Did you know that pit you get in your stomach when you’re stressed is more than just anxiety? Your thoughts are literally changing your body chemistry.
Stress has practically become a food group, and most of us take our morning coffee with a side of anxiety. It’s very easy to dismiss the mind-body connection, this idea that our minds and bodies are intricately connected.
Turns out, your thoughts can trigger real physical changes in your body, releasing stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline.
The truth is that the way you physically feel often correlates with what’s going on in your emotional world.
When you experience chronic and prolonged stress, research suggests that it triggers inflammation in your body, which in turn, is linked to higher blood pressure, lower good HDL cholesterol, and cardiovascular diseases.
Ever notice how your shoulders tense when you’re thinking about something stressful? That physical tension from mental stress, repeated daily, becomes chronic pain over time.
So, if our thoughts are this powerful, could self-love be the ultimate prescription for a well-balanced life?
When you feel things like joy, gratitude, love, feel-good chemicals are released that strengthen your heart and give you an immune boost. But feeling anxious or overthinking wreaks havoc from the inside out.
Of course, the mind-body connection isn’t about suggesting that every disease stems from negative thinking or overthinking. That would be too simple.
I’m very much aware that the body is a complex system that’s influenced by various factors—genetics, environment, access to healthcare, and yes, our thoughts and emotions.
The ask here is to recognize that our mindset is essential to our well-being, and one that we have more control over.
The next time you feel overwhelmed, try this simple breathing technique to help ease your mind: pause and take three deep, mindful breaths. You can repeat your go-to affirmations or just sit with yourself for a minute.
Awareness is the first step toward change, and sometimes, the most powerful self-care act begins with how gentle we are to ourselves.
