The Mind Body Connection
Our brain is not an isolated organ floating around on its own. It is attached to our body and thus is influenced by our bodies condition. The vast majority of our modern health care system is broken up into specific specialties that partition the human body into specific parts. This has done wonders for treating acute illness and injuries. Our modern populations are able to live longer and healthier lives than any other time in history. However, we have come to a crucial pivot point with our modern medical theories. The majority of the medical issues that plague people in modernity are chronic conditions that tend to come from overconsumption, exposure, and age. This means that it is time to start looking at new and innovative ways to push the human mind and body into its next phase of health and wellness.
This is where the mind body connection comes into play. When mental health professionals look to help a client, we are not just looking at the limbic system in the brain and trying to fix that specific piece of tissue. We are looking at the client’s family, friends, sleep hygiene, past traumas, diet, physical status, medical conditions, the list goes on. This is because our brains are deeply influenced by both what is happening inside our bodies and outside our bodies. One of the most important areas in this holistic view of a person’s mental health is how they are fueling and maintaining their body. If you pour sand into your vehicle’s engine, would you expect that engine to perform well, or even ever start again for that matter. This is how food and hydration influence our bodies health and performance.
More and more science is begin published about chronic inflammation, autoimmune disorders, and food allergies that all can have negative effects on our mental health. The second part of this emerging holistic view is how we are maintaining our bodies physically. Again, I will go for the vehicle example to help paint the picture. If you have ever experienced having to leave your vehicle sit idle for a long period of time, I am talking months to a year, you will know that it is generally not pretty when you get back and try to drive it for the first time. If you did not have someone coming over and driving it at least once every week or two you will most likely be looking at a dead battery, seized up breaks, rusted breaks, and again the list goes on. This is your body and mind if you do not take it out for a spin from time to time. A lack of moderate physical activity can lead to physical issues such as back pain, knee pain, neck pain, poor posture etc. This will also have a negative influence on your mental health. Physical activity produces key chemicals and hormones that our brains require to properly regulate. If you are not exerting your body in some way or another your brain will begin to become unbalanced and conditions such as anxiety, depression, and ADHD can occur or worsen. mastering your relationship with your mental health is not just a one technique type of solution. You must look at your body and its relationship with your mind as well if you hope to find that balance and wellbeing that we are all looking for.
Furthermore, our clinicians here at Harvard Avenue Counseling Services are experienced in helping clients better manage their mind body connection and we look forward to helping you find that balance you are looking for.
