The Positive Benefits to a Positive Body/Mind Connection
Written by: Jennifer Beaupied, MSW, LCSW, Qualified Supervisor CSW
Our bodies are amazing machines and so it is vital to having a balanced body/mind relationship as the key to that positive connection. The reasoning for this stems from the idea that a person’s physical condition(s) can affect a person’s mental health status and that a person’s mental health status then intern can affect a person’s physical health. The decision to make healthy and positive choices and being mindful in our daily routines is an effective way to ensure a positive body mind connection. The ways an individual handles stress, types of coping mechanisms, emotional support system, daily routine and cognitive processing of people and interactions all play a pivotal role in how you process your emotional response.
When we are stressed, our body releases the hormones cortisol and adrenaline. These stress hormones are supposed to give us an adrenaline rush so we can get out of dangerous situations quickly. However, you can still feel stressed even if there’s no “danger”. Releasing these hormones too frequently can have negative effects on the body. Such as a weakened immune response, digestive problems, concentration issues, or even our bodies healing more slowly. While the connection between stress and health is easy to understand, it’s harder to imagine that the way we think and what we believe (positive or negative thoughts) can affect our health as well. Negative thinking patterns—assuming the worst, jumping to conclusions, and self-criticism—can make it more difficult to deal with health problems. A negative inner voice can have serious health consequences, and those types of thought patterns are difficult to break. That’s where the mind-body therapies come in to help. Individuals with mental health issues have a greater risk of physical illnesses. Similarly, people with chronic medical conditions are more likely to experience mental health problems than people who are physically healthy. When chronic medical conditions and mental illnesses occur at the same time, care becomes more complex.
The good news is that through effective mental health treatments (including CBT, Mindfulness, positive lifestyle behavior changes, meditation/ guided imagery, relaxation techniques and affirmations) patients can make a positive change in their overall well-being. Mental health is essential to our overall well-being. Our mental health and many forms of mental illness are the result of a complex interaction of genetics, environment, and experiences in our lives, Stress is a normal part of life that we all feel from time to time. It can come in response to an illness or trauma, a significant change in life circumstances like changing jobs, or in response to the overwhelming pressures of daily events and responsibilities. How you respond to stress, and the changes in your body that result from it, can have a big impact on your overall well-being. For example, if you respond to stress or a depressed mood by increasing your alcohol consumption or tobacco use, eating more junk foods, or experiencing sleep problems more health complications could arise. On the other hand, healthy lifestyle changes can improve your mental health. The quality and number of your relationships and social connections can also impact your immune system function, inflammation in the body, and the progression of chronic conditions. In addition to your social relationships, symptoms of stress, depression, and anxiety can be significantly relieved by changes in “positive” health-related attitudes and behaviors. Even a small positive healthy change in diet, physical activity, and sleep can go a long way toward improving mental and physical health. You can reduce your stress and improve your health by making even small changes. You are what you eat and therefore, food can help or hurt your body, your brain, and your mental health. Try to eat a diet full of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and fish and highly processed foods like refined sugars and flour, which are associated with obesity and inflammation. Get up and move by increasing your physical activity. Even a little, can improve mood, digestion, and sleep cycles. Never underestimate the power of quality sleep. Sleep helps the body cleanse itself and restores energy at the most basic cellular level. Since many mental disorders interfere with sleep, getting professional help to improve sleep may be an effective way of improving your health as well. Stay connected to people who provide positive emotional and other support. People who are positive in your life can have a beneficial impact on your overall well being. Work on ways to manage stress and try to advocate and encourage yourself to be the best version you can be every day.
“If you think your Body and mind are two, that is wrong; if you think that they are one, that is also wrong. Our body and mind are both two and one”. Shunryu Suzuki
