Can my mind influence my health?
The American poet Emily Dickinson once truly said “ The brain is wider than the sky”. He couldn't have been more right. The brain has the power to do almost everything a human desires to do. You might ask yourself, “Can my mind influence my health?”
Well truth be told, the human brain is a magnificent organ and it works almost magically at keeping you well. The brain however is complex and what you think and how you feel, it can impact your health. your mental health is connected to your health, and your brain learns to use your mental state to heal you your entire life. Your brain can either transform you or terrorize you. It can either be your best friend or your worst enemy. It can either make you sick when you’re healthy or can make you healthy when you’re sick. So that’s how your mind works, it scans with constant attention at your beliefs and expectations to work on your behalf.
Healthy mind healthy body
To have a healthy mind it helps to have a healthy environment. People around you should always encourage and support you. It is almost unbelievable how positive words directed at you can bring you back to positivity.
A great example of this can be the placebo effect. Placebo treatments are carried out by many doctors all over the world. The patients are treated by fake pills or even fake surgeries but it works is because your mind believes that you’ll likely heal.
However, the placebo also has an evil twin which is ‘the nocebo effect’. That effect occurs when your mind is unable to resist the negativity around you, or suggested by a physician. The Nocebo effect actually occurs when negative expectations of the patient regarding a treatment cause the treatment to have a more negative effect than it otherwise would have. However, nocebo will only occur if your mind is not strong enough to resist it.
Writer Jo Marchant’s book ‘A journey into the science of mind over body’ explained that placebos, hypnosis, mindfulness, meditation, and warm social connection will make us strong mentally. In the same book, a test was mentioned. 262 patients diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome were split into three groups. Group one was given no treatment, group two was given a placebo but from a cold and uncaring doctor, the third group was also given a placebo but from a caring and a warm doctor. The results showed that patients in the first group improved 28%, those in the second group improved 44%, and those in the last group improved by 62%.
How to win the game?
Your brain is either your greatest weakness or your greatest strength. Health and wellbeing are also directly connected to the brain. A brain is a powerful tool if used correctly. At times the human mind can be vulnerable too and that can be dangerous for the human body. In order to be mentally strong one should exercise regularly, maintain a healthy diet, build strong connections, at times isolate yourself and ponder over your vulnerabilities and last but not the least BE POSITIVE ENOUGH TO FIGHT THE NEGATIVITY AROUND. indulging in activities that bring you mental peace and a sense of ease and comfort is vital for a healthy mind, body, and soul.
Make sure that good health becomes your priority because the healthier you are the wiser you become. Your brain has the power to do it all just have faith, be patient and you’ll survive every difficulty which comes your way. A powerful brain welcomes a powerful, healthier, and happier you.
Your mind can enable you to fight all the battles within you- that is if you put your BRAIN to work!