10/26/2025
The mind-body connection is REAL. There is an intricate relationship between our mental and physical health.
Thinking about a stressful situation activates the hypothalamus in the brain, which triggers the HPA (hypothalamaic-pituitary-adrenal) axis, a stress-response system. This axis releases corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) to the pituitary gland, which in turn sends adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) to the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands then release stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, preparing the body to respond to a perceived threat, even if the threat is merely a thought.
If these stress hormones remain elevated chronically, it can lead to a wide range of symptoms like no libido, extreme weight gain, fatigue, insomnia, depression, anxiety, brain fog, even autoimmune and other chronic diseases.
Conversely, positive thoughts create healing compounds and promote recovery by activating the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) and altering brain chemistry. By lowering stress hormones and increasing restorative neurotransmitters, a calm state enhances the body’s natural capacity for healing.
The vagus nerve is the main neural pathway for the “rest and digest” parasympathetic nervous system. Stimulating the vagus nerve through calming thoughts and activities helps to: lower stress hormones such as cortisol, reduce inflammation throughout the body, decrease heart rate and blood pressure.
Calm, intentional thought patterns also stimulate the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein that acts like “fertilizer” for the brain. BDNF promotes healing and growth in the brain by:
📑Encouraging neurogenesis: the growth of new brain cells.
📑Enhancing neuroplasticity: the brain’s ability to reorganize and form new neural connections. This is a critical factor in recovery from brain injuries and mental health disorders.
📑Protecting existing neurons from stress-induced damage.
