The Mind-Body Connection: Finding Confidence Through Your Inner Wisdom

Feb 1

What does being well really mean? There’s some serious empowerment that comes from seeing what helps you feel your best inside and out. That’s why I can’t wait to share a closer look at the mind-body connection today, and potentially a new perspective on what it means to live an embodied life, in strong connection with yourself.

So, what is the mind-body connection? Think about it as the relationship your emotions (both positive and negative), thought patterns and psychological state have with the physical health of your body. Taking this deeper look at how you manage feelings and stressful events both within your mind and body to make it easier to find self-care and compassion. As you turn to a gentle approach to self care based on what your nervous system responds best to, you’re showing yourself a whole new level of care.

As a Mind-Body Wellness Coach at Modern Therapy, I see how stress from worries, relationship challenges, work difficulties, big changes, disappointments, and trying to do it all with less time can translate to physical symptoms. I also see the confidence people feel as they experience the simplicity of tapping into the inner wisdom as something they can control, in a world of so many things we can’t.

Today we’ll explore this harmony between mental and physical wellbeing to help bring empowerment to caring for our whole selves.

What is the mind-body connection?

The mind-body connection explores how thoughts, emotions, and mental processes directly relate to physical well-being. In other words, taking care of our bodies influences our mental state, and our mindset can directly influence our physical health. The mind-body connection is a concept adapted across various modalities of care including psychology, holistic health, and medicine but the research is growing every year. We’re learning more about how to shape impactful mind-body approaches that feel accessible every day.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? Even if you eat all the right things and work out with precision, a heavier stress and emotional load can create imbalances and symptoms you feel within your body. Accessing a state of peace and inner calm means taking care of ourselves physically through the things we eat, the way we move, sleep, hydration, and other healthy habits we may not immediately link to mental health.

I loved this view from Gut Feelings, a book written by Dr. Will Cole IFMCP, DNM, DC, to shed light on the relationship between physical and emotional health, specifically looking at the impact of shame, stress, anxiety, and mood swings on gut health.

“These metaphysical meals that we feed ourselves on a daily basis, in the form of unkind thoughts to ourselves, chronic stress, lacking healthy boundaries with our job or family members, or unresolved trauma from our past. All will contribute to this dysregulated nervous system and inflammatory response just as much as that fast food meal will.”

-Dr. Will Cole, Excerpt from Gut Feelings

How the Mind Can Influence the Body

The Stress Response

When we experience stress or perceive a threat, our bodies enter into a “fight or flight” response to release the stress hormones, cortisol, and adrenaline. These stress hormones circulate throughout the body and can lead to changes in physical sensations that you might notice through heart rate, blood pressure, and immunity changes. When stress is more of an underlying feeling that’s long-lasting such as in the case of traumatic events, that stress lives in our bodies and can slowly arise as tension, aches, low immunity, and digestive challenges if ignored.

Joy and Happiness

While negative emotions can challenge our bodies, positive emotions can be really beneficial to physical health. Stressors are abundant and often overlooked because we gain so much resilience to push through, making the pursuit of joy and happiness a timely discussion for many modern researchers and doctors. Recently published books by authors such as Arthur Brooks and Elissa Epel emphasize the importance of a genuine state of joy and breaking down the health impact of happiness to open new pathways to healing.

Psychiatrist Dr. Francoise Adan, director of the Connor Integrative Health Network of University Hospitals in Cleveland shares insight on the way happiness leads to healthier behaviors, noting its impact on reduction of high blood pressure and excess body fat, resulting in lower risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease.

“We know that up to 80% of visits to primary care doctors are due to conditions that are caused or exacerbated by unmanaged stress.--Being happy doesn’t just make us feel better, it improves our health. It helps us eat healthier, be more active and sleep better.”

Psychiatrist Dr. Francoise Adan

Psychosomatic Symptoms

Many physical symptoms are intensified by psychological factors. A distressed mental state has a real impact on the body that appears in different ways for different people. Usually, our bodies are using the physical symptoms to send us a nudge to check in and take it slow.

