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Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Mind-Body Connection



There are many example of what we call the mind-body connection. This means that our 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!



On the other hand, what we do with our physical body (what we eat how much we exercise, even our posture) can impact our mental state (again positively or negatively). This results in a complex interrelationship between our minds and bodies.



Why is this relevant to us?  Have you noticed that when you are dressed and behaving as our other self, something changes.  That something is our mind adjusting and accepting a new reality. In my case I notice that my breathing is more relaxed,  I feel less stress in my shoulders, my hands are loose and overall I like the new me.  We all know that the mind is a receptor of the senses, processing what the eyes see, ears hear and body feels.  Some of this explains why it is so much fun. Why we keep doing it. 



Let me share an example.  I had a very good friend here in Palm Beach that dress as we do on a regular basis.  He was beautiful, had elegant gowns, and on many occasion when I went to visit, I found him in a lovely beaded cocktail dresses enjoying a drink by his pool.  His health was not good and suffered from chronic high blood pressure.  He had an electronic blood pressure measuring device and found that when dressed his pressures as well as pulse decreased.  Have we found the cure for high blood pressure?  No, but  what it tells me is that the mind body connection is very real.   



Cortisol is the stress hormone.   In survival mode, the optimal amounts of cortisol can be life saving. But when you stew on a problem, the body continuously releases cortisol, and chronic elevated levels can lead to serious issues. Too much cortisol can suppress the immune system, increase blood pressure, decrease libido, produce acne, and contribute to obesity and more.



I had a beautiful cockatiel bird that was a good companion, as I would write program code.  He would make his chirping noise and I grew accustomed to the relaxing sound while I worked.  Also I had a very nice kitty that at times was jealous of the bird and in its own way would stare at the bird as to say “you would make a nice lunch”.   Rest assured nothing bad ever happened, but I was sure that the bird sensed the danger and became very quiet.  After the cat would leave the room, the cockatiel would just shake all over as to release the stress and then be fine.  I always thought that we humans also need a way to shake off our stress and then go about the rest of the day.   



Let us see our transgender activity for what it is.  An escape from the day-to- day stresses that are thrown at us.  Do not see it as the source of the stress but see it as the release.  This requires a degree of acceptance that we must grant, knowing that we are not going to outgrow this nor get tired of doing it.  It is what it is.  Accepting being transgender and feeling good about yourself will allow us to strengthen our mind, body connection. 

     

2 comments:

  1. Beautiful post. I agree. I find that connecting with my female side is a great stress reliever. I am calm and at peace while dressed and since much of my dressing is only partial I believe that the more fully dressed I am the more at ease I get. I work a very high stress profession and I have lots of major headaches in my regular guy life that seem to abate when I have my femme time. I am able to purge the stress and pressure that affect the guy and revel in the peace of my clothes, heels and makeup.
    Pax
    Pat

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