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Mind Body Medicine

Our mental state, thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and attitudes can positively or negatively affect our biological functioning. In other words, our minds can affect how healthy our bodies are!

Mind Body Medicine

Numerous clinical studies have been conducted over the years that point to the fact that people who have a positive outlook on life, are optimistic, with healthy personal and social relationships, and have minimal stress are less likely to become sick or diseased. Mental states can be fully conscious or unconscious. We can have emotional reactions to situations without being aware of why we are reacting. Each mental state has a physiology associated with it—a positive or negative effect felt in the physical body. On the other hand, what we do with our physical body (what we eat, how much we exercise or even our posture can directly impact our mental state. The mind and body are essentially inseparable: The brain and peripheral nervous system, the endocrine and immune systems, and indeed, all the organs of our body and all the emotional responses we have, share a common chemical language and are constantly communicating with one another.

That is the theory behind mind-body medicine and an increasingly important part of Utopia’s Intensive Medical Program. There are an enormous number of reactions and emotions associated with having cancer. It is important to find an appropriate way to access these emotions, release them, and reap the positive benefits on the immune system. Mind-body medicine explores the influence of your mind, emotions, traumas on your body, immune system, and vice versa.

In concert with other holistic medical therapies, Mind-Body Medicine offers a range of individual and group learning opportunities to bring the forces of mind and spirit to bear on healing at the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels.

The mind-body medicine team at Utopia Cancer Center consists of experienced, compassionate facilitators. Your mind-body specialist will collaborate regularly with your doctor and the rest of your care team to recommend specific mind-body tools and techniques based on your individual needs. The goal is to help you deal with the physical and emotional issues that may be interfering with your recovery.