The Mind-Body Connection

Friends,

One of my homework assignments given to me by my therapist last week is to research the mind-body connection. Simply by perfecting a Google search with that exact term yielded this result.

/www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/what-is-the-mind-body-connection

I found this to be of great benefit as the connection is explained as simply as it can get even though the topic is extremely complex. The read is short and I encourage you checking it out for yourself.

While sound is required, I am unable to access the exercise(s) accessible at the bottom of the page. My biggest takeaway is that "brain" and "mind" are not really synonymous at all.

Love,
John

Minnesota,

I need to be more consistent with the homework. As I did in my traditional schooling, I usually prep for an appointment the day before. I have tried to take more solace and put more into the fact that I can see, walk, etc., like you do as well. Sometimes it just doesn't feel like enough. I am aware I take these things for granted.

Some notes from last session:
Research shows the more I focus on pain, the pain can be created and it can become the center of my life. I have to break that cycle. My brain can be retrained. I need to focus on the good and stop reinforcing the bad, the pain.

My body hears what I say about myself and a mind-body connection exists. I should practice deep, rhythmic breathing before I even need it. WHY BEFORE I NEED IT? The body will train itself when said breathing is needed.

CBT: Write a list of what I want and verbally say those things for 40 days and again, my brain will retrain itself. THESE THINGS CAN HAPPEN!

Thanks for the share...good stuff!

I whole heartedly believe that the body and mind/brain, as one cohesive unit, work together...physical/mental health (or illness) is all connected and should not be considered as separate.

Well done and keep up the great work in your therapy!

S.C.

Lubbock, I wish good things like that would just happen, but alas, that's not to be. What things do you associate with being at peace? Make mental notes, better yet, write down, what works for you.

SC, after doing some reading, it appears the two used to be considered to be completely separate entities. I'm glad that ideology changed. Thank you. If I can just get more done during the week instead of in one day, I'd be better off. Feeling terrible doesn't help much.

Minnesota,

OK, I saw him today and showed him my list and just have to tweak it a bit.

Last week, he told me to make a list of what I want, so I did just that. Since I need to tweak anyway I'll just list them all with more explanation behind the first.

I FIRST said,
* I WANT TO BE HAPPY WHEN I WAKE UP IN THE MORNINGS; I WANT TO BE HAPPY TO WAKE UP, PERIOD.

The problem with my wording is that the word "want" is focused on the future where I/you/we, should be in the now. Even if we are not where we want to be with something, we have to speak to ourselves as if we are there. I imagine this ties into the reprogram of the brain. Instead of "want", words such as "am", "will", "do", etc.

I NOW say,
* I AM HAPPY WHEN I WAKE UP IN THE MORNINGS AND I AM HAPPY TO WAKE UP, PERIOD.

See the difference?

In some of the things, I want, I came across quite negative, but not all.

Instead of:
I want to feel good, I do feel good.

...
I will continue to intermittently fast to aid my health.

I am the right weight.

I can bend over, lie back, etc. without physical repercussions (reflux).

I am ridding my body of the want for sugar.

I am changing my outlook and how I see things.

I am tolerant of others, no matter what I might think of them.

I am not lazy and I am proactive in my healing instead of expecting things to just happen.

^ All the above statements before previously began with, "I want."

...sorry to be so long-winded! Just remember to watch your wording. Makes all the difference!

Best,
John

Minnesota and SC,

I have also heard about this technique prior to my therapist mentioning it, so there must be some traction there. It certainly won't hurt anything.

I meant to add that my therapist said to audibly speak these wants several times a day. Perhaps upon waking up, lunchtime, and before bed would be good.

Best,
John

Minnesota,

I'm more about people's experiences than just reading some text with symptoms and all that crap, but that's just me. Seeing how other people deal is more relatable because I think I find myself wondering if the writer has been through something themselves if it's just some publication or something. For example, I doubt my GI doctor has been through what I have been through, so he can't really relate. He doesn't fully "get it". I'll take another example. My dad passed from cancer, so when I hear this about someone else's parent, I feel it a little deeper, because I get it. I've lived it.

Yes, SHOULD and SHOULDN'T are no-no's; especially should. These can easily be replaced with AM.
I should watch what I eat.
I AM watching what I eat.

...work got busy. I'll finish shortly.