9 Out of 10 Illnesses Are Stress-Related: Here's What to Do About It

Apr 10

You've probably heard the expression "it’s all in your head." Insinuating that you’re making up a problem that’s not actually real.

The truth is, more often than not, pain and illness really do originate in the head. A whopping 75-90%, according to several articles like this one on stress and illness. And that doesn't mean it's not a “real” problem or that you're making it up. It does mean that our thoughts have a powerful influence on our physical health.

On the flip side, people with chronic physical illness are more likely to experience anxiety and depression. Perhaps this isn't as much of a surprise as the opposite. In fact, it’s standard practice in the medical system to include a few mental health screening questions in your initial evaluation. However, even though it may be standard, that doesn't mean it's actually being addressed as it relates to their physical recovery. Perhaps the assumption is that once you recover physically, your mental health will follow suit.

But what if by addressing both physical and emotional health you were able to recover more quickly with less pain and suffering and better overall outcomes?

Nature's Doctors

The good news is, there are many ways to support both your physical and mental health without going to multiple care providers. In fact, the best "doctors" are the ones right outside your door. Nature's doctors...sunlight, fresh air, nature sounds, and exercise or movement.

Sunlight has been shown to impact mood more than any other environmental factor like rainfall, temperature, pollution, etc. It's a pretty easy and inexpensive way to boost your mood and physical health as well. Some physical benefits are increased immunity, hormone balance, blood pressure balance, bone health, detoxification, better sleep, blood sugar regulation, and cancer prevention. For mental health, spend 5 minutes with your "naked" eyes closed (no makeup or eyewear), out in the sun. Don't turn directly toward the sun, just be where the sunlight is on your eyes. Just that much sunlight affects your brain's production of serotonin and is an instant mood booster.

Fresh, unpolluted air benefits detoxification and can boost your mood by increasing oxygen to your brain. Pair it with deep breathing and you have a fabulous stress reliever that takes no dollars and hardly any time. One study found that after a mentally stressful event, the average time it took for blood pressure to return to normal was 3.7 minutes. With nature sounds, it took 3.0 minutes, and with deep breathing, it only took 2.7 minutes. (from "Depression, the Way Out" by Neil Nedley, M.D.)

The best time to open your windows or go outside for a breath of fresh air is after a thunderstorm. Storms not only clear out pollutants but also leave negatively charged ions behind which are highly invigorating to your whole body.

Exercise, or better yet, whole body movement, is a powerful combination stress-reliever plus physical health booster. It's one of the best ways to combat anxiety and depression and help prevent and reverse disease. Though any type of movement is better than none, the most effective exercise for coping with stress is one that involves using your mind such as yard work, gardening, chopping wood, or some other type of productive physical work. (from "Depression, the Way Out" by Neil Nedley, M.D.)

What about Meditation?

You've heard that meditation is a great way to help cope with stress. But unfortunately, it’s not usually mentioned that there is more than one form of meditation. The one we most often hear about, Eastern meditation, is a form of escapism, or trying to cope with reality by escaping it, and puts the brain in a very passive, and influenceable state. Similar to hypnosis, the pattern of brain waves, called alpha waves, indicates there is very little frontal lobe (where reasoning happens) activity.

So while meditation can be relaxing at the time, it does not help you constructively deal with stressors. It merely offers a temporary escape from reality. And since it actually "shuts off" your reasoning capabilities, it can also open one up to negative influences and mind control.

On the other hand, Christian meditation, which involves prayer and meditating on the Bible, actually increases frontal lobe activity (Beta waves). Yet, even with this increased activity, it has been shown to be deeply relaxing and carries over to coping with stressors in a constructive way. (from "Depression, the Way Out" by Neil Nedley, M.D.)

Other Options for Better Health

Of course this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many other excellent natural ways that address not only physical but mental health. Not the least of which is good nutrition and gut health.

Another excellent strategy is to use targeted exercises to help release tension and relieve pain, which as a “retired” Physical Therapist is one of the main ways I used to help my clients recover from many issues.

So if you've been struggling with a physical issue that doesn't go away or keeps coming back, take a look at your mental health and life stressors. Chances are, they are contributing in a major way to what's going on with your physical health.

If you’re having a hard time pinpointing what’s going on with your health, aren’t sure what to do next, or are lacking motivation to take the next step, a health coach can be an excellent support to help you get over those hurdles. If you have tried a few things on your own and things aren't improving or keep getting worse, finding someone to help support you can be the game-changer you’ve been searching for!

Know that what you're feeling is absolutely valid. And if you have noticed your physical and mental health seem to correlate, you are spot on!