Mind and Body Connection

Aug 9

Introduction

The mind and body are Lebron James and Dwane Wade. Think about it. These 2 never compete with each other, they cooperate. When one is feeling down, the other is too and vice versa. Just like Lebron and Dwane Wade, the mind and body have a connection, a special connection. The mind and body connection is a really important part in mental health. Why and how is it important; It shows you how your thoughts and emotions impact your body and vice versa

Symptoms

Symptoms of a negative mind-body connection include

Physical Symptoms

Chronic headaches may cause anxiety because of how long pain is lasting
Bad sleep harms ability of memory and takes a toll on health
High blood pressure indicates that body can’t handle stress
Low energy can cause mood swings

Mental Symptoms

Excessive feelings of anxiety turn is a result of inability to manage stress
Mood swings harms decision making
Difficulty making decisions can lead to stress
Difficulty managing stress can lead to high bp
Loss of memory shows that you have bad sleep.

Pause, look at how the mental and physical symptoms work in response to another. It’s like these are related to each other. Isn’t that crazy!

Causes

Causes of a poor mind body connection include

Stress can cause a mind-body connection if you face too much of it
Poor sleep can make it harder for the body to respond to signals.
A bad diet can decrease energy levels and impact mood
Not exercising can make you feel disconnected from your body
Trauma can disrupt your mind-body connection
Drugs and alcohol will cause stress. It’s a fact by now

Statistics

Here are a few stats that may surprise you

According to the American Journal of Managed Care, or AJMC, people with depression can get physical conditions 30% faster.
People with depression have a 40% higher risk of getting a cardiovascular disease.
For people who had anxiety and went to a mind-body therapist, 47% found it very beneficial

These stats show that if you have bad mental health, then you have a higher risk of having a physical condition like arthritis or high blood pressure.

Treatments

Here are some ways to help make your mind-body connection better

Exercises that include mind and body like yoga and tai chi makes your mind and body more coordinated
Mindfulness techniques like meditation or breathing exercises make your mind more stronger
Healthy lifestyles like eating healthy or embracing the moment make your body and mind more calm and happy.

Notice how all of these work on either mind or body. If one grows, the other also grows. If one drops, the other drops. The mind-body connection is a double edged sword.

Common Myths

Here are some common myths of the Mind-Body connection…

“It's all in your head” Pain is only something you feel, it is just what your brain is telling you.

The brain and the body work together. If you feel pain for a long time, then something is wrong.

“The mind and body are separate.” These aren’t connected in any way

The mind and body are interconnected. They rise and grow together.

“There is only a negative mind-body connection”

There can be a positive mind-body connection. When you feel happy, the body feels more happy. It rises together.

Why Treatment?

If you feel sick, you usually feel sad or tired. If you keep feeling sad or tired, then there is a problem. If you feel sick, then there is usually a problem. People think that their diseases will go away after a few days, but if it keeps happening, then something is wrong, so you need to go to a doctor or a therapist. Why a therapist; If you are sick often, then you probably have a mental health disorder. Fixing a poor mind-body connection can help you live a much better life. If you have a positive mind-body connection it can make you more happy and confident about yourself.

Conclusion

In final words, the mind-body connection is a double edged sword. The mind and body are teammates, if these two are finely tuned, then they are rising up the ranks. But if they aren’t taken care of, then they are dropping like flies. Some ways to have a positive mind-body connection are exercising, eating healthy, and doing mindfulness. This duo is the top of the top, if it is maintained at all times, then it will perform to the best there is. If one part of the duo is feeling down, then the duo will sink.

Resources

There are many more on the internet, but here are some.

NAMI Connections: Guides a person on how to live freely with a mental health disorder

ADAA: Offers support to people with anxiety or depression

NEDA: Offers support to people who don’t think that their body is good enough

Meditate Together: Has online video groups to meditate

Hamsa Vibes: A place in Fremont CA that has life coaching.

Sources

https://www.calm.com/blog/mind-body-connection

https://mnclinicforhealth.com/understanding-the-mind-body-connection-a-comprehensive-guide/

https://www.ajmc.com/view/adults-with-depression-likely-develop-physical-conditions-30-faster

https://ampsychfdn.org/mind-body-health-connection/