The Mind Body Connection

When we talk about the mind body connection as therapists, what does that actually mean? 
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Mind-body medicine uses the power of thoughts and emotions to influence physical health. As Hippocrates once wrote, "The natural healing force within each one of us is the greatest force in getting well." This is mind-body medicine in a nutshell.
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For years scientists and psychologists alike have realised the mind body connection exist. Freud, in the 1800's was a pioneer in matters of the mind, who forged forwards with the idea that the subconscious mind could control the functions of the body in ways we just hadn't realised until then. 

He established the connection between neurotic behaviour and physical illness. It was an amazing and exciting discovery, which led him to be one of the most influential psychoanalysts in history. In fact, it was Sigmund Freud who pioneered a technique that therapists would use, world over, even to this day.
That technique is called "free association".  

Freud discovered that if you could get a patient to go back to an originating cause of their symptom, and re-live it in their minds in such a way that they cleared the original "locked" emotion, the physical symptoms, or the behaviour changed immediately. The neurosis was gone and the patient remained well thereafter. 

So think then, how powerful the mind is in this regard. If you think in a certain way, it can negatively effect your whole body structure. On a lesser scale, you may suffer from minor illness, such as migraines, back pain, IBS, eczema, high blood pressure. But on a much more detailed level, it is known that every fibre and cell of our entire being is affected by stress and mindset, therefore catastrophic illness may also be as a result of our environment and lifestyle, but also our inner dialect. 

How can we start to heal ourselves and stop this negative cycle in its tracks? How do we remain in a healthy mindset and in turn gain better health as a result? 

Imagine for a moment how you speak to yourself.  That voice in your head that advises you as you go about your daily business. 

What kind of things does that inner voice say? Does it tell you "You are amazing!" or "Wow, great job!"? Or is it more likely to tell you "That was a stupid thing to do." or "You are not capable!"? 
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Quite often it is our upbringing which has influenced the way we think about, and talk to ourselves. Sometimes cruel people around us say things or are spiteful on purpose. If we get brought up in an unsafe environment, it can hinder our health when we get to be adults. Sometimes though, it is the most well meaning people who can influence the inner voices in our mind. Teachers, Doctors, Grandparents and other influencing adults can mistakenly implant negative self believe systems.

What we tell ourselves has the most impact on our lives. I ask my clients at Kent Therapy Clinic, if you were to look in a mirror and see a younger version of yourself, say, that little girl or boy at 6 years old, how would you talk to that child?

Would you criticise and verbally beat them up? Would you tell them "You're no good, you're stupid"? Or, are you more likely to tell them "I'm here for you...I love you...you are awesome!"

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When you begin to change those root belief systems, your body can be so much stronger. 

I have seen people come to me at 200lb+ because their relationship with food is wrong. They have learnt to hide away behind years of junk food, they may have diabetes or high blood pressure. Sometimes, what's led them to that point is their unhealthy relationship with their past. We cannot change what has gone before, but we can start to think about it in a different way. 

I have treated many medical conditions; IBS, Chronic Pain, Eating Disorders, Psychosexual Difficulties, High BP, Skin Conditions, Depression and Anxieties, Panic Attacks, Fears, Phobias and a whole lot more using the clients own wonderful and extremely powerful mind body connection. 

If you are interested to find out more about how hypnotherapy and psychotherapy may help you, please visit my website www.kenttherapyclinic.co.uk 

Author: Emma Evans