By MICHELLE HARKEY-WILDE
LPCC, LMT

Thus far in January, we’ve taken a look at a physical aspect (water intake) and a mental aspect (asking better questions), so next we’ll take a look at the first way to help connect mind and body to increase vitality.

First, let’s explore Body-Connection, why it occurs and the benefits of having mind-body integration.

Body-Connection is the integration of mind and body to form a cohesive and caring connection.

Disconnection from body happens as a typical part of life. For instance, we are sometimes asked to push harder than our bodies can, deny ourselves valuable nutrition (diets, poor food choices), overeat, sleep too much or too little, or become injured. When the body is painful to experience, the mind can withdraw a bit, creating disconnection.

Now, there’s nothing wrong with exercising hard, eating carefully or facing injury. The rub comes when we do it at the expense of the overall good of the body-mind and ignore the messages from the body telling us to stop or have caution. This leads to disconnect.

For some people, the intensity of emotions can lead to a disconnect from body, especially if particular emotions are classified as “bad” and are not allowed expression.

Additionally, some experiences teach us it is unsafe to be in our bodies. Physical and sexual abuse often has this effect. When it is more pronounced it is dissociation.

Growing up in our society also lends itself to being disconnected from our bodies. On one hand society puts a premium on looking young, gorgeous, fit and sexy, but on the other it objectifies a person who actually does meet these standards. This can lead to thoughts such as, “I’m only desirable for my body/sex/strength” and “I’ll never amount to anything if I can’t look that way”. Objectification is a form of disconnection.

Most disconnection is barely noticeable on its own, but shows up in other ways.

The benefits of having a connected, integrated body-mind include the following:

• Acute awareness of body signals when hungry, tired, needing elimination, relaxed, and emotional without being overwhelming.
• Increased sense of being present and complete.
• Ability to sense emotions when they are small and more manageable instead of being surprised by anxiety or anger “out of nowhere”.
• Increased ability to feel pleasure and pain.
• Able to identify with body as a part of the self, instead of “not me”.
• Increased happiness with body appearance.

If any of these benefits are something you’d like to experience more, join me for next week’s column and we’ll get started. Meanwhile, remember to drink water and ask better questions.