The Mind-Body Connection
We live in a fast-paced world where our lives are busier than ever before, so as unfortunate as it may seem, it is completely normal to experience stress and anxiety. Although both of these things look differently on everyone, it is important to know that you are not alone. Stress and anxiety can be a vicious cycle, and can actually manifest physically. We want people to be aware of this mind-body connection because we have very little chance of solving the physical without addressing the mental.
Our brains are AMAZING and they are responsible for all of our body's functions whether consciously or unconsciously. Therefore, it's unfortunate that we all tend to neglect the way our mind can impact our physical body when it comes to chronic pain, dysfunction, fatigue, etc.
Studies have shown that chronic pain might not only be caused by physical injury but also by stress and emotional issues. In particular, people who have experienced trauma and suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are often at a higher risk to develop chronic pain. Chronic pain is defined as prolonged physical pain that lasts for longer than the natural healing process should allow. This pain might stem from injuries, inflammation, or neuralgias and neuropathies (disorders of the nerves), but some people suffer in the absence of any of these conditions.
Depression is the most common mental disorder in the United States and has a greater impact than just mood and motivation. It can directly affect the immune system by suppressing T-cell responses to viruses and bacteria, making it easier to get sick and stay sick for longer. A weakened immune system can also lead to a jump in the severity of allergies or asthma. Another physical symptom of depression is fatigue. A person who suffers from depression or anxiety can feel physically exhausted which greatly impacts their quality of life and productivity. It’s dangerous when people assume anxiety and depression are just “in your head” when they are heavily linked to physical health as well. People with this symptom can be branded as “lazy” by those who choose to ignore the mind-body connection, which will only exacerbate the mental struggles that people face (Hillside 2020).
So what can we do?
Your body remembers everything. Your brain has the ability to repress and block out certain memories, but your body holds onto these memories without you even realizing it! Whether it be physical or mental trauma, your body creates tension and your fascia becomes dehydrated causing stiffness and tightness which causes pain. Myofascial release therapy is a special technique that works the physical and mental components of chronic pain and dysfunction to get to the root cause of your condition and make sure it does not come back!
If you’re interested in MFR, or have any questions, contact us today!
Works Cited
Babbel, Susanne. “The Connections Between Emotional Stress, Trauma and Physical Pain.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 8 Apr. 2010, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/somatic-psychology/201004/the-connections-between-emotional-stress-trauma-and-physical-pain.
Hillside. “How Mental Health and Physical Health Are Linked.” Hillside, 28 Oct. 2020, hside.org/link-between-physical-and-mental-health/.
Papa, Jessica L. Conquering Mystery Pain: How Myofascial Release Can Help Heal You! 2019.