Relaxing the body to help the mind

May 1—Pain not only takes a toll on the body, it also can hurt mental health.

Relieving physical symptoms through alternative practices can bring about peace of mind as well, said Dr. James Schoonover of Thrive Family Chiropractic.

"What we're trying to do is get to the root cause of what they're coming in for. If it's for pain, we're trying to help them," Schoonover said. "If it's physical, if there's something restricted, is there something damaged? Emotional trauma can actually cause physical pain, too."

With May being Mental Health Awareness Month, some may be spurred to improve their emotional well-being by reaching out for help. Schoonover said some clients have reported a mental boost after his treatments.

"Sometimes we've had patients get up and they swear that the colors are more vibrant, the lights are brighter," he said.

Some pain may be different than others. The brain plays a big role when parts of the body are not functioning correctly, and some may not even be aware of the impact pain has on their mental health until they find freedom through treatment, Schoonover said.

"We've got this aching pain and we've got a long life. So we just cover it up and then our brain just does that subconsciously," he said. "It's so good at just putting a Band-Aid over something that's going on in our life. We forget how many Band-Aids we continually build up."

Seeing a chiropractor is not the only form of body maintenance that can help the mind. Those who practice yoga report similar mental boosts.

Jessica Bledsoe, a natural path practitioner with Evolve Studio, leads yoga sessions to release pain through different techniques.

"To focus even during on your breathwork instead of holding your breath and tensing up and maybe causing more pain," Bledsoe said. "You can actually release that with the breath work."

At the end of the sessions, Bledsoe makes sure to convey self-care words of affirmation, which she said continues the process of healing.

"You're the one that has to do the self-care. And that's not selfish. That's actually you really taking care of your body, filling your own cup. And so at the end of my practice, that's how I do because they should be thinking of themselves," Bledsoe said. "You only get one body. So if you can put it to use in the best possible way, it does help everything from physical, mental, emotional, spiritual."

Each yoga session can focus on something different. Some work on balance while others focus on breathing. Tension in the body can be worked on as well.

"I do it because I am a busy person and sometimes I need to really pay attention to myself," Bledsoe said. "And so it is very calming and taking the time for myself, just listening to my body and trying to relax it."