Mindfulness helpful in improving physical, mental inflammatory outcomes
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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Mindfulness exercises may help improve both physical and mental outcomes in patients with inflammatory diseases, according to a speaker at the Basic and Clinical Immunology for the Busy Clinician symposium.
“There are studies that show the effects of mindfulness on inflammatory processes,” Amanda Shallcross, NDMPH, of the Cleveland Clinic, told attendees during the hybrid meeting. “There are some physiological effects of mindfulness. There are enough studies, that there are systematic reviews on this.”
According to Shallcross, emotional regulation has a lot to do with the way human minds are intrinsically wired.
“We are, basically, wired for threat,” she said. “What this means is that our natural state of things is not ease, it is rather like a hypervigilance to things in our environment that can go awry.”
In addition to constantly searching for stress, Shallcross said, human minds are constantly thinking, which, if left to unconscious whims, can cause distress.
“Our brains are thinking machines, but I want to be clear that thinking itself is not a problem,” she added. “Thinking without knowing we are thinking is problematic precisely because of this first condition.”
However, humans’ have the ability to be aware of the inner processes of the brain, which can be used to react to perceived threats, according to Shallcross.
“The good news for all of this is that this is modifiable, because as human beings, we have the capacity to be aware of our internal phenomenon,” Shallcross said.
She added that the way patients handle uncomfortable emotional and mental situations has a great impact on overall health outcomes.
“At a very basic level, what I would like you to take away is the idea that what we do to regulate our internal experience — in essence, our thoughts, our bodily sensations and our emotions — is one of the most important predictors of health outcomes,” Shallcross said. “And not just emotional, but physical, as well.”
To better regulate these feelings, Shallcross recommended practicing mindfulness, which involves being aware of distressing thoughts, feelings and physical sensations.
The most important factor, she said, is acceptance.
“The real active ingredient, though, is this thing called acceptance,” Shallcross said. “We all know mindfulness cannot possibly just be the awareness piece.”
she added.
“Acceptance is not passive resignation,” Shallcross said. “It is actually an active experiencing of feeling what we are sensing in the moment.”
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Shallcross A. Starting the conversation on mind body therapies: An integrative provider’s approach. Presented at Basic and Clinical Immunology for the Busy Clinician, Feb. 25-26, 2023; Scottsdale, Arizona (hybrid meeting).
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