Is there a connection between stressful thoughts and, say, arthritis, or chronic fatigue, or cancer?
Not too long ago, it used to be thought that our minds resided in the head, completely different and separate from the body. But science has shown otherwise. Our whole body is intelligent and works as a complete system, so integrated with our feelings and thoughts that they cannot really be separated, except artificially.
With this in mind it is easy to see how our state of mind can bear a direct relationship to our overall health and feeling of well-being and how it can have a deep connection to painful symptoms in the body, from headaches to chronic illness
The Stories We Tell
We are not stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed because of the economy, our partners, or challenges at work, but because of the stories we tell ourselves in our minds about these circumstances. Emotions can sometimes get out of control and take over, dimming our normal rational responses to things. As a result, automatic stressor related responses from our bodies end up compromising the immune system with the result that we can develop all kinds of aches and pains.
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The Listening Body
This type of compromising body reaction usually occurs when we feel unable to handle what is in front of us at any particular time, or when it seems that the situations we confront are too many to cope with all at one go. We tend to get overwhelmed by our worries and fears. When we continuously keep worrying over events, what generally happens is that our bodies perceive this condition as a continual "threat" and reacts to it in the same way as it would to an actual physical attack. It does this by prioritizing and sending all its resources to what is most "vital" for a fight or flight response.
All of this at the expense of servicing the rest of our body which is ultimately deprived of what it needs to flourish
Cravings
An important part of dealing with stressful circumstances and taking care of the body, is to recognize and manage any stress-induced cravings. There is often a reduction in energy levels which could leave you facing cravings for sugary foods, alcohol, tobacco and so on in an effort to get a quick energy boost or for comfort. If you get into the habit of responding to these cravings automatically in this way you may end up creating a dependency on these substances that, in turn, causes additional strain on the body system.
And after a ‘sugar’ high or coffee ‘hit’ you are also more prone to having a ‘low’ afterwards and this may trigger the craving for another ‘shot’ or lead the way into a sinking into depression. The cycle then may spiral downwards and lead to consequent physical complications, such as symptoms of back pain, neck and shoulder pain, headaches, constricted blood vessels and heart problems and many more.
How Do We Protect Our Health From The Cumulative Effects?
When we constantly react to our environment in a stressful way our consciousness of what is taking place can get numbed out whilst at the same time the body is being constantly put under pressure to stay in ‘survival response’ mode. So we have learned to ignore the signals at a conscious level and left the body to cope alone.
We are not relaxed, muscles remain tense, ready for flight, This explains how we can sometimes find ourselves in pain, with aching or stiff muscles or feel irritated and tired even though on the surface it seems that nothing has really happened. In fact pain is often the body’s way of saying ‘wake up’ to what’s happening. It is trying to communicate something and it is up to you to respond
Awareness is Key to Recovery.
Practise being aware of what is going on in your head and your body, without getting caught up in the drama. If you are going through a particularly stresful time, learn to acknowledge the thoughts and emotions associated with it, where you are tense in your body and when you feel most relaxed. When you witness and accept an unhealthy thinking process as it is, with compassion and without being over-involved it actually can empower you to then make better choices for yourself to move through and beyond. As you do this you will find your body starts to relax and the symptoms of physical pain start to subside. The body is esentially wired for health so if you cooperate with it and listen, you are less likely to develop painful conditions and illnesses
Management Of Mental and Physical Well Being.
Prolonged periods of emotionaly stressful responses can ultimately lead to chronic depression and physical complications that can eventually even cause death if not managed adequately.
What to do to relieve stress. Having quality, relaxing and fun time for yourself is of the utmost importance and this needs to be scheduled into your regular program.
Gather the support of loved ones, join a meditation class or listen to relaxation CD’s. Get some exercise and redirect or channel your anger and frustration through dance or squash or walks in the park. Watch funny movies and comedy programs and maybe even write a journal to allow your feelings and thoughts to be expressed and let go of.
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