Rediscovering the Mind/Body Connection
If we are what we eat, then it’s no doubt we are what we think.
Although it may not be discussed during a typical doctor’s visit, the connection between our thoughts, feelings, attitudes, perspectives, and beliefs and our physical health is not to be ignored.
Research has shown a strong association between mental states and disease (or the absence of it), in which ongoing clinical trials are experimenting with a variety of techniques that support this link.
But what does that really mean?
Stress, pain, trauma, grief, negative thoughts, and hard feelings.
These are all part of life and experiences that we have to face from time to time.
However, when these difficult times are ignored, prolonged without support, and/or dealt with in an unhealthy manner, they can actually have biological effects that may lead to illness such as headaches, depression, fatigue, sleep issues, heart and neurological disease.
Take the global pandemic of COVID-19, for instance.
Studies are finding that physical and mental health have declined for many Americans since COVID began – much in due to the stress, trauma, and fears associated with it.
Early data is associating this “COVID stress” with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, reduced immunity, and inflammation in addition to mental issues such as obsessive compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.
This is why getting out of the “COVID stress”, or any other chronic negativity, rut may be vital to your future health.
Why and how?
Positive thoughts, meaningful experiences, compassionate perspectives, hope, gratitude, kindness, and love can all promote health and wellbeing.
It’s been shown that positive thinking can:
- reduce risk of death from stroke, cancer, respiratory disease, and infections
- reduce cardiovascular disease events
- reduce inflammation
- decrease depression symptoms
- stimulate stronger immunity
- speed up recovery from injury
- lessen colds/flus
- increase longevity
in addition to living a happier life overall!
So how can you foster a more positive outlook?
While it may be impossible to never suffer there are simple ways to boost your mood, feelings, and perspective when a joyful and gracious response could do you good.
Gratituding
Yep, that’s our own made-up word. But for us, this means living a gracious life filled with mindful appreciation.
For some, that may be keeping a gratitude journal, for others it may be expressing thanks at the dinner table each night. Whatever it is, consistent awareness of what is good in life can do wonders.
Forest Bathing
A rigorous hike, a day of skiing, a calming paddle, or an afternoon in the garden…nature has a way of clearing our minds of the negative in order to make space for the positive.
Positive People
Surrounding yourself with individuals who have hopeful outlooks, seek out compassion and understanding, and are authentic as well as encouraging, can be treasures throughout life.
Ditch gossip and complaining whenever possible and spend time with those that lift you up and renew your spirit up rather than drag you down and drain your energy.
Acupuncture
Can acupuncture generate a more positive attitude in life? It just may.
Considering the core concept of acupuncture is to move stuck energy and regenerate balance for the body and mind, it can provide a way to work through tough emotions while creating a sense of peace and renewal for moving forward in a more healthy way.
Has your mental state been in a rut lately?
Is anxiety, fear, negativity, or just plain stress getting to you?
If it’s time to reset your mental health (especially after the past few years of the pandemic), Dr. Graves encourages you to rediscover your mind/body connection.
CNMA provides acupuncture and naturopathic care, holistic counseling, and massage that can all help boost mood, attitude, and outlook organically and authentically.
Please call us at (303) 688-6698 or click here to schedule a free 15 minute phone consultation with Dr. Graves to talk about how you’ve been feeling and to learn how our office may be able to help.
The CNMA office is located in Castle Rock, CO and serve the Castle Rock, Castle Pines, Lone Tree, Highlands Ranch, Centennial, Parker, Larkspur, Monument, Colorado Springs, and the Denver metro areas.
REFERENCES:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1456909/
https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2021/one-year-pandemic-stress
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7271730/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7927783/
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-power-of-positive-thinking
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