Acne, Eczema, Psoriasis, Warts, …
Some of the body’s systems are well known to be affected by the mind-body connection. Most people will have experienced changes in these body systems in response to stress or excitement at some time in their life
People with skin conditions, including acne, eczema, warts or psoriasis, notice that during stressful periods their symptoms can become worse and respond less well to conventional treatments. These flare ups can in turn increase stress creating a vicious cycle. For example, people may worry about their skin’s appearance and how others will view them or be bothered by uncomfortable itching and the urge to scratch. These stresses can pile up, in some cases upsetting the skin further or stopping it calming down as quickly.
Hypnotherapy can help these skin conditions and deal with:
- Anxiety
- Itching
- Burning sensations
- Insomnia
How do the mind and body affect each other?
The way physical changes in the body occur in response to our thoughts, feelings and reactions is not fully understood. However, below are some possible mechanisms.
1.- Stress Hormones and their Effects: The body’s stress hormones, which include adrenaline and cortisol, are designed to have a short term effect, giving us enough physical energy and strength to get out of dangerous situations. This surge of ‘Fight-Flight’ hormones can have temporary effects such as a raised heart rate, sweating, shaking, shortness of breath etc. However, when these hormones are released frequently, they are thought to have a longer term effect on the body, affecting how it works as a whole. This may make it harder for the body to keep all of its organs and systems working as they should, for example:
- The immune system may be less effective when stress hormones are released regularly, i.e. chronic stress. This may be because the body focuses on the task it sees as most important, avoiding the threat, rather than using energy to detect infections, for example, and keep them under control.
- Healing is slowed down. Like the immune system, when the body believes it is under attack it puts tasks that are not immediately essential, like repairing damaged cells, on the back-burner. While this is OK in the short-term, in the long term it can cause physical problems by slowing down recovery.
2.- Psychological Factors: Thinking styles can affect how you feel emotionally and physically. Some common thinking styles make it seem very likely that something bad is going to happen. This can lead to feeling worried, sad or upset regardless of whether the thought is true or not.
- Thinking Styles: How you think – your ‘thinking style’ – can affect how you feel emotionally and physically. Some common thinking styles make it seem very likely that something bad is going to happen. This can make you feel worried, sad or upset even though the thought is not true.
- Using the mind-body link to help you manage your health. Eating well and keeping active can help to make you less stressed and tense. Allow yourself enough time for sleep and rest.
- Learn to relax: Learning how to relax can help your mind and body. You can try different things until you find one that works for you.
- Understand your thinking: Understanding what sets off your fight or flight response is a good first step. Sometimes it is a powerful thought that pops into your mind after something upsetting or stressful.
