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Mental Illness: Mind over Matter - Can You Will Yourself Well?

Did you know that approximately half of all visits paid to doctor's offices each year are stress-related? Doctors and researchers estimate that almost half of all complaints reported by patients are not traceable to a specific disorder or disease, but are really symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. We have all heard about how important stress management is to our happiness and well-being, yet many of us still don't take stress management seriously. Many of us continue to believe that stress is not such a big deal. In fact, many patients scoff at or feel that they are being "under"-diagnosed if their doctor is to suggest that their symptoms might be the result of stress.

The truth is stress really can put a serious dent into your overall health and quality of life. Fortunately, there is an upside to this. If it is possible to make ourselves sick from our own stress, it follows that we can also use our mind and body to heal and restore ourselves. As we begin to learn more about the mind-body connection, the potential for greater health and vitality appear closer than ever.

Once at the fringe of medicine, the principles of mind-body connection healing are quickly beginning to make their way into mainstream medicine. More and more research is beginning to demonstrate the fascinating ways that our mind can affect our body, and our lifelong health. Scientists and doctors are beginning to show us precisely how factors like a healthy sense of humor, a positive outlook, and our ability to deal with life's stressors can help restore and maintain good health.

In fact, some doctors, scientists, and other medical professionals are beginning to demonstrate that the ways we think and process everyday stress can have a greater impact on our health than simply following the prescribed lifestyle for good health. Eating well, getting regular exercise, practicing good sleep hygiene, and refraining from smoking are indeed important factors in living well. But it appears that living with a positive attitude, hope, and mindfulness are just as important.

Recent research indicates that the use of mind-body healing methods can speed healing, reduce the need for prescription medications, reduce the frequency of doctor visits, reduce the amount of hospital stays, and ease the overall impact of illness in an individual's life.

But what does it mean to use the mind-body connection? Using your mind to heal yourself means more than simply having a generally good outlook on life (although that is important, too). When physicians and researchers talk of the mind-body connection, they are most likely talking about taking charge of your health through the deliberate use of your mind. It means cultivating the ability to listen to your body, to be sensitive to its nuances, and to be able to detect when it has become off balance. The severity of many illnesses can be avoided simply by early detection and treatment. A person who is conscious of their body, and who does not ignore any symptoms, is more likely to live a relatively stable and disease-free life.

Using your mind to consciously take good care of yourself means being able to cultivate a sense of self-acceptance about your body and health, being able to relax in the face of stress, paying attention to your body, acting mindfully, finding a sense of purpose in life, and adopting a healthy, positive outlook. Yoga, reiki therapy, music and pet therapy, tai chi, and other form of mind-body exercises and therapies were once at the fringe of medicine. But now they have entered the mainstream, with more hospitals and physicians employing their use for their patient's benefits. As more and more research confirms their efficacy, they continue to be adopted by individuals as tools on the path to good health.

What types of ailments can the use of natural mind-body healing techniques help ease? Insomnia, digestive problems, skin problems, respiratory disorders, high blood pressure, headaches, backaches, pain, and infertility all these symptoms have been linked to illness caused by stress and anxiety. That's not to say that some diseases can be overcome simply through mindfulness and good attitude. But by paying careful attention to your body and using mind-body techniques, many of these symptoms can be avoided or greatly eased. It is not always easy. The use of mind-body techniques can call for a complete change in your lifestyle habits. But the rewards of good health are well worth it.

About the Author

Ainuddin Mohamad is the Webmaster of http://InsaneMind.com

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