Q&A

What is mind body health?
Of, involving, or resulting from the interrelationship between one's physical health and the state of one's mind or spirit.

What are the dimensions of health?

• physical
• social
  
• emotional
• intellectual
• spiritual
  

What are some things I can do to increase the health of my mind and body?
1. Take some time to relax
2. Just focus on breathing
3. Exercise
4. Take advantage of social support

Does worrying really affect my body?
Indeed it does! Worrying:
-Compromises the immune system
-Increases heart arrythmias and heart attacks
-Increases high blood pressure
-Increases asthma

How do I control worrying?
-learn to solve problems
-Work on improving thoughts
-Use visualization and deep breathing
-Mindfulness... focus on the present. Much of our worries come from the past and future.
-Set aside a worry period... Maybe 10 minutes a day in which you allow yourself to worry


Can the health of my mind and spirit really affect my likelihood for disease?
Yes! 80-85% of patients with a physical disease have mental health problems causing that disease. Stress has been shown to negatively affect the body and 19 million Americans suffer from fear-related disorders.


What are some activities that are especially good for your mind, body and spirit?
The first one that comes to mind is yoga. Yoga involves all dimensions of health and focuses on your inner-self, breathing, balance, strength and flexibility. Pilates and Tai Chi are other activities that greatly benefit the mind, body and spirit. The fact of the matter is that any activity you enjoy is great for your health whether it be dancing, hiking, roller-blading or golfing.

What are some of the negative emotional effects of negative thinking?
Anxiety and depression are the two most common mental health problems. Though often these
disorders are due to hormonal imbalance or actual physical problems, a shift in thinking can often make a huge difference.

Can you heal yourself using mind, body methods?
It depends. Often times, positive thinking and other inner healing methods can work wonders. Other times, especially with more severe cases, proper medicine and treatment are needed. Overall, the best way to heal yourself is through mind body methods and medical treatment.

How do I balance all dimensions of my health?
Along with the advice given above, do your best to involve all areas of your life each day. Think of each dimension as a room in a home. If you can't spend an hour or more in all five rooms, make an effort each day to at least open the door and do some dusting. That way, you won't ever forget about any of the rooms or dimensions.