There is much to be said about the power of the mind-body interventions.
Activities such as yoga, tai chi, and mindful meditation have an impact on inflammation at the biological level. Long ago things were pretty calm and simple, tending to the farm organizing the pantry all were stressors but in a different way. The stress was more contained within our families, neighbourhood or community. Now there is such a slow and steady “constant” low grade threat of uncertainty. The global pandemic, border skirmishes, social upheaval, and climate change, these impact concerns and all take the toll over the years.
The body is not immune to these outside stressors. Quite the opposite, the body has been designed through evolutionary biology to be innately attended to potential threats such as infections, stress, and environmental changes.
When we are focused on the worry, we do not notice the body and how active it is. This awareness is the key though. Stress responses release neurotransmitters like norepinephrine from nerve terminals, and the neurotransmitters are detected by receptors on the surface of the nearby cells. The way the immune cells respond to those signals the body to turn on genes that are encoded specific inflammatory molecules. This is a defensive reaction that originally served to protect us against infections from wound injuries, but now acts to fertilize many chronic diseases when activated by chronic stress.
We can all think that stress is not “bothering us” I can deal with this is the attitude, but it is at the cellular level which is more difficult to talk and convince that it is ok.
Wellness practices such as exercise and diet can really help us to manage stress and inflammation. It helps to kick stress down a few notches, and we feel less fight or flight stress. Getting enough sleep and spending time with loved ones all count to assist the body in feeling safe and calm.
Have questions, just ask me, info@mindhealthconnection.ca
Ref: Special Health Addition- May 2022