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Mind and body are parts of the whole of life. And we begin to understand their reciprocal relations in that whole. The life of man is the life of a moving being, and it would not be sufficient for him to develop body alone. All moving beings, however, can foresee and reckon up the direction in which to move; and this fact makes it necessary to postulate that they have mind. This foreseeing the direction of movement is the central principle of the mind.
As soon as we have recognized it we are in a position to understand how the mind governs the body it sets the goal for movements. At the same time, the body influences the mind; it is the body which must be moved. The mind can move the body only in accordance with the possibilities which the body possesses and those which it can be trained to develop.
Mind and body are co-operating as indivisible parts of one whole. The mind is like a motor, dragging with it all the potentialities which it can discover in the body, helping to bring the body into a position of safety and superiority to all difficulties. In every movement of the body, in every expression and symptom, we can see the impress of the mind's purpose. Therefore, we must never treat a symptom or a single expression, we must discover the mistake made in the whole style of life, in the way the mind has interpreted its experiences, in the meaning it has given to life, and in the actions with which it has answered the impressions received from the body and from the environment.
Mind & Body Connection: How Our Emotions Affect Our Health
What is good emotional health?
People who have good emotional health are aware of their thoughts, feelings and behaviors. They have learned healthy ways to cope with the stress and problems that are a normal part of life. They feel good about themselves and have healthy relationships. However, many things that happen in our life can disrupt your emotional health and lead to strong feelings of sadness, stress or anxiety. These things include:
- Being laid off from your job
- Having a child leave or return home
- Dealing with the death of a loved one
- Getting divorced or married
- Suffering an illness or an injury
- Getting a job promotion
- Experiencing money problems
- Moving to a new home
“Good” changes can be just as stressful as “bad” changes.
How can my emotions affect my health?
Our body responds to the way we think, feel and act. This is often called the “mind/body connection.” When we are stressed, anxious or upset, our body tries to tell us that something isn’t right. For example, high blood pressure or a stomach ulcer might develop after a particularly stressful event, such as the death of a loved one or money problems. The following can be physical signs that our emotional health is out of balance:
- Back pain
- Change in appetite
- Chest pain
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Dry mouth
- Extreme tiredness
- General aches and pains
- Headaches
- High blood pressure
- Insomnia (trouble sleeping)
- Lightheadedness
- Palpitations (the feeling that your heart is racing)
- Sweating
- Upset stomach
- Weight gain or loss
Poor emotional health can weaken our body's immune system, making us more likely to get cold and other infections during emotionally difficult times. Also, when we are feeling stressed, anxious or upset, we may not take care of our health as well as we should. We may not feel like exercising, eating nutritious foods or taking medicine that our doctor prescribes. Abuse of alcohol, tobacco or other drugs may also be a sign of poor emotional health.
The following tips can be used for dealing with stress:-
- Don't worry about things we can't control, such as the weather.
- Solve the little problems. This can help us gain a feeling of control.
- Prepare to the best of our ability for events we know may be stressful, such as a job interview.
- Try to look at change as a positive challenge, not as a threat.
- Work to resolve conflicts with other people.
- Talk with a trusted friend, family member or counselor.
- Set realistic goals at home and at work. Avoid over scheduling.
- Exercise on a regular basis.
- Eat regular, well-balanced meals and get enough sleep.
- Meditate.
- Participate in something we don't find stressful, such as sports, social events or hobbies.
How can I improve my emotional health?
To improve your emotional health, first, try to recognize your emotions and understand why you are having them. Sorting out the causes of sadness, stress and anxiety in your life can help you manage your emotional health.
The following are some other helpful tips:
Express your feelings in appropriate ways. If feelings of stress, sadness or anxiety are causing physical problems, keeping these feelings inside can make you feel worse. It’s OK to let your loved ones know when something is bothering you. However, keep in mind that your family and friends may not be able to help you deal with your feelings appropriately. At these times, ask someone outside the situation--such as your family doctor, a counselor or a religious advisor--for advice and support to help you improve your emotional health.
