Understanding the Mind-Body Connection
If you want to be whole and reconnect with yourself spiritually, mentally, and physically; you need to understand the mind-body connection and how it affects your development. Under the mind-body connection, people believe that physical illnesses or problems come from how your mind is processing social and biological factors.
This simply means that your emotions and feelings can affect your physical health. If you have ever been in a stressful situation such as a divorce or unemployment, you probably know how stress can make your body feel worn down and slow. Stress can also affect things like blood pressure and blood sugar.
Your body can also respond to stress by having gastrointestinal issues or even stomach ulcers and headaches. You might also experience fatigue, insomnia, or shortness of breath. Many people visit the doctor thinking they have physical ailments that need to be treated, but their conditions are actually being caused by issues such as stress and anxiety.
Knowing how to control things like stress and anxiety can help you better manage physical symptoms and can get you into better health overall.
Improving Mind-Body Connection
Knowing that mental health can affect your physical health, you might be wondering if there are some ways you can improve the mind-body connection. There are many ways you can improve the connection, but you need to make sure you are making a solid effort and committing to wanting to become better.
If you are having serious physical conditions, your doctor might want to put you on medications such as blood pressure medication. While taking medicine though if needed, you can also do some things at home to improve your mind-body connection.
Stress management techniques are one of the top ways you can reduce stress and get your body back into better health. Stress management looks different for everyone, but many people think that practicing a hobby you enjoy can help reduce stress and enlighten your mind.
If you already have a hobby, you can make time to practice it more often. If you don’t have a hobby, try and find one. Anything can be a hobby from writing, to reading, to painting. Hobbies can also include physical things such as bike riding, yoga, or running.
One way to improve the mind-body connection is to also practice relaxation techniques. This can include mediation, yoga, or deep breathing. Sitting quietly and breathing deeply can help balance your emotions. If you aren’t sure how to do this on your own, there are many videos or books that can help take you through the practice until you get used to doing it on your own.
Investing in yourself is also key to being more mindful of the mind-body connection. This means investing in your health in all areas including nutrition, fitness, work, hobbies, and personal relationships. A huge part of investing in yourself includes finding a good life-work balance.
Without the proper work-life balance, you won’t have time for yourself, and this can damage growth and the process of being whole.
The last major part of understanding the mind-body connection is to develop resilience. Part of resilience is to have good social support and to have a positive view of yourself. If you’re able to think positively and be resilient, you will be able to keep things in perspective even when they might not go your way.
The Connection Between Mind and Body
There have been many studies done on the connection between the mind and body. Some scientists and doctors have even done neuroimaging of people’s brains during stressful situations or life experiences. During stressful situations, neuroimaging shows that the brain and nervous system actually change.
This means that your behavior actually has the ability to change neuropathways, whether it be in a good or bad way. This is one of the reasons that many doctors and people believe that medicine is not enough anymore to change certain conditions and illnesses, especially illnesses that are brought on by stress, anxiety, or depression.
Nutrition and the Mind
The things you put into your body matter for your physical and mental health, as well as how they relate to one another. Studies have shown that nutrient-dense food can provide better emotional and mental well-being. Since your mind is connected to your body, your mind is also connected to the stomach and the digestive tract.
There is also some evidence that people with diverse and healthy diets also are less likely to suffer from anxiety and depression. The next chapter of the book will go over nutrition and healthy living in greater detail.
Using Yoga and Meditation
Yoga and mediation are one of the top ways to become more in sync with your mind and body connection. Doing yoga activates certain hormones and neurotransmitters that are in charge of relaxing the body and dealing better with stress.
Yoga also does a better job of releasing these neurotransmitters than other exercises like weightlifting or walking. Of course, you can do your regular exercise routines but consider adding in 30 minutes of yoga at the beginning of the end.
Using Positivity
Staying positive and thinking positive is much easier said than done. One way you can make a difference with your thoughts though is to realize that everything is temporary. Thinking more positive doesn’t happen every night and it’s okay if negative thoughts creep into your mind sometimes. The most important thing to do is just push them out and replace them with better thoughts.
In the moments you are thinking negatively, you can also focus on things you love and enjoy so that your mind can better focus.