I did also drink coffee at that time but rarely more than one cup per day as my appetite was extremely suppressed. (I lost 40 lbs in 2 months time from low appetite.)

Inside I was very angry but if I tried to express my feelings, my husband just ignored me even more. He did finally quit his association with the woman, when he discovered what she was saying to others about him and me (dishonoring me, etc. and saying she could have him easily.) However, I was never allowed to express the anger that I felt for the betrayal of friendship with this woman, in place of friendship with me as his wife.

We also had some serious financial troubles soon after that time, so that I finally collapsed a year later with 10 ulcers in my stomach. Although, I did get better from a special diet (which I had to figure out on my own with no help from the doctor) and medication, my stomach has never been the same since.

Your example said it is wrong foods that cause ulcers but my experience tells me there can ALSO be another cause. You explained how the wrong foods bring on ulcers. Now, I am wondering if you can also tell me how suppressed anger and depression can bring on ulcers. I mean what exactly was happening with my stomach cells? How did my emotions produce imbalance? And why was my sorrow expressed in my stomach and not some other part of the body? If I could understand this, it might help me to begin to heal my stomach not just with diet but also with new knowledge of how my emotions effect my stomach.

Thanks,
Beth Tweet