1. Mind/Body Medicine The Indisputable Connection Between Thinking, Feeling, and Physical Health

2. Objectives  Define Mind/Body Medicine  Understand the importance of including mind/body medicine in regular healthcare.  Understand simple, easy to implement practices for any setting.  Review a case study for mind/body medicine.

3. What is Mind/Body Medicine?  According to the National Institutes of Health, Mind/Body medicine is:  “The interactions among the brain, the rest of the body, the mind, and behavior.”  “The ways in which emotional, mental, social, spiritual, experiential, and behavioral factors can directly affect health.”

5. Did you know…. The brain is designed to survive for 120 years without medical maintenance. What other part of your body can do that?

6. Did you know….

7. Other Definitions  Your mind/body is a symphony of biological intelligence of unfathomable complexity and wonder, all designed for you to live your life.  Regardless of your personal health issues, it is important to regain confidence in the healing power that lives naturally within you. Source: http://healmindbody.com/http://healmindbody.com/

8. According to the Center for Mind/Body Medicine  Mind/Body Medicine focuses on the interactions between mind and body and the powerful ways in which emotional, mental, social and spiritual factors can directly affect health.

9. Did you know……  Up to 80% of all illnesses are related to chronic stress. Mind-body Medicine relieves and also prevents stress.  Easy to learn and easy to teach, mind-body medicine skills have the capacity to change your practice and your life.  Mind-body medicine is used in hundreds of hospitals, medical schools, private practices, and community health and trauma relief programs in the US and around the world. Source: http://cmbm.org/about/what-is-mind-body-medicine/ http://cmbm.org/about/what-is-mind-body-medicine/

10. Some Places You May Know that Teach and Practice Mind/Body Medicine  Harvard  Georgetown  University of Massachusetts/Massachusetts General Hospital  University of Maryland Medical Center  Walter Reed National Military Center

11. What Can Mind/Body Medicine Do?  Some of the proven benefits of practicing mind-body skills on a regular basis include:  Nervous system balance and resiliency  Anger management  Improved focus and attention  Enhanced positive emotions, mood, perception of life  Improved immunity  Lower blood pressure Source: http://www.wrnmmc.capmed.mil/Health%20Services/Medicine/Medicine/Internal%20Medicine/MindBody/SiteP ages/Home.aspx http://www.wrnmmc.capmed.mil/Health%20Services/Medicine/Medicine/Internal%20Medicine/MindBody/SiteP ages/Home.aspx

12. What are some interventions?

13. Autogenic Training  Teaching your body to obey your verbal commands to relax and control your heartbeat, breathing, etc.  Reduces stress, counteracts the "fight or flight response"  Teaches self-regulation of the autonomic nervous system  Provides symptom relief for a variety of chronic conditions

14. Here is a typical autogenic training script you can follow:  My arms are heavy. My left arm is heavy. My right arm is heavy. Both of my arms are heavy.  My legs are heavy. My left leg is heavy. My right arm is heavy. Both of my arms are heavy.  My arms are warm. My left arm is warm. My right arm is warm. Both of my arms are warm.  My legs are warm. My left leg is warm. My right arm is warm. Both of my arms are warm.  My heartbeat is calm and regular.  My breathing is calm and regular.  My abdomen is warm.  My forehead is cool.  When you are done, take a few deep breaths and slowly open your eyes. Source: http://bebrainfit.com/autogenic-training/http://bebrainfit.com/autogenic-training/

15. Dialogue with a Symptom  Tool for self awareness  Helps access subconscious information about a problem or symptom  Strengthens awareness of inner wisdom

16. Drawings  Tool for self awareness  Helps group members to access unconscious information  Provides pre and post information about group members; a way to evaluate changes brought about by group experience

17. Eating Meditation  Tool for developing awareness  Promotes harmony between the food we eat and our body's actual needs  Identifies emotional issues related to food

19. Forgiveness Meditation  May be helpful in making peace with the past  Fosters connection rather than isolation  May facilitate profound emotional healing

20. Inner Guide / Wise Self / Spirit Guide Imagery  Helps to access subconscious information and guidance  Fosters trust in one's own inner wisdom  YouTube has lots of guided imagery videos

21. Mindfulness Meditation  Reduces stress  Decreases anxiety  Increases self-awareness  Increases ability to access inner wisdom  Free mindfulness meditations can be found at http://marc.ucla.edu/body.cfm?id=22. http://marc.ucla.edu/body.cfm?id=22

22. Shaking and Dancing  Raises energy  Releases tension  Breaks up habitual, physical, and emotional holding patterns

23. Special Place Imagery  Reduces stress, increases relaxation  Reduces anxiety  Strengthens the capacity to draw on one's own emotional resources  Provides a foundation for other imagery exercises  Provides a "safety net" in the event of a bad reaction during other experiential work

24. Case Study You

25. References  http://healmindbody.com/ http://healmindbody.com/  http://cmbm.org/about/what-is-mind-body- medicine/ http://cmbm.org/about/what-is-mind-body- medicine/  http://www.wrnmmc.capmed.mil/Health%20Ser vices/Medicine/Medicine/Internal%20Medicine/ MindBody/SitePages/Home.aspx http://www.wrnmmc.capmed.mil/Health%20Ser vices/Medicine/Medicine/Internal%20Medicine/ MindBody/SitePages/Home.aspx

26. Presenter  Dr. Christine Wright Associate Professor LSUHealth – Shreveport School of Allied Health Professions Program in Occupational Therapy 318-813-2952 cwrig2@lsuhsc.edu cwrig2@lsuhsc.edu