Mind and Body: The Connection between Mental and Physical Health
The idea that symptoms of an illness are not the issue, but instead a manifestation from the depths of consciousness, has been around for centuries. It was popularized in the 1960s when psychotherapist Arthur Janov published his book "The Primal Scream." This concept is based on the belief that our perception of the environment produces signals in our body that we react to. And when we feel those emotions again, they make more signals, and so on. This is what he called "the cycle of pain." He believed that symptoms are a way for our body to get rid of these painful emotions and bring us back to a state where we can process them.
This is why we should pay more attention to how we perceive the world around us and how we react to it. New research shows that negative thoughts and emotions can adversely affect our health, by showing that thoughts have a direct effect on our physical health. Studies have shown that prolonged exposure to negative thoughts and emotions can have adverse effects, such as headaches and stomach problems. This is because prolonged stress impacts the body's immune system, your ability to heal, and your mood and this type of stress can take years off the human lifespan.
A study by the University of London found that people with higher levels of anxiety are more likely to die before their peers. Research has shown that repressed emotions, anger, and poorly managed emotions are linked to various health conditions. Therefore taking care of ourselves, our emotions and our thoughts are paramount.
Stress, for instance, can be caused by work, family, relationships, illness, or even environmental factors. Some people tend to deal with stress in unhealthy ways that can lead to more problems. Like overeating, excess alcohol, overworking, the compulsive use of digital devices, and others. Negative emotions are inevitable and everyone will go through fear, doubt, and anxiety at some point in life. The thing is, how we cope with these. Some practices that can help to cope with life struggles in a healthy way are exercising, good sleep hygiene, gratitude journaling, meditation, and therapy.