Mind Body Relationship: Confidence Through Inner Wisdom
What does being well really mean? There’s some serious empowerment that comes from seeing what helps you feel your best inside and out. That’s why I can’t wait to share a closer look at the mind-body connection today, and potentially a new perspective on what it means to live an embodied life, in strong connection with yourself.
So, what is the mind-body connection? Think about it as the relationship your emotions (both positive and negative), thought patterns and psychological state have with the physical health of your body. Taking this deeper look at how you manage feelings and stressful events both within your mind and body to make it easier to find self-care and compassion. As you turn to a gentle approach to self care based on what your nervous system responds best to, you’re showing yourself a whole new level of care.
As a Mind-Body Wellness Coach at Modern Therapy, I see how stress from worries, relationship challenges, work difficulties, big changes, disappointments, and trying to do it all with less time can translate to physical symptoms. I also see the confidence people feel as they experience the simplicity of tapping into the inner wisdom as something they can control, in a world of so many things we can’t.
Today we’ll explore this harmony between mental and physical wellbeing to help bring empowerment to caring for our whole selves.
What is the mind-body connection?
The mind-body connection explores how thoughts, emotions, and mental processes directly relate to physical well-being. In other words, taking care of our bodies influences our mental state, and our mindset can directly influence our physical health. The mind-body connection is a concept adapted across various modalities of care including psychology, holistic health, and medicine but the research is growing every year. We’re learning more about how to shape impactful mind-body approaches that feel accessible every day.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? Even if you eat all the right things and work out with precision, a heavier stress and emotional load can create imbalances and symptoms you feel within your body. Accessing a state of peace and inner calm means taking care of ourselves physically through the things we eat, the way we move, sleep, hydration, and other healthy habits we may not immediately link to mental health.
I loved this view from Gut Feelings, a book written by Dr. Will Cole IFMCP, DNM, DC, to shed light on the relationship between physical and emotional health, specifically looking at the impact of shame, stress, anxiety, and mood swings on gut health.
“These metaphysical meals that we feed ourselves on a daily basis, in the form of unkind thoughts to ourselves, chronic stress, lacking healthy boundaries with our job or family members, or unresolved trauma from our past. All will contribute to this dysregulated nervous system and inflammatory response just as much as that fast food meal will.”
-Dr. Will Cole, Excerpt from Gut Feelings
Washington University School of Medicine has also studied the topic "A link between body and mind is embedded in the structure of our brains, and expressed in our physiology, movements, behavior and thinking,"
How the Mind Can Influence the Body
The Stress Response
When we experience stress or perceive a threat, our bodies enter into a “fight or flight” response to release the stress hormones, cortisol, and adrenaline. These stress hormones circulate throughout the body and can lead to changes in physical sensations that you might notice through heart rate, blood pressure, and immunity changes. When stress is more of an underlying feeling that’s long-lasting such as in the case of traumatic events, that stress lives in our bodies and can slowly arise as tension, aches, low immunity, and digestive challenges if ignored. A calm mind can influence a calm body.
Joy and Happiness
While negative or stressful emotions can challenge our bodies, positive emotions happening in parts of the brain can be really beneficial to physical health. Stressors are abundant and often overlooked because we gain so much resilience to push through, making the pursuit of joy and happiness a timely discussion for many modern researchers and doctors. Recently published books by authors such as Arthur Brooks and Elissa Epel emphasize the importance of a genuine state of joy and breaking down the health impact of happiness to open new pathways to healing.
Psychiatrist Dr. Francoise Adan, director of the Connor Integrative Health Network of University Hospitals in Cleveland shares insight on the way happiness leads to healthier behaviors, noting its impact on reduction of high blood pressure and excess body fat, resulting in lower risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease.
“We know that up to 80% of visits to primary care doctors are due to conditions that are caused or exacerbated by unmanaged stress.--Being happy doesn’t just make us feel better, it improves our health. It helps us eat healthier, be more active and sleep better.”
Psychiatrist Dr. Francoise Adan
Psychosomatic Symptoms
Many physical symptoms are intensified by psychological factors. A distressed mental state has a real impact on the body that appears in different ways for different people. Usually, our bodies are using the physical symptoms to send us a nudge to check in and take it slow.
