Synchronously working together as powerful, trustworthy allies, the mind and the body affects one another in ways that are vital for a human being to perform the activities of daily living efficiently. If one is compromised, the other can be in potential danger as well.
How The Mind And Body Interacts
One of the best examples of mind-body interaction is the way the human body reacts to difficult situations. Worrying and stressing over work, finances, expenses, relationships, and other life encounters can lead to headaches, stomach illness, tense muscles, and pain in various parts of the body. These manifestations could worsen and lead to more severe circumstances like chest pain or high blood pressure.
Aside from that, any health problem or pain originating from different areas of the body can critically affect a person’s emotions. The occurrence becomes the other way around. People tend to become stressed, depressed and anxious; this could then change one’s coping mechanism, management, and treatment of the current illness.
Negatives aside, the mind can also trigger happiness and positivity to one’s health. When people have a definite point-of-view, handling stress or pain becomes less complicated as compared to someone who deems everything as hopeless. “Give yourself permission to do some serious emotional healing to become your happiest self and remember, it is a process more than a destination.” Roya R. Rad, MA, PsyD suggests.
When Feelings Influence Well-Being
Production of substances inside the brain improves and impacts a person’s overall health. Endorphins are considered as the primary substance that is said to be the natural tranquilizer and painkiller created inside the brain; while gamma globulin strengthens and invigorates the immune system.
According to research, the brain mainly produces and supplies substances depending on the need of a particular body part; basing it on one’s expectations, feelings, and thoughts at a given moment. For example, if a person is sick without inclinations of hope and willingness to survive, his or her recovery is significantly affected. Whereas, a person who believes that he or she will conquer the condition prompts the brain to create chemicals that will boost the healing or curative power of the body.
“A good way to keep from destroying your self-esteem is by keeping negative self-talk in check. Catch yourself before you go spiraling down the hole of negative thought.” You’ll notice a big difference.” says licensed psychologist Cindy T. Graham, PhD. Pessimistic emotions and thoughts keep the brain from generating the chemicals needed by the body to heal hastily and efficiently. However, a person should not blame himself or herself for feeling bad or being inflicted with a disease; there are just illnesses that are beyond one’s control. But it helps to have a positive state of mind to go through a life rigged with ups and downs.
Wellness From Within
“Self-care is what we do for ourselves in order to better manage our stress and maintain a sense of balance. It is an on-going process and something we should be implementing daily rather than waiting for stress to completely overwhelm or overtake us.” Melanie McNally, PsyD, LCPC said. For one to achieve a balanced emotional, physical, and mental state, there are a couple of wellness activities proven to boost the mind-body interconnection.
Relieving stress is difficult if you are not aware of the different relaxation techniques that are also used to ease the body of sleeping problems, anxiety, and depression. You can choose to either do mindfulness activities, muscle relaxation, yoga, and guided imagery.
Additionally, you can seek help for your stress and sleeping problems, among others, by reaching out to BetterHelp, a team of professional counselors who are dedicated to providing excellent advice about keeping your mental health at bay. To get started, check out the app today.
The best and cheapest method to get rid of stress is deep breathing. As the person inhales deeply, it automatically tells the brain to loosen up and calm down; this message is then sent to the body. Laughter, resiliency, and spiritual connectivity are also some of the best ways to simmer down and let go of the worries and pressures of the day.
When the mind and body are in a state of harmony, it will be evidenced by a person’s perspective and performance in life. Awareness that there is a profound connection between the mental and physical states can significantly improve a person’s quality of life while preventing chronic, life-threatening diseases.