๐ This is a super interesting topic - neuroplasticity, and how you can literally rewire your brain through your thoughts and actions
๐In lifestyle medicine it's a huge part of the journey to wellness - you can have a perfect diet and exercise regime, but if you fail to address the effect of the mind on health, you will miss a big part of the picture
๐There is a bi-directional link between mind and body - your brain influences your physical actions, and your movements affect your brain
๐The harvard power pose study showed that altering a pose to a 'confident' one actually reduced stress hormones and improved 'confidence' hormones in just minutes.
๐Neuroplasticity studies show that if you move a muscle consistently in a certain way, it builds 'memory' in the brain, making it more effective over time
๐These changes are actually visible on MRI scanning - you can literally rewire your brain!
๐Ie standing confidently, smiling, holding an upright relaxed posture, all alters brain pathways, meaning it gets easier to do them with repetition
๐Visualisation of movements has a similar effect, in another study people who visualised playing piano daily had the same brain changes as those who actually practiced. Similarly stroke patients who visualised movement improved faster!!
๐Studies in people with irritable bowel syndrome have found that gut directed hypnosis works as well as dietary changes
๐Guided imagery has also been shown to work in pain, cancer treatment, depression /anxiety, and sports performance
๐Each time you visualise a positive action, you strengthen this neural pathway, and weaken the negative ones - over time this is like a muscle growing stronger and more effective
๐Guided muscle relaxation has a similar effect for stress /tension
๐Mindfulness, yoga, etc work on the same principle
๐Regular mindfulness actually increases your prefrontal cortex (the part of your brain that affects decisions, creativity etc)
๐The science is there - all you have to do is try it ๐
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.forbes.com/sites/taraswart/2018/03/27/the-4-underlying-principles-to-changing-your-brain/amp/
https://www.pathways.health/visualization-guided-imagery-for-pain-relief/
https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=37781
https://www.google.com/amp/s/lens.monash.edu/@medicine-health/2019/06/24/1351605/how-hypnotherapy-is-helping-people-suffering-from-irritable-bowel-syndrome-ibs%3famp=121wReply http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1580438,00.html
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