Mind, Body, Health: What’s the Correlation?

As a fellow health fanatic and lover of psychology, it’s safe to say that anything that pertains to the connection between our mind and health piques my interest to the highest degree. This is likely due to the fact that I feel there is so much that we have yet to discover about the effect our mind has on our bodies.

Think about it.

You may not pay that close of attention to it every day, but our bodies are constantly giving us signals. Whether it be with the foods we eat and the reaction we produce, or how we feel when we find ourselves in an emotional funk and the way our bodies respond to that negative mindset. Regardless if you notice it or not, the connection is undeniable.

Recently I came across a video I was shown in a psychology course that demonstrated this connection in the most interesting way possible—by authenticating the effects of a placebo pill on a group of people suffering from various illnesses.

You can find the video here.

Even after revisiting the video several years later, all I can think about after watching is, “What exactly are these results saying?” That we can potentially help those that suffer from mental illnesses and other physical ailments just by making them believe that the prescriptions they take are alleviating their symptoms?

It’s as if the possibilities are endless.

Not only has this been shown to help those taking the placebo pill to lessen the symptoms of depression, but it has proven effective with individuals suffering from Parkinson’s, acute migraines, and individuals receiving “surgery” for knee replacements. With this in mind, the information prompted me to wonder—“What else can our minds do?”

Alongside these reports follow numerous instances where the placebo effect has produced the same miraculous results. This leads me to believe that there is a possibility that several physical and emotional illnesses we experience can all be alleviated, or somewhat alleviated, just by changing our thought processes. So, the bigger question is does the power of healing lie within the medications and surgeries we buy into, or does it lie within yourself?

I know where my belief on this subject matter lies, but my question for you is what is the harm in testing this out for yourself?