Mind Body Connection: How Mood Affects The Body


Neurotransmitters control virtually all of
the body’s functions, from feeling happy to
regulating hormones to dealing with stress. Our thoughts influence our bodies directly because the body interprets
the messages coming from the brain to prepare us for whatever is expected.
These neurochemical changes prepare the body to deal with perceived danger in a
number of ways, such as raising blood pressure and heart rate to allow faster
speed and response time putting our bodies into a fight or flight
state. When positive thoughts are generated, when you are feeling happy or
optimistic, cortisol decreases and the brain produces 
serotonin, creating a feeling of well-being. When serotonin
levels are normal, one feels happy, calmer, less anxious, more focused and more
emotionally stable. 
Dopamine is also a neurotransmitter that helps control the
brain’s reward system and pleasure center.

 

The power of
a healthy attitude cannot be underestimated in the body-mind connection.
Chronic elevations in psychological stress suppress the immune system, and
suppression of the immune system raises the risk of viral infection and other
diseases. Resilient people actually resist illnesses, cope with adversity, and
recover quicker because they are able to maintain a positive attitude and
manage their stress effectively. By managing our attitudes and stress
levels, we actually control neurochemical transmissions in the body. This does
not mean that resilient people ignore that things are difficult, failures, loss
etc. It means they accept the difficulties and become curious about the lessons
they teach. They resist the urge to judge ones’ self or others too harshly.
They learn to focus and appreciate what they do have not what they have lost.
They learn to be in the present while looking forward to the future. Building
resilience helps to maintain a positive attitude and healthy immune system.

Take care of yourself

To have good emotional health, it’s important to take care of your
body by having a regular routine for eating healthy meals, getting enough
sleep, and exercising to relieve pent-up tension. Avoid overeating and do not
look to unhealthy choices and behaviors. Try to create and maintain a healthy
balance in your life. Poor emotional health can weaken your
body’s immune system. This makes you more likely to get colds and
other infections during emotionally difficult times.
Create
a Positive Mind
Relaxation methods, such as meditation, listening to music,
listening to guided imagery tracks, Yoga and Tai Chi are useful ways to bring
your emotions into balance. Meditation is a form of guided thought. It can take
many forms. For example, you may do it by exercising, stretching, or breathing
slowly and deeply.
Some other helpful ways to help create a positive response in the
body is watching a comedy, playing a game, cooking or baking, light a candle,
set a measurable attainable goal, search for positive quotes, create a list of
your positive qualities, read a good book, connect with loved ones, etc.  Our bodies have a direct response to how we perceive
our world. Surround yourself with positive thoughts. “When we change the way we
look at things, the things we look at change”
 ~ Wayne Dyer
Blog
post by Ally Wilson.

Combat Cabin Fever

Starting to feel a
little cooped up?  Physical and
psychological well-being go hand in hand. Not only can the winter weather put a
halt to many of our regular routines, but it can also be extremely stressful.
You might be re-arranging your schedule due to nasty commuting conditions,
straining to keep the driveway and walkways shoveled, salted, and sanded or
simply cooped up indoors with anxious pets and energetic children. Regardless,
you are feeling the stress and stress is harmful to your well-being.
Too much stress can
expedite the aging process and increase your risk for heart conditions.

Regular exercise is
an extremely effective way to reduce stress. Not only does regular exercise
decrease stress but it increases the oxygen supply to your brain, stimulating
that “feel good” sensation that seems to be missing right now. For some,
getting away from the cramped quarters and finding 30 minutes of time to take a
walk, do some cardio, or see your personal trainer is exactly what you need to
relieve the tension. For others, escaping from the seclusion of your snowed-in
house and meeting a friend or simply enjoying the social interaction of others
while enjoying group-exercise is what you need. For many of us, the thought of
doing anything outdoors is unbearable, but that doesn’t mean you should huddle
up and let the stress take over.
Don’t let yourself
stress about fitting exercise into your routine when the weather takes over.

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Reduce your stress
and plan ahead for your visit to the gym.
Step one in stress reduction: Be prepared.

