Listen to Your Body: How Healing Starts from Within
- counsellingwithjan3
- Oct 11, 2024
- 3 min read
The Mind-Body Connection: How Healing Starts from Within
Have you ever noticed that stress or anxiety doesn’t just stay in your head—it shows up in your body too? Maybe you get that knot in your stomach before a big day or feel your shoulders tighten up after an argument. You're not imagining things! Our minds and bodies are super connected, and once you start paying attention to how your emotions affect your body, you can begin to heal in a whole new way.
What’s the Mind-Body Connection Anyway?
Think about the last time you were really nervous. Did your heart race? Maybe you felt nauseous or your muscles tensed up. That’s the mind-body connection in action. Our bodies are constantly reacting to what’s going on in our minds, even when we’re not totally aware of it.
But here’s the thing: most of us ignore these signs or push through them. We don’t always realize that our physical discomfort might actually be our body’s way of saying, “Hey, something emotional is going on here.” When we start paying attention to these signals, we can understand ourselves better—and that’s where healing begins.
How I Help People Reconnect with Their Bodies
In my practice, I’m all about helping people reconnect with their bodies. This means tuning in to what your body is trying to tell you, especially when emotions feel overwhelming. I use mindfulness, somatic work (basically, paying attention to your body’s sensations), and parts work to guide you through this. Together, we explore how your body reacts to emotions and learn ways to help you feel more grounded and calm.
I also help people understand their nervous system—how it affects your ability to relax and respond to stress. Once you get familiar with this, you can actually start to control how you react to stress and anxiety. It’s kind of like giving yourself an emotional reset button.
Simple Ways to Start Reconnecting with Your Body
You don’t need to be in therapy to start noticing what your body’s telling you. Here are a few easy ways to check in with yourself that you can try today:
Do a quick body check: Right now, take a second and ask yourself, “How does my body feel?” Are your shoulders tight? Is your jaw clenched? Just becoming aware of where you're holding tension is the first step.
Breathe it out: When life gets stressful, we tend to take shallow breaths. Slow, deep breathing sends a message to your brain that you're safe and helps your body chill out. Try it now—inhale through your nose, hold for a second, then exhale slowly through your mouth.
Move your body: Whether it’s taking a walk, doing a few stretches, or even dancing around your living room, moving helps you get out of your head and reconnect with your body. Plus, it just feels good!
Healing Takes Time, and That’s Okay
Here’s the thing: healing doesn’t happen overnight. Some days you’ll feel like you’re making progress, and other days might feel tough. That’s totally normal! The important thing is that you’re showing up for yourself, one step at a time. Be kind to yourself as you go through the process. Healing is a journey, and it looks different for everyone.
And if you’re feeling stuck or don’t know where to start, you don’t have to figure it out on your own. I’m here to help guide you through it. We can work together to help you feel more connected to yourself, both in mind and body.
Life can feel overwhelming sometimes, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. If you’re ready to start feeling more grounded and in tune with yourself, I’d love to help you take that first step. Let’s connect and figure it out together.
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