The Mind/Body Connection
Your mindset as you heal from illness, injury, or surgery is very important because your body reacts physically to negative thoughts and emotions. Consider the way your heart races or your stomach turns when you feel nervous or anxious. Significant stress can affect the body, too, in even more detrimental ways. Common stress-related diagnoses include shingles, stomach ulcers, and unhealthy weight loss.
By mastering a healing mindset, you allow your body to support quick and complete physical healing.
What is a Healing Mindset?
Patients who have mastered a healing mindset are in good emotional health. They are aware of their thoughts and feelings and they redirect negative thoughts as they arise. As a result, they cope with stress in healthy way.
Steps You Can Take
- Talk to your doctor about your feelings. Because emotions can affect how you heal and because your doctor is interested in you as a whole person, this is critical information that can affect your plan of care.
- Focus on what you can do. In times of stress, shift your focus to your abilities. Don’t let your temporary disability or restriction prevent from you from doing anything at all. Do the things you can do. Identify things for which you feel gratitude, such as friends and family.
- Stay calm. When you begin to experience negative thoughts or feelings, pay attention to the changes in your body. Slow your rapid heartbeat by slowing your breathing down and pausing between breaths. Release your tense muscles by relaxing or allowing your body to “flop.”
At Santé, we are a rehabilitation center that cares about every aspect of healing. We invite you to visit your local Arizona Santé to experience for yourself how we focus on all of you and your recovery.