This handout explains Mind & Emotions and describes ways you can use these elements to promote your health.

• On page 1, learn how you can use your mind to improve your health.
• On page 2, read about some mind-body approaches that you can do on your own.
• On page 3, learn about approaches that a mental health provider can use to help you cope if you have had experiences that continue to cause great distress.

What is Mind and Emotions?

Your mind and body are not separate from each other. Your mind affects your body, and your body affects your mind, perhaps more than you realize. This dance between your mind and body can improve your health or make it worse. Your mood and the way you think can impact a health condition you may have. In this way, your mind has power. Your mind can cause you to feel worse. Also, if you feel worse, you may not do all you can to be as healthy as possible. Alternately, you can take charge and use your mind to help your body. Whole Health includes all of you—your mind and your body.

How can my mind make my health worse?

Think about something that causes you stress. (If you have a mental health condition such as anxiety or PTSD, think about something that aggravates you, but that does not increase uncomfortable symptoms for you.) When you do this, your pulse may increase and your blood pressure may rise. Perhaps your muscles tighten. Now think what might happen to your body if this stress would go on for a long time or repeatedly. You might develop high blood pressure or long-lasting pain, such as back pain. This is just one example of how your mind can make your health worse.

How might I use my mind to improve my health?

Research has found that mind-body approaches can be used to help treat many physical health conditions. Conditions researched the most include coronary artery disease, headaches, insomnia, incontinence, high blood pressure, chronic low back pain, general pain syndromes, fibromyalgia, symptoms from cancer and its treatment, outcomes from surgery, and self-care of arthritis.^1,2 Mind-body approaches may also help improve mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD.³