Examples may include:

Tension headaches and migraines influenced by stress, anxiety or emotional tension
Gastrointestinal distress with symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, and changes in bowel habits exacerbated by stress or emotional distress
Chronic pain related to emotional stress and trauma
Breathing difficulties influenced by emotional factors rather than respiratory issues
Skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema, or hives worsened by emotional distress
Cardiovascular symptoms like chest pain, palpitations, and increased heart rate from stress and anxiety
Fatigue related to depression and chronic stress
Muscle tension, stiffness, and pain from emotional holding in
Lower immunity and infection elevated by prolonged stress

Mindfulness

The work of Jon Kabat-Zinn in Full Capacity Living shares a wonderful definition of mindfulness as an awareness of the present moment, on purpose, without judgment. The emphasis on intentionally choosing presence through practices like meditation, relaxation techniques, and grounding have a big impact on physical well-being. Many people undergoing painful experiences and illness can see a positive impact from practicing mindfulness, as well as those who are looking to sharpen their awareness skills for everyday stress and anxiety resilience.

“One very important domain of our lives and experience that we tend to miss, ignore, abuse, or lose control of as a result of being in the automatic pilot mode is our own body.”

Jon Kabat-Zinn

Neurotransmitters and Hormones

Lastly, our brains communicate with our bodies through neurotransmitters and hormones that are released based on varying mental states and emotions. When these chemicals enter the body, they can impact bodily functions like digestion, sleep, and immunity as well as organ and tissue function. Sometimes a small imbalance in hormones can result in changes we see in our skin, our energy levels, our breath, and so much more. It’s particularly important for females to understand how their cycle phases impact their bodies when looking at this specific area of the mind-body connection.

How do you build a mind-body connection?

So, why are we even talking about this? What can you do to apply it to your life? Well, everyone has a mind-body connection to shine a light on the path to well-being that aligns uniquely to each of us. It’s what can help distinguish between wellness trends and approaches that our bodies respond well to. Tapping into your mind-body connection takes some confidence to listen closely to signs, changes, and symptoms and learn more each day about how your body is communicating with you about what it needs.

Your intuition is your superpower. It helps you identify what might be pulling you further away or distracting you from truly listening to what your body is asking you for. As you learn what’s not serving you, you’re in the best position to create space for what helps you feel at home with yourself. So, maybe you listen a little bit closer, with more curiosity the next time you have tension in your shoulders, or you find your hunger is different than it usually is. These may be your signs to look at what’s happening in your mind and respond with a loving act of self care to remind yourself you are safe and can settle into relaxation again.

There are a few ways you can practice strengthening your mind-body connection proactively to help you learn to read yourself and self-regulate.

Some ways to strengthen your mind-body connection may include:

Mindfulness practices
Acupuncture
Temperature therapies (cold plunges, saunas, etc.)
Yoga and mindful movement
Breathwork and meditation
Functional nutrition approaches to support mental health

Seeking Support in Your Mind Body Wellness

While the connection you have with yourself is a personal experience, it can be so helpful to have guidance on approaches that might work best for you and your lifestyle as you explore the ways your mental health is connected to the way you approach wellness habits.

Mind Body Wellness Coaching at Modern Therapy is where you can feel the empowerment that comes from gaining a deeper understanding of yourself, your mental health experience, and your body. This is your nurturing space to invite curiosity about how your body may be holding emotions, feelings, and experiences and using that insight to choose the best self care and regulation methods.

You’re surrounded by support from Mind Body Wellness Coach Jess, who sees you and holds space for anything that may come up, offering you guidance on tangible steps that can be seamlessly introduced into your lifestyle without disruption. The process is all about building self-trust and a feeling of being at home in your mind and body so you can confidently choose avenues to continue caring for yourself as you grow and evolve emotionally, mentally, and physically.