{"id":7272,"date":"2022-05-02T09:48:12","date_gmt":"2022-05-02T13:48:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/?p=7272"},"modified":"2025-08-23T17:40:15","modified_gmt":"2025-08-23T21:40:15","slug":"the-mind-body-connection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/2022\/05\/02\/the-mind-body-connection\/","title":{"rendered":"The Mind-Body Connection"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Have you ever considered the mind-body connection? Have you ever noticed how your mental health affects your physical health, or vice versa? The mind and body are often treated separately. But they are indeed connected.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cMental health and physical health go hand in hand. Poor mental health has been shown to have negative effects on physical health,\u201d Sue Hillegass, behavioral home health coordinator and community integration specialist, said. Hillegass has worked for Aroostook Mental Health Center for three years. She has observed the physical impact on people who struggle with mental health. \u201cSomeone with poor mental health may make unhealthy decisions. Which leads to poor physical health. People with mental health disorders like anxiety and depression are more prone to diabetes, heart conditions, sleep issues, cancer and even arthritis.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The mind-body connection (photo from istockphoto.com).<\/p><\/div>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Similar to how the mind affects the body, the body affects the mind. Physical therapy aide Ashley Gwirtz has noted how one\u2019s physical state alters mental well-being. \u201cPhysical health has a lot to do with mental health. Mental and physical health work together. When one goes up, the other follows,\u201d Gwirtz said. Gwirtz works for County Physical Therapy in Madawaska. She has also had experience working in the mental health field. \u201cWhen someone is struggling with physical health, the most common mental health symptoms I see are low self-esteem, lack of communication and low energy.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cPeople who struggle with physical health oftentimes become depressed,\u201d Hillegass said. \u201cThey can no longer do things they once enjoyed. Which leads to lack of motivation, feelings of hopelessness.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0There are ways to balance the mind and body. Getting good sleep is a key factor. Studies show lack of sleep makes the mind and body vulnerable to illness. It is recommended that adults get 7-8 hours of sleep per night. Setting a bedtime routine and limiting screen time before bed can improve quality of sleep. Meditating can also help. Create a restful space. Keep your bedroom dark, cool and quiet.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Hillegass and Gwirtz find that diet and exercise also play an important role. They both suggest a diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables. They also advise to drink water instead of soda or other sweetened beverages. \u201cI would avoid foods that are processed, high amounts of sugar and fats,\u201d Gwirtz said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI often recommend to go out for walks. Either in the community or walking trails in the woods,\u201d Hillegass said. \u201cJust get outside. Get some fresh air. Breathing exercises are also beneficial.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cYoga and walking are two of my favorite exercises,\u201d Gwirtz said. \u201cBoth of these exercises can be done by all ages. A simple walk every day can help clear your mind and improve your health. Some other good exercises are low-impact cardio. Biking, hiking and swimming. When a person exercises and eats healthy, they often find that they have more confidence. They overall feel better and stronger.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It\u2019s important not to get discouraged when trying to improve your mental and physical health. Every little effort counts. Take time to applaud each success. \u201cI always try to celebrate clients\u2019 accomplishments with them. No matter how small it may seem,\u201d Hillegass said. \u201cThis helps to build self-confidence. A sense of pride. This can lead to making healthier decisions. Motivate them to make positive changes in their lives. One day at a time. One task at a time.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cKeep focusing on goals and start with the little things,\u201d Gwirtz said. \u201cIt\u2019s important to reach out for support. Whether it is a friend, family member or therapist. Improving your health is not an easy journey. Having someone there to support you will help when it gets tough.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Have you ever considered the mind-body connection? Have you ever noticed how your mental health affects your physical health, or vice versa? The mind and body are often treated separately. But they are indeed connected.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cMental health and physical health go hand in hand. Poor mental health has been shown to have negative effects on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":213,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7381],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7272","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-archives","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7272","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/213"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7272"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7272\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8116,"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7272\/revisions\/8116"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7272"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7272"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7272"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}