MindBody is one word

I recently finished reading Gabor Mate’s book ‘When the Body Says No; The Cost of Hidden Stress’ (AMAZING read if you get a chance!). A little scary regarding how much stress can really impact us over time, and not with the little diseases and illness the big ones! But wonderful in so many ways in the way it reminds us to take care of ourselves, express our feelings, and discharge the stress in our mind-bodies for the sake of our lives long term.

This book also drove home to me the concept that body and mind is no longer considered seperate. This is a concept I have loved and been fascinated in for a long time.

Modern Western medical science has for too long thought of the Body and the Mind as distinctly seperate. Doctors treat bodies, and mental health clinicians treat the mind. When you look at the plethora of research in this area, it seems ridiculous that we work in distinct professions, with different approaches, and completely different ideologies when we should all be collaborating like a 70’s hippie music festival.

Sooooo these smarty pants scientists now know that Body-Mind is without a doubt one word, intrinsically linked, and our feelings, emotions and the long term impact of chronic stress affects every cell, every major disease, and every aspect of our lives.

Contemporary scientific understanding, particularly in neuroscience and cognitive science, is aligning more and more with the idea that the mind and body are more interconnected than we ever thought before. Studies in neuroscience have revealed the physical basis of mental processes, such as how specific brain regions are associated with different cognitive functions. And, the effects of certain physical conditions on mental health and cognitive functioning further support the interconnectedness of the mind and body.

The prevailing scientific view now acknowledges that mental processes are closely linked to the physical processes of the brain and body, and that the mind arises from the complex interactions and functions of the brain, and changes in the body can have significant effects on mental well-being and cognitive function. And round and round we go. Ever heard of the “second brain” aka our gut and the microbiome that determines more about our mental health and emotional wellbeing these days, than the previously debunked serotonin hypothesis of depression! Mind blowing - literally.

So the take-away - take care of your mind and your body will thank you.

Big shout out to Gabor Mate - and his contribution to this field - see some of his work HERE.

Also Lissa Rankin - and her wonderful book Mind Over Medicine is also worth a read in a similar vein - see HERE.