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Demystifying Mind-body Health

Writer's picture: Dr. Patty RichardsonDr. Patty Richardson

It is common for people to talk about the mind-body connection--but are you aware of the powerful impact that it has on your health?


What is the Mind-body Connection?

To put it simply, there is an abundance of science showing us that our mental health and physical health are interrelated, meaning that our mental health impacts our physical health and vice versa.


Our thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and attitudes can positively or negatively impact our physiological functioning. Similarly, what we do with our physical body (what we eat, the quality of our sleep, how much we exercise, even our posture) impacts our mental state. This complex interrelationship between our minds and bodies is known as the mind-body connection.


Real-world Evidence of the Mind-body Connection

1) When our stress levels build up and persist over time, this leads to a series of cascading physiological and hormonal (think cortisol) shifts that can result in headaches, weakened immune function, ulcers, constipation/diarrhea, high blood pressure, poor sleep, and the list goes on ...

Did you know that one of the leading causes of HEADACHES is the tension we hold in our shoulder and neck muscles due to stress and anxiety?


2) Among individuals with chronic pain (headache, GI concerns, back pain, etc.), one of the biggest predictors of worsening pain is the way that we think about pain "pain catastrophizing." Pain catastrophizing = pain worry thoughts; more pain catastrophizing = more physical pain.


Here are some common examples of pain worry thoughts: 1) my pain will never go away; 2) nothing will ever help my pain; and 3) my pain means that there is something dangerously wrong with my body.


3) The best science-proven interventions for depression are based on mind AND body. Mind: learning new ways to build more adaptive thoughts and balanced emotions (i.e., identifying thinking traps, cognitive restructuring). Body: behavioral activation--increasing our body's physical movement sets off a series of neurobiological (brain chemical --> neurotransmitters) processes that tilt us toward positive emotion and increased energy.


How to Improve your Mind-body Connection

Keep on eye on lifestyle factors.

  • Lifestyle factors are the bedrock of our health and wellbeing. A few examples include sleep, nutrition, hydration, social connectedness, meaningful hobbies, and infusing daily routine and physical activity into our lives.


Use science-based techniques to calm and relax your brain and body in order to improve your physical and mental health.


Keep building resilience.

  • Resilience describes our incredible ability as humans to adapt in the face of stress and adversity. To bounce back stronger than we were before, to find new meaning, and to take even greater strides toward our goals. There are many approaches to coping we can learn that help us build mind-body resilience. In case you are looking for a few ideas to kick start your coping ...


It's ok to reach out for support. If you are interested in learning more about the ways that your mind-body functioning might be impacting your physical/medical wellbeing and/or stress/anxiety/depression, don't hesitate to reach out. Psychologists are experts in providing individualized feedback and tailored techniques to improve your mind-body wellness.


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