Pack

Don’t plan on
exercising in your boots. The night before, grab a gym bag, backpack, or
plastic bag. If you want to do some land exercise pack your sneakers, a t-shirt
and your favorite pair of yoga pants or shorts. If you want to enjoy the heated
indoor pool (88°), pack your suit, towel, and flip-flops. Don’t forget that
water bottle! Packing before will decrease your worries about “having enough
time” and increase your likelihood of following through with your commitment.

Call Ahead

Less people outdoors
means more people indoors. Don’t let yourself miss out on that SPIN, YOGA, or
WATER INTERVAL class. Call ahead and reserve a spot on the list and you can
check another stressor off your list.

Leave Early

The roads may or may
not be plowed, salted, or sanded. Some people are in a rush, but you don’t need
to be! Everyone knows that travel conditions are poor; don’t take the blame but
don’t let it stress you out either. Leaving just five minutes early can make
all the difference in the world and there is no guilt in arriving early to the
gym.
Step two in stress reduction: Take care of yourself.

Be Mindful

Leave work at work
and home at home. Let yourself slip away into the oasis of the pool, listen to
the beat of your feet on the treadmill or your favorite music-mix, or simply
focus on your breathing. Being mindful decreases anxiety and depression. Focus
your mind inward, bringing your attention to your body and the sensations of
the moment. Feel the stress leaving your body as you exercise. You deserve
this.

Rest & Recover

Finish off your
routine with a little stretching, a hot shower, or sitting for a few minutes in
the pool jets. Hydrate and fill up on a nutritional winter meal. I recommend
crock-pot meals for stress reduction (easy prep and clean-up). Try spaghetti
squash with meat sauce in the crockpot – one of my personal favorites! For a
low calorie hold-the-guilt beverage try 
adding cut up fruit to your water (strawberries, kiwis, or lemons).
Step three: Relax.

Congratulate
yourself on sticking to your commitment and taking a little time for yourself.
Take a deep breath and kick back your feet. You earned it!

Blog post by Gladys Hester.

Inverted U Theory

Mental arousal plays a
significant role in achieving optimal performance and results through training.
Sports psychologists have devised a theory revolving around the relationship
between arousal and performance. It has been hypothesized that every individual
has his or her own “optimal” level of arousal, which is necessary for peak
performance.
The Inverted-U Theory
image below displays the parabolic curve representing pressure/arousal vs.
performance.  As you can see this theory
supports that there is a point in arousal level that warrants optimal performance.
Although this differs from person to person there are still small factors that
influence performance levels.  

According to the model,
peak performance is achieved when people experience a moderate level of
pressure. Where they experience too much or too little pressure, their
performance declines, sometimes drastically.


There are ‘Four
Influencing Factors’ that determine the optimal level of performance. These
factors include:
  1. Skill Level
  2. Personality
  3. Trait Anxiety
  4. Task Complexity

1. Skill level
greatly determines the level of success an individual will experience with a
given task. The higher skill level individuals will have more experience and
therefore will have less stress, anxiety, and pressure during the task. For
example this could be a NFL Linebacker performing a barbell back squat. The
high skill level people will find exercises like this to be second nature and
will require little thought and more focus on execution. Find your strengths
and improve your weaknesses.
2. Personality
affects performance by extroverts tending to perform better in high-pressure
situations while introverts tend to perform better during a low-pressure
situation. Those extroverts are able to focus on performing the task even
though there are many on-going distractions. An example would be any
professional performing on a big stage. How would you respond?
3. Trait Anxiety is
the level of self-approval the individual experiences during the situation. For
example, people who are confident tend to perform better under pressure while
those who are too concerned about failing a task are more apt to fail.
Confidence is key and is associated with more positive thinking individuals.
4. Task Complexity is
the level of attention and effort necessary to complete a task successfully. It
tends to be that most people perform basic activities more efficiently in
high-pressure situations and better perform complex activities in more
low-pressure situations.
So how can this be used in
your daily life?
For exercisers; exude
confidence, focus on improving your skill level, and choose your
tasks/exercises wisely. Although many factors can influence your performance,
try to monitor your arousal levels during exercise and see what works best for
you.
Blog post by Evan Healy CSCS.