Ever heard of someone complaining about a headache when they’re stressed? It may seem strange but this happens because of the mind body connection. Mind Body Connection means that there is a link between our emotions and our physical body; where our minds affect how healthy are biological functions. Our thoughts, feelings, beliefs and attitudes can either impact our body in a positive or negative manner. Doctors have evaluated the connection between our mental and physical health for a long time. Until the 1800s, most believed that emotions were linked to disease and when one was sick, they often advised them to visit spas or seaside resorts when they were ill. However as medicine started healing everything, people started dismissing the idea. Today, we accept that there is a powerful mind-body connection through. In fact some specialists say that the mind and body are inseparable.
Many things can happen in your life that cause stress and affect your emotional health. These things could be being fired, going through a divorce, having to study for a stressful exam, dealing with a death of a loved one. During these anxious times, your body is trying to communicate with you, it’s trying to inform you that something is wrong. So lets say your dealing with a divorce, there could be a chance of getting high blood pressure, or during studying for an exam, you could get a headache. Here are some other symptoms that could show that there is some sort of emotional trauma going on within:
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Extreme tiredness
- Aches and pains
- Headaches
- High blood pressure
- Insomnia (trouble sleeping)
- Palpitations (the feeling that your heart is racing)
- Sexual problems
- Shortness of breath
- Weight gain or loss
If your experiencing the symptoms above, it could be because of an emotional crisis. On the bright side though, there is such a thing as mind-body medicine/treatment. Mind-body medicine focuses on treatments that may promote health, including relaxation, hypnosis, visual imagery, meditation, yoga, and biofeedback. More techniques include prayer, support groups, tai chi. Just for the peace of mind, it’s always important to do something that relaxes you! Always find something you enjoy doing!
Photo Credit: Dingzeyu Li
