Show Physical health is linked to mental processes Bonnie L. L Reynolds Contributing Writer Brown Bag Seminar sponsored A by T Turning Point featured two guest speakers speaker who talked about some research and studies with the mind body connections Studies confirm confirm confirm con con- firm the positive outcomes of this ap ap- ap- ap David T Tate te a therapist psycho-therapist at the Stress Reduction Clinic at IDS Hospital discussed the impact of chronic hostility in ones one's life and a medical revolution that attempts to rejoin the body with the mind and vice versa So often a doctor does something to intervene and the person becomes the object acted upon upon 1 he said Awareness teaches us we can be the subject and the object Among the problems associated with chronic hostility or blaming others for our problems are cancer heart problems higher mortality and a host of other diseases Sometimes guilt turned inward can lead to depression When depression occurs the immune system becomes depressed also and one becomes more susceptible to physical illness Placebo studies indicate more than anything else that we are what we believe we are For example in a study 30 of women with breast cancer were given placebos instead of chemotherapy and hair loss was experienced in many Tate reminded the audience that the im importance of expressing our feelings cannot be over emphasized A study of college students who were given writing exer exercises ses 15 minutes per day for four days were divided into groups Some were to write about facts only Others b 1 L C i. i L mtr mt r N e i 1 were to write about feelings only and anda a third group was to write about facts and feelings The results were as as- It was found that the short term effects of anxiety and depression increased in many cases in all groups However 1 months later the group that expressed facts plus feelings had fewer visits to the doctor and reported feeling happier with fewer episodes of depression and anxiety Sharing what is weighing you down through talking and writing has been shown to be beneficial in added im- im functioning The question was asked What Wha t would predict your health 40 years from now The answers given included include d genetics nutrition exercise yoga especially espe espe- dally ally Hatha yoga mindful yoga an and d meditation Fresh air and dean drinking drinking drinking drink drink- ing water would be ni nice too Mindfulness is about being full fully y awake in our lives It is about perceiving yg g the exquisite vividness of each moment We feel more alive We also gain immediate im immediate mediate access to our own powerful inner resources for coping effective Y with stress said Jon Zinn Kabat-Zinn PhD Ph.D. in a Stress Reduction Clinic brochure z j If you are experiencing stress and feel you may need some form of counseling counseling counseling coun coun- there are several workshops offered offered offered of of- through the Stress Reduction Clinic For more information contact Peg Michel or David Tate at Michel pointed out that self awareness awareness awareness aware aware- ness seems to be the key in the mending pro process ss Awareness is the key to solving any perceived problem Changing our ou perception and looking at a problem as asa as asa asa a challenge or an opportunity for growth can be a positive experience Be advised that trying to change other people places and things can be most frustrating It is far easier to change your at at- Work on yourself your attitudes your choices your personal integrity and values Improving yourself will automatically impact those in your path and in your environment while increasing increasing increasing ing your self esteem and acceptance of the things you cannot change she said If youre you're interested and would like todeal to todeal todeal deal with the stress in your life more positively try standing on your head for five minutes per day Your vertebrae will be stacked upside down and they will like the change Your brain will re receive ive an increase of oxygen and you i will have a focal point for meditation she added Michel and Tate reminded the ther r audience of the importance of inner r peace serenity quality of life feeling good It is important to remember to keep an ey eye upon the donut and not notI I I l upon the hole r jI |