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Why is the mind-body connection so important?
Difficult things happen to all of us, causing stressful feelings of fear and sadness which can take the joy out of life and can even threaten our physical health. In fact, most people never realize how severely they are impacted by stress. Are you having trouble sleeping? Worrying too much? Snapping at people? Over-eating or under-eating? Arguing with friends, family, or co-workers? Avoiding tasks and responsibilities? Watching more TV/withdrawing from friends and family? All of these are signs of stress.
Problems with family, work, relationships, illness or injury—any major change, bad or good, is stressful. So is being under-challenged, like being stuck in traffic or a boring job. The mind and body are connected. Your feelings have a powerful effect on your body. Stress can weaken your body's immune system, leaving you vulnerable to disease. Stress worsens and delays recovery from almost any chronic illness.
Life stress contributes to many health problems like headaches, high blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes, neck, shoulder and low back pain, skin conditions, asthma, arthritis, stomach and intestinal problems, in addition to depression and anxiety (www.familydoctor.org).
Are you sometimes a victim of your emotions? Many people live their whole lives crippled by fear and negativity. Others bury their feelings, but this has a cost, too. It protects them from feeling stressed, but buried feelings can attack the body internally.
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