News  Nurture your mind and body for overall wellbeing

How the mind-body connection works

The mind-body connection refers to how your thoughts and emotions can directly impact your physical health and vice versa. If you experience chronic stress, it can lead to long-term mental and physical health concerns like depression, anxiety and high blood pressure.

Or if you're ill but maintain hope, a positive attitude, and believe you’ll recover, your brain is more likely to produce chemicals that support healing. Negative thoughts and emotions can reduce the production of these helpful chemicals and increase stress hormones.

Mass4YOU offers self-service support tools, like the Calm app, and other resources that help promote a positive mind-body connection. Go to supportfinder.optum.com/mass4you/login.

Fueling the connection

To support both mind and body, your diet should include a variety of nutrients – proteins, fibers, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. These nutrients help regulate mood, support clear thinking and keep you alert. They also fuel your body, providing energy for physical activity, maintaining muscle strength, supporting immune function and promoting overall vitality.

The brain-nutrient mental health connection works both ways. When you’re feeling stressed, anxious or sad, you may find it difficult to eat, let alone prepare nutritious meals. This lack of nutrients can worsen how you already feel, as your brain struggles to function properly without the right fuel.

Learn More

To learn more about the connection between your mind and body and additional resources, visit Mass4YOU, your free employee assistance program

• Call 1-844-263-1982
• Visit liveandworkwell.com, Use access code mass4you
• Download the Optum Assist mobile app (Apple, Google), Use access code mass4you