Chronic Illness

Historically, western medical science has separated the mind and body, treating the two as if they have no relationship with one another. We now know that this is simply not true. The mind and body are intimately connected - the mind influences the body and the body influences the mind. There are a host of chronic medical conditions with no known physical cause for which we have little understanding. What we are beginning to learn, however, is that many of these conditions appear to be related to our psychological wellbeing and stress levels. As such, many people suffering from chronic illness are now beginning to manage their physical pain by addressing their emotional and psychological struggles as well as the way in which they relate to their body’s and their pain.

A combination of CBT and Mindfulness has been shown to be very effective in the treatment of chronic illness. Unfortunately, many people feel put off by the suggestion that psychological measures could adequately address their medical problems. Some feel as if this indicates that they are not believed or that they are faking it - but this is a fallacy. In truth, our bodies actually physically respond to our stress. By learning how to manage stress more effectively and address possible underlying psychological struggles we create physical change in our bodies.