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Mind Body Connection
Posted on Jun 20 2011
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Consider for a moment, the powerful effect our thoughts can have on our bodies. It may be something you hadn’t considered, until now. One example can be seen in cases of anxiety, where an imagined, future event can evoke a strong physical response in a person. Just the thought of a stressful event leads to increased heart rate, shortness of breath and sweating. This response, known as “fight or flight”, in evolutionary terms, was a necessity for survival in the times when a human might find themselves face to face with a wild animal. The response was required to allow the body to function in a way that would preserve life. In the modern world, such a response to a stressful day at work is somewhat maladaptive in that the body is constantly flooded with stress hormones, such as cortisol, which can wear down the body’s immune system if elevated in the bloodstream for long periods.  These are strong effects indeed for something that can start with a thought!

 
The effect of our thoughts on our bodies can be deliberately used in a positive way and Cognitive Hypnotherapy can have great impact on the mind/body connection. 
As already mentioned, the way we think about a situation and the resulting emotions affect our physical body and behaviour. Approaches in Cognitive Hypnotherapy aimed at reframing experience and transforming emotions can have a positive effect on bodily responses associated with the problematic emotions. 
 
As well as guiding clients to find solutions to emotionally based problems, this understanding of the mind/body connection means that Cognitive Hypnotherapy and techniques from NLP can be used effectively to address issues around health and pain management. You might be surprised at the powerful effect your mind can have on a problem you might once have thought was purely physical – and I guess is where we get the saying “mind over matter”.
 
If you would like to know more about how Cognitive Hypnotherapy and NLP could help with your individual needs, please feel free to contact me.

Last changed: Jun 20 2011 at 12:26 PM

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