Examples may include:
Tension headaches and migraines influenced by stress, anxiety or negative emotions
Gastrointestinal distress with symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, and changes in bowel habits exacerbated by stress or emotional distress
Chronic pain related to emotional stress and trauma
Breathing difficulties influenced by emotional factors rather than respiratory issues
Skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema, or hives worsened by emotional distress
Cardiovascular symptoms like chest pain, palpitations, and increased heart rate from stress and anxiety
Fatigue related to depression and chronic stress
Muscle tension, stiffness, and pain from emotional holding in
Lower immunity and infection elevated by prolonged stress
Mindfulness
The work of practioners of mindfulness such as Jon Kabat-Zinn in Full Capacity Living shares a wonderful definition of mindfulness as an awareness of the present moment, on purpose, without judgment. The emphasis on intentionally choosing presence through practices like meditation, relaxation techniques, and grounding have a big impact on physical well-being. Many people undergoing painful experiences and illness can see a positive impact from practicing mindfulness, as well as those who are looking to sharpen their awareness skills for everyday stress and anxiety resilience.
“One very important domain of our lives and experience that we tend to miss, ignore, abuse, or lose control of as a result of being in the automatic pilot mode is our own body.”
Jon Kabat-Zinn
Neurotransmitters and Hormones
Lastly, our brains communicate with our bodies through neurotransmitters and hormones that are released based on varying mental states and emotions. When these chemicals enter the body, they can impact bodily functions like digestion, sleep, and white blood cell response (immunity) as well as organ and tissue function. Sometimes a small imbalance in hormones can result in changes we see in our skin, our energy levels, our breath, and so much more. It’s particularly important for females to understand how their cycle phases impact their bodies when looking at this specific area of the mind-body connection.
FAQ: Mind Body Relationship
What does it really mean to say the mind and body are connected?
The mind-body relationship is about the deep connection between our emotional states, physical states, and cognitive processes. As human beings, we’re not just a brain walking around—we’re a full system where our thoughts, feelings, and body work together. For example, your emotional responses can trigger physical events like a racing heart or tense muscles. Likewise, physical activity or even being in a calming place like a peaceful beach can shift your mood and mindset. This connection shows up in our daily life more often than we realize—and understanding it can transform how we care for our emotional wellbeing and mental health.
Is the mind separate from the body—or part of the brain?
That’s one of the big questions in philosophy and science. Some argue for property dualism—the idea that mental and physical properties are different but intertwined. Others point to the hard problem of consciousness, which asks how and why physical processes in the brain give rise to subjective experience. This “hard problem,” named by philosopher David Chalmers, remains unsolved—even as scientific research continues to explore the nature of consciousness. Historically, thinkers like Descartes suggested the pineal gland was the bridge between these distinct entities—the physical brain and the non-physical mind. Today, we know the physical world and our mental properties are more connected than separate, but exactly how remains an open (and fascinating) question.
How does all of this relate to mental health and healing?
In the real world—not just in theory—this relationship matters. For instance, the problem of mental causation asks how our mental events can affect the material world, like how thinking about something stressful can give us a stomachache. That’s why many professionals now advocate for a more holistic approach to mental health treatment—one that goes beyond talk therapy or medication alone. Techniques like breath control, physical activity, and building a positive outlook can support healing on both a mind and body level. This more holistic approach is backed by scientific research and is even influencing the design of artificial intelligence, as we try to model the complexity of human thought.
Why should workplaces or everyday people care about this?
Because it affects everything—from brain activity to how we connect with others. Whether you’re managing physical issues like chronic pain, navigating emotional stress, or striving for clarity and focus, the relationship of the mind and body is part of it. Bringing these conversations into schools, workplaces, or communities creates space for more compassion and effective support. Even organizations like Cambridge University Press have published extensive research emphasizing this integration. And at the end of the day, when we treat ourselves like whole human beings—not just brains or bodies—we create the conditions for real, lasting wellbeing.
Seeking Support in Your Mind Body Wellness
I want you to feel the ease that everything you need to feel your best is within you.
Love, Jess
