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The Mind-Body Connection

Here's why what you think may influence how you feel

What goes on in our minds has a direct bearing on what goes on in our bodies. That is the premise of an emerging science called mind-body medicine, which examines the effects that emotional, psychological, social and spiritual factors can have on physical health.

This article will outline some of the key principles of mind-body medicine and identify some mind-body techniques that may be useful in managing your headaches.

A key principle of mind-body medicine is that a positive attitude, and dealing well with stress are associated with good health. Mind-body research has found that:

People who have a generally positive outlook on life—who deal well with life pressures and effectively handle stress, tend to suffer less from illness and other physical symptoms—and recover more quickly from medical conditions that they do develop.
People who are more pessimistic—and/or who are under a lot of stress and don't manage it effectively—tend to get sick more often or have more physical complaints, experience more severe symptoms, and/or not recover as well from illness.

There are many explanations for this, including one theory that psychological distress can suppress immune system functioning. When this continues over an extended period of time, the risk of physical illness—including headaches—increases.

Another fundamental principle is that by exerting the control of your mind, it is possible to improve your health and help keep yourself healthy. This is not meant to ignore the many other factors that contribute to health and illness. Nor does it mean to suggest that diseases can be cured by "thinking happy thoughts". Practitioners of mind-body medicine recommend it as an adjunct to traditional medical approaches.

Many headache specialists utilize mind-body techniques as a key part of an integrated headache management program. Mind-body approaches are often recommended because they can effectively elicit the body's "relaxation response"—a state of deep calm in which the body's power to heal itself is heightened. They may also be quite effective for stress management. Studies have shown that, practiced regularly, mind-body techniques may help strengthen the immune system and enhance overall health while relieving specific disease symptoms.

The major mind-body techniques include relaxation exercises (including progressive relaxation, meditation and autogenic training), creative imagery, visualization, affirmations and biofeedback. These can be used on a regular basis to help you deal with stress and maintain a positive attitude. They can also be used to help manage headache symptoms in progress.

Added to all of the preceding is making a conscious effort to look at things from a more optimistic point of view. This can be done with the aid of self-help books or a counselor who specializes in behavioral training.

Still skeptical? Although mind-body techniques have been proven helpful for many headache sufferers, they are unlikely to be effective for people who dismiss the underlying notion that the mind and body are interconnected.

If you are skeptical about mind-body medicine, consider the following:

There has been a dramatic increase in acceptance of mind-body concepts within the American medical community during the past decade as research studies have corroborated its theories.
The American public appears to be open-minded to this approach, which treats the whole person rather than just specific symptoms. The #1 bestseller status of Bill Moyers' Healing and The Mind (Doubleday, 1993) and the popularity of books by Dr. Deepak Chopra are evidence of this.
Harvard Medical School is affiliated with the Mind-Body Medical Institute at Deaconess Hospital in Boston and sends staff doctors, nurses, social workers and psychologists for training in this new medical discipline as part of its Continuing Education Program.

For a more thorough and technical insight into mind-body medicine, read Mind-Body Medicine: How to Use Your Mind for Better Health edited by Daniel Goleman, Ph.D. (Consumer Reports Books, 1993). This is an extremely readable anthology that includes chapters written by experts in various aspects of mind-body medicine including healthy attitudes, immunity and the mind, and stress, emotions and health.

Or contact the Center for Mind-Body Medicine at (202) 966-7338.

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