Live a balanced life. Try not to obsess about the problems at work, school or home that lead to negative feelings. This doesn’t mean you have to pretend to be happy when you feel stressed, anxious or upset. It’s important to deal with these negative feelings, but try to focus on the positive things in your life too. You may want to use a journal to keep track of things that make you feel happy or peaceful. Some research has shown that having a positive outlook can improve your quality of life and give your health a boost. You may also need to find ways to let go of some things in your life that make you feel stressed and overwhelmed. Make time for things you enjoy.
Develop resilience. People with resilience are able to cope with stress in a healthy way. Resilience can be learned and strengthened with different strategies. These include having social support, keeping a positive view of yourself, accepting change and keeping things in perspective.
Calm your mind and body. Relaxation methods, such as meditation, are useful ways to bring your emotions into balance. Meditation is a form of guided thought. It can take many forms. For example, you may do it by exercising, stretching or breathing deeply.
Take care of yourself. To have good emotional health, it’s important to take care of your body by having a regular routine for eating healthy meals, getting enough sleep and exercising to relieve pent-up tension. Avoid overeating and don’t abuse drugs or alcohol. Using drugs or alcohol just causes other problems, such as family and health problems.
Why is exercise useful?
Exercise is a good way to deal with stress because it's a healthy way to relieve your pent-up energy and tension. Exercise is known to release feel-good brain chemicals. It also helps you get in better shape, which makes you feel better overall. Follow the steps to do deep breathing
- Lie down on a flat surface.
- Place a hand on your stomach, just above your navel. Place the other hand on your chest.
- Breathe in slowly and try to make your stomach rise a little.
- Hold your breath for a second.
- Breathe out slowly and let your stomach go back down.
What is meditation?
Meditation is a form of guided thought. It can take many forms. You can do it with exercise that uses the same motions over and over, like walking or swimming. You can meditate by practicing relaxation training, by stretching or by breathing deeply.
Relaxation training is simple. Start with one muscle. Hold it tight for a few seconds then relax the muscle. Do this with each of your muscles, beginning with the toes and feet and working your way up through the rest of your body, one muscle group at a time.
Stretching can also help relieve tension. Roll your head in a gentle circle. Reach toward the ceiling and bend side to side slowly. Roll your shoulders.
Deep, relaxed breathing by itself may help relieve stress (see the box to the right). This helps you get plenty of oxygen and activates the relaxation response, the body’s antidote to stress.
Here are four tips to help you relax the body and mind:
1. Take a break
When things are starting to get out of hand and you can feel yourself reaching threshold, STOP. Finish what you're doing. Take a break before you start anything new.
If someone is driving you mad, make an excuse and leave the room! Go and take a walk. Get some fresh air, find some calm within and then prepare yourself to get stuck in again!
2. Listen to relaxing music
Music can have a powerful effect on your state. I'm sure there have been times when you heard a piece of music and suddenly you felt great. We all know songs that make you tap your foot or remind you of being in love.
Create a collection of music to help you relax and feel good. Make a tape of those songs that make you smile to help you unwind. Play it as often as you can...when you're at home, when you're working, when you're in your car. You'll be surprised how good you'll begin to feel.
3. Avoid stimulants
Tea, coffee, fizzy drinks and chocolate all contain caffeine. Over the course of the day, this can add to your stress level considerably.
Why not prepare yourself a healthy alternative? Bottled water, freshly squeezed fruit juice and herbal teas are excellent for maintaining your body's natural water balance and helping you keep cool under pressure.
4. Use a soothing voice
Use a relaxed and soothing tone of voice, not just out loud, but also when you talk to yourself. A soft, low, melodious tone opens up the relaxation circuits in your mind and helps you stay calm even in heated situations.
Also Read:-
Depression (Part 1) - The common cold of mental disorders
Depression (Part 2) - The common cold of mental disorders
Alcoholism - Stop Drinking and Start Recovery
Quit smoking - See how long can you live !!!
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