…. is a question recently investigated in a Wall Street Journal article by Melinda Beck.
Talking with Dr. Christopher L. Edwards, director of the Behavioral Chronic Pain Management program at Duke University Medial Center brought up some interesting points on the connection of mind and body related to stress.
While doctors traditionally dismissed psychosomatic stress symptoms as “unreal”, he found that an increasing number of doctors now realize that an individual’s perception of stress can have a direct affect on the person’s physical health. As Dr. Edwards summarizes this: “…what happens in the brain affects the body and what happens in the body affects the brain.”
The way we make sense of a situation influences how we actually experience it. Emotions play a major role in how something is perceived in the brain. As Dr. Edwards simplifies this phenomenon: “…all human experience is in your head.” When we perceive a situation as unmanageable, uncontrollable, or overwhelming, this perception translates into a physical reaction. Dr. Edwards explained that while “stress does not necessarily cause pain, […] it exacerbates the [physical] situation that may already be there. It diminishes your ability to cope.”
With this knowledge, the treatments for stress are changing. The tools of stress-related treatment plans are increasingly targeting both mind and body. A greater variety of tools and a more balanced mind-body approach offers more ways to deal with stress, increasing the effectiveness of a treatment.
Beck’s article suggests to focus on the areas of physical exercise, sleep, and eating to deal with stress. In a recent blog entry I pointed out some additional areas that are also affected by stress. In the same entry check out the stress hardiness books I recommended. They provide great insights on the mind-body connection and offer hands-on exercises for different areas affected by stress.
I also found the following book to be a fascinating read on the connection of mind and body. Written by Norman Doidge, M.D., a psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, and researcher this book is scientifically rooted and the personal stories offer a captivating perspective on how thoughts can influence the physical condition of a person. Doidge also elaborates stress and stress hormones.
Technorati Tags: Stress,Stress Hardiness,Mind-Body Connection,Wall Street Journal,The Brain that Changes Itself
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