Mind-Body Connection by Kaylea Dillon
What do you think of when you think of the mind-body connection? When we talked during the Squad session last month, I spent some time thinking about this question myself. I thought about it more in depth as I dealt with increased stress and chronic pain this past week. I thought about it even more when I had lectures about pain and how to manage it from my school lectures. Understanding the basis of how our body communicates with our mind plays an important role in our lives and I think there is value in understanding the many ways this communication happens.
I’m going to start with a personal example of how my mind-body connection plays out in real life. I am currently planning a wedding, a full-time student, volunteering, and working some part-time jobs. Life can be stressful!
One thing I have noticed, though, is when I start to get more stressed than my baseline, my back pain tends to get worse. This is my body’s signal to my brain to slow down and take some more time to care for myself. I am typically able to manage the pain fairly well, however pain is one of what I consider my “early warning signs” to slow down. Even if I cannot slow down, taking extra time to take care of myself helps my brain focus less on the pain.
Another example of the mind-body connection at work in my life is shown clearly after a long day of studying. If I am going for most of the day without drinking enough water or eating enough food, it becomes extremely hard for me to focus on what I am learning. I may develop a headache or feel shaky. I know that in order for me to be able to focus longer, I need to fuel my body in all the ways it needs. My body is clearly telling my mind that it needs something in order to keep going. When I am consistent with fueling my body with healthy food, my mind responds in kind and is able to be consistently focused.
A final example of how the mind-body connection works in my life is through journaling. Now I know what you are thinking; how can journaling exhibit a mind-body connection? Journaling is just writing stuff out! You are right! But in addition to journaling is a great place for your mind to let everything out, it can help you be more in-tune with your body and what it needs. The examples above showed the body communicating with the mind, but communication is a two way street. The mind also has to communicate with the body. I do that through brain dump journaling. I do not focus on grammar and just let my brain dump all the thoughts and emotions out. After I do this I sit quietly for a bit and just let myself feel. Sometimes I will sip on warm tea as well. This is what I feel is meaningful mind-body connection.
I mentioned that I have been thinking a lot about how pain plays a role in the mind-body connection. According to the International Association for the Study of Pain, pain is defined as “an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with, or resembling that associated with, actual or potential tissue damage.” This shows that pain has both a sensory as well as an emotional part. When I look at this definition I see that both the body and the mind are represented, showing the continual connection that plays out in our everyday lives.
I have talked a lot about the three ways my mind-body connection plays out, but there are so many more. In the Squad, we have talked about several ways to get in touch with your body through mindfulness.
Sometimes it is as simple as slowing down for a minute and recognizing your body is feeling slow from poor sleep, or you are energized after hanging out with friends. Practice this now perhaps. Take 30 seconds and focus your attention inward.
How are you feeling right now?
What is your mind telling you AND what is your body telling you?
Are they telling you the same thing or different?
What do you want them to be telling you?
Celebrate being aware of your mind-body connection
Pain, energy, and emotions all have deep mind-body connections that play out in my life everyday and so it is essential to be aware of this connection. Sometimes awareness comes through pain as a recognition that something is wrong, sometimes it comes through fatigue, and sometimes through journaling to understand what we are feeling. I encourage you to figure out not only your “early warning signs” but also the positive ways of communicating that your mind and body use. You might realize you have more tools than you thought. I certainly did!
Source:
International Association for the Study of Pain:
Terminology | International Association for the Study of Pain (iasp-pain.org)
Additional tools for when you may be in crisis:
U.S. Crisis Text Line: 741-741
Ohio Mobile Response and Stabilization Services: 1-888-418-MRSS (6777)