I've been exploring the connection between victimhood and acne lately, particularly through the lens of German New Medicine. This reflection has become more prominent because I experienced acne for several years to varying degrees, deeply affecting me and prompting me to reevaluate my beliefs, particularly around the concept and perception of beauty which I could write an entire article on.
Let's start with a bit of history and biology, followed by some recent reflections.
Dr. Hamer, the founder of German New Medicine, made the groundbreaking discovery connecting the psyche, brain and organ. This profound connection helps us understand how our perception of life, along with shocking moments or events, can lead to specific “dis-eases” or symptoms in the body. This forms the foundation of GNM, alongside the Five Biological Laws, and is essential to comprehend when exploring symptoms through this lens.
I didn't develop acne until a relatively later age, around 21, which eventually led me to question conventional medical beliefs and transition toward a holistic approach. According to German New Medicine, acne is a symptom linked to the biological conflict of feeling attacked, soiled, or disfigured. These conflicts are associated with the deeper layers of the skin, specifically the dermis or corium skin. When we perceive an attack or experience feelings of unattractiveness or disfigurement, we become "conflict-active." In response, the dermis begins to proliferate, creating a kind of 'shield,' which, in this context, manifests as acne. During the healing phase, this excess tissue is broken down by bacteria and fungi – a natural process reflecting the body's wisdom.
Discovering this perspective on acne through the lens of German New Medicine was a revelation to me, as it provides a clear and true explanation for this symptom. GNM takes out any and all guesswork.
Within the holistic wellness community, there is an ongoing debate about potential "root causes" for symptoms like acne, which includes things such as gluten, dairy, sugar, seed oils, hormone imbalances, excess oil production, clogged hair follicles, genetics, inflammation, and more
I've believed in some of these ‘root causes’ for seven years, considering their potential validity. I've explored numerous wellness techniques, such as intermittent fasting, limiting sugar, and working with different supplements. If these were truly the root causes, we'd expect to see these symptoms in everyone exposed to them. I did experience improvements in my skin during those times. However, I've come to understand that the food, supplements, or wellness "hacks" weren’t the healing; they simply supported my body's natural healing process.
German New Medicine introduces the concept of "Tracks," which I won't delve into here as I'm still learning and exploring it personally but it is an important topic when navigating any chronic symptom.
You're witnessing my experiences as this new chapter in my life unfolds in real-time. It's been almost a year since I first encountered German New Medicine, and only recently has it fully settled into my body, allowing me to share it. I made the decision not to wait for the ‘perfect’ moment to share or gain ‘complete‘ knowledge before speaking about it because the true magic lives within the transition itself, which embodies one of the most human experiences we can have.
I've been fortunate to learn from a great teacher and mentor, whom I’ve mentioned previously, about victimhood and the programs we ‘run’ related to being victims. Over the last year and a half, I've become more aware of my tendency to play the victim and acknowledge the pleasure it can bring. It can often feel like a process of shadow integration. We may find comfort in feeling attacked because of the attention or validation we receive afterward. At first, we're often unaware of this pattern, and it has some of its roots in our childhood experiences and even our time in the womb.
As I've mentioned before, shifting from unconscious to conscious leads to awareness, and awareness allows us to create change. Before we can shift away from the victim narrative, we must first recognize it, accept its existence, offer it a cup of tea and then we can begin the process of change. This process is far from linear, and I'm still deeply immersed in it. Nevertheless, I've learned enough to realize its direct connection to acne, a symptom that has persisted throughout my twenties.
Acne serves as a biological form of protection and a shield, a healing mechanism. It acts as a divine intervention between what we're experiencing and our body's innate intelligence. When we continually feel the need to protect ourselves, we become more prone to feeling attacked, constantly vigilant, and expecting the world to turn against us. A common question we might ask when playing the victim is, "Why did this happen to me?"
This could lead to a deeper conversation about nurturing the feminine and cultivating inner safety and trust, which I won't delve into now, as it's an ongoing process for me. However, my awareness of its significance is enough to facilitate change.
When we seek safety outside of ourselves or remain constantly on alert for potential threats, we diminish our self-trust, disconnect from our bodies, give away our power and project a need for protection. This results in our biology constructing a thicker barrier and shield to protect us, with acne as the outcome.
Taking responsibility is a key aspect of transitioning out of the victim role – asking ourselves how we co-create our reality and owning the energy we bring to any experience, conversation, or relationship dynamic.
Looking back at my past and when my acne first appeared, numerous memories flood my mind. Trying to trace back the initial conflict or conflicts that led to this symptom can feel overwhelming, especially when it's been chronic. This is where the concept of "Tracks" comes into play once again.
In my personal experience, I've found it most helpful to begin in the present and then work backward, noting when I first see a pimple or pimples (the symptom) and then I retrace my steps to the day or moments just before it appeared – examining how I felt, who I was with, what was happening, my thought patterns, and any instances where I felt attacked, dirty, or disfigured.
It's essential to recognize that often, when we have acne, we perceive ourselves as less beautiful or even ugly. This perpetuates the cycle of acne because we're experiencing the conflict anew. In German New Medicine, we can address conflicts from either a perceptual or practical perspective.
For example, one practical approach is refraining from looking in the mirror for a significant period, a practice I'm still exploring. I'll admit… I enjoy looking at myself, but I've acknowledged my vanity. :) However, I'm aware that when I have acne, looking in the mirror can be counterproductive because I simultaneously hold the belief that the acne is both beautiful and not beautiful. The latter perception perpetuates the cycle of acne. Interestingly, I find it easier to see someone else with acne as beautiful – does anyone else relate to this?
Random real-time memory: I once went camping for a couple of days during a time when my acne was quite intense, around the age of 21 or 22. I didn’t wear any makeup or have access to a mirror (except for when we got in the car to move to another campsite). My skin appeared clearer than it had been since the acne started! The reason was that I wasn't scrutinizing my appearance as I normally would, and the persistent feeling of being 'ugly' or 'disfigured' had lessened, which contributed to less acne. Being in a peaceful and calm environment also played a part in this process. A beautiful testament to how our self-perception and surroundings impact our bodies and biology.
Stay tuned for more on this ongoing unravelling and exploration.
xx,
Abigail
I am so glad I found this post, thank you! I started to have acne for the 1st time at 27, just a couple of days after a traumatising event which involved being attacked & feeling “dirty”. It is almost 4 years and I still have it, it went away for a short time in this period, due to a treatment that didn’t work the second time. I am curious if you think there are unprocessed emotions about the events that cause acne.