Understanding the connection between the Body and the Mind - the Body-mind
The body-mind is a new paradigm concept that through our nervous system we are completely connected to our entire being instead of the mind and body operating as separate entities. A dualistic way of thinking arose among philosophers and thought leaders of the past that brought on a mechanical way of looking at the world and it’s natural systems. Rene Descartes is famous for the statement “I think, therefore I am” which gave way to the theory of ‘mind body dualism’. This 17th century idea still largely governs the classical medical profession to this day.
Dualism states that the mind and the body are distinct states of being , that the mind is separate from its physical processor, the brain, and is a non-physical phenomenon identified with consciousness and self-awareness. This has led to a mode of thinking that disconnects the effects of food, toxins, neurotransmitter imbalances and the gut in helping to maintain mental health.
Based on the emerging science of Psycho-neuro-immunology (PNI), the body-mind is a unification concept that has psychological, therapeutic and medical implications. It recognizes that the body, mind, emotions, and spirit are all interrelated and dynamic, noting that what happens in one aspect of the being will have an effect on the other parts. Discovered by Dr Robert Ader and Nicholas Cohen in 1975, and further advanced by Dr. Candace Pert and the National Institutes of Health, PNI has led to many exciting discoveries about the complex human organism and its levels of integration.
The molecules of our thoughts and feelings, our emotions, are deposited and stored in our cells, all along the nervous system in tiny packets of chemical memory. The reliving of emotional trauma and re-experiencing of emotions may be related to this psycho-neuro transmitter type activity in the nervous system although that remains speculation as of this moment. This has opened up the Somato-psychic, Psycho-somatic dichotomy that existed for so long in the related health fields that states that everything is either mind over matter and psychosomatic, or conversely that it is somato-psychic where the body rules the mind space.
This unified thinking has led to some breakthroughs in health and wellness awareness and in the science of addiction recovery. Now it is recognized that emotions and feelings cause distinct chemical changes in the body, and that the health of the digestive system can help to alter the thinking and mood, a true mind-body connection. The age old concept of "You are What You Eat" is being re-discovered through this fascinating science. This has also bolstered the support for alternative therapies that make you feel good and help to reset the imbalances caused by the stresses of life.
Many Alternative Health Practioners have been utilizing Holistic Therapies for a number of years to help clients break the chains of addiction and over come the mental barriers in athletics, performance artistry and people's everyday health. Body-mind therapies include Yoga, Meditation, Emotional Freedom Techniques, Eye Movement Desensitization Response and Neuro-Linguistic Programming, as well as Acupuncture, and Bodywork. Therapies that incorporate a Body-mind approach address emotional intelligence and are often considered right hemisphere oriented which is thought to be closely related to the heart and the autonomic nervous system. Group ‘Talking Circles’, body work, movement education and more assist individuals to overcome their limitations and become their most full potential. Whether that is in overcoming an abusive background, breaking from addiction, training to the next level, quitting smoking or any important goal, the integration of your multi-leveled aspects are found in your connection to sources of food, and qualities of information. You will know what is good for You, by how it feels.
Sources:
What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy