Does our mind really have the influence over us to create or prevent genuine physiological problems?
There's only one way to find out.
Today we look at some research and find out for ourselves.
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Episode Transcript
And hello to you.
How are things?
There seems to be a lot ofstress around at the minute and
it'll be nice to mitigate someof the effects of that.
I've talked about how enoughtimes in the past, and I will
again maybe a little bit today,but I wonder if you know why
minimising stress is soimportant.
(00:21):
Because something to bear inmind is that your mind and your
body are deeply connected.
Stress in your mind is going tohave an effect upon your body.
There was a story during therounds recently about the new
leader of the Green Party, ZackPolanski.
Before politics, he was ahypnotherapist and once claimed,
(00:44):
probably with a nudge from acheeky journalist who was just
looking for an article, thathypnotherapy could help increase
breast size.
And to be fair, he's not thefirst person to try and get
media attention with a wild ideato boost his business.
But can hypnotherapy do that?
In short No.
(01:06):
And in long, absolutely no.
But it got me thinking.
'cause although it isn't true,the idea that our mindset can
influence our body is.
Massively.
In fact, stress for instance,isn't just a mood, it changes
your body.
(01:26):
Migraines, eczema, IBS, heartpalpitations.
These are all aggravated or evencaused by chronic stress, and
yet we still say things like,oh, it's just stress as if that
makes it any less serious.
But the truth is, your braindoesn't know the difference
between what's real and what'simagined.
Think about a nightmare.
(01:49):
It gives you a pounding heart,the sweat's pouring out of you,
but you're safe in bed.
But your thoughts are powerfuland it works the other way
around as well.
If you relax your body.
Slow your breath, releasetension, your mind starts to
follow.
They're not separate.
It's a loop, a feedback system.
(02:10):
There's actually a field ofresearch called psycho
neuroimmunology.
Try saying that with a mouthfulof Hob Nobs.
And that studies how ourthoughts and our emotions impact
our immune system.
And it's not fringe woowooscience.
It's well documented.
Like a study that found thatpeople who practiced daily
gratitude had lower levels ofinflammation in their body or
(02:36):
another, showing patientsrecovering from surgery healed
faster if they meditated.
So yeah, your body listens.
Now if you're sitting therethinking, well, that's nice, but
what do I do with thatknowledge?
Here's the good bit.
If you've got the chance rightnow, pick a part of your body
that needs a bit of care.
(02:58):
Your back, your stomach,yourneck, whatever it is.
And each day, just take a fewminutes to imagine it softening,
healing, picture warmth, ease,flexibility, and not sort of
fluffy unicorn stuff, but realsensory imagination.
(03:18):
Step into it.
Athletes do this all the time.
They will visualise success andtheir performance improves.
So why can't we visualisehealing and expect some changes?
So try some body scans whileyou're at it.
Just gently pay attention todifferent areas from head down
(03:40):
to toe.
Softening them.
Acknowledging what's tense ortight.
You don't have to fix it.
Just notice, because thatawareness alone tells the brain,
I'm safe now.
And when your brain feels safe,your body can heal.
But also notice how you talk toyourself if you are inner
(04:01):
monologue is very much, Thisback pain is ruining my day.
Or, Oh, I'll never get better.
Your body will hear thatnegativity too and will respond
with more tension, moreinflammation.
So try swapping some of thosethoughts for something gentler.
My body is asking for rest andthat's okay.
(04:23):
Or healing is possible even ifit's slow.
This isn't magical thinking.
It's biology, so you're notpretending the pain isn't real.
You are giving your body abetter environment to recover
in.
So if this sounds like your sortof thing, there's a full episode
over on my Patreon page with alot more detail.
(04:43):
Some practical guided exercisesfor you to try at home.
I talk a bit more about why theNHS uses hypnotherapy for IBS.
Go into some things aboutplacebo milkshakes as well, just
to get you into some interestabout our hormones and how
pretending to be younger mightjust make you younger,
genuinely.
(05:04):
So if you're curious about howto use your imagination to feel
better physically as well asmentally pop over there for the
full version.
Until then.
Be kind to yourself.
Your body's listening, so speakto it gently.
Take care, and I'll speak to yousoon, Tara for now.
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