Home > Health > Wellness

Wellness: The Mind-Body Connection

Wellness is a relatively new buzzword in the health field. Wellness is not just the opposite of illness; it is much more than that. The definition of wellness can encompass physical and mental health as well as spiritual fulfillment and resolving stressful issues that can compromise good health. Wellness is about making choices that create a healthy environment for the whole person: body, soul, mind, and spirit.

Mind-Body Connection
Years ago, doctors treated physical complaints without considering how other problems affected their patients, including psychological problems, marital strife and emotional distress. Researchers have since learned that the connection between the brain and the body is much closer than they once thought.

When an athlete pushes himself beyond his limits, the pain he feels in his body causes his brain to release endorphins. Endorphins create a kind of euphoria and pain relief that helps the athlete cope with the stress of competition. A woman may come down with a virus and her brain begins to produce interferon, which helps knock out the virus. Psychiatrists understand that depression can cause symptoms of physical pain and distress, including insomnia.

As more is learned about the relationship between the body and the brain, it makes more sense for doctors to treat the whole patient, not just the physical symptoms. It is in the best interest of the physician and the patient to consider all aspects of the patient’s life when prescribing treatment.

Physical Wellness
Physical wellness encompasses everything about the body. Making healthy choices is something that you can do for your body every single day. Pass up the ice cream and eat fresh fruit instead. Take an exercise class instead of watching that rerun of Friends. While you can't always overcome illnesses with a genetic component, such as diabetes or some forms of heart disease, you can make healthy choices that minimize your risk of developing the disease or at least delay the onset.

If you don't smoke, don't start. If you do smoke, stop. Stopping now can prevent some cancers, heart disease and stroke. Talk to your doctor about vitamin supplements. Research has found that Vitamin D supplements can help prevent some kinds of cancers. Adequate calcium intake can help prevent colon cancer. Make sure your diet is full of fresh fruit, vegetables and good-quality protein.

Employers are getting on the wellness bandwagon. They have found that healthy employees are far more productive than employees who are overweight and out of shape. They are sick less often and have more energy. Some companies offer discounts on health insurance for nonsmokers. Other companies offer discounts or free passes to local health clubs. Take advantage of these health wellness programs. Your reward will be more energy and a longer and healthier life.

Spiritual Wellness
Studies have shown that a strong support system can help patients recover more quickly from illness or loss, such as the death of a spouse. A social support group, like the kind found at a church or synagogue, can provide a network of like-minded friends to offer support and encouragement. Attending a worship service every week can help you avoid social isolation and its negative effects on physical and mental health.

Reaching out to your community to serve others benefits you and the recipients of your time and energy. You might consider:

• building a house with Habitat for Humanity
• collecting teddy bears for the police to hand out to the children they see when they are answering domestic violence calls
• knitting blankets for hospitalized children
• tutoring local children
• volunteering at a shelter and serving dinner to the homeless.

Maintaining contact with your community by helping others creates a spiritual connection. Contact your church or synagogue to learn about outreach services. If you can't find a good match, perhaps you can create a new program that meets a need that you have identified in the community.

Some churches offer exercise classes where the participants can step and sweat to Christian music. Programs are available at various spiritual centers and monasteries that teach skills like meditation. These retreats can last a few days or longer and are a wonderful way to meet people and learn how to cope with life's everyday stresses.

Emotional and Mental Health: Building Emotional Wellness
Did you just have a fight with your spouse? Did your teenager "forget" to take the trash out again? Researchers have found that unresolved emotional conflict and stress can cause or worsen physical symptoms of high blood pressure and stroke.

Doctors found that after the attacks on 9/11, cases of post-traumatic stress rose. People all over the United States went to their doctors complaining about headaches and anxiety. The stress of that event caused physical illness, even if the patient wasn't directly affected by the death of someone close or by being in New York or Washington D.C. that day.

Learning how to deal with negative emotions is an important step in building emotional wellness. You can find books in the library to teach you steps for dealing with emotional stress. A few sessions with a licensed counselor can help you learn some constructive strategies for dealing with conflict and stress. Many counselors offer a sliding fee scale, which means they will adjust their fees if you can't afford them. There are also community resources available. Call your doctor or hospital to ask about classes in conflict resolution and stress reduction.

Choose Wellness
Every choice you make for good physical, spiritual, mental, and health is a choice for wellness that will reap rewards throughout your life. If you don't know where to start your journey, contact your healthcare provider or local college for a list of classes and health wellness programs that will help you on your way.