Our bodies and minds are deeply connected. Life stressors and worries can take a toll on our emotional resilience and impact our mental health, but prolonged stress can also translate into sore muscles, headaches, and stomach pains. Thankfully, the opposite is also true: relaxation, self-care, and using healthy coping strategies can lower blood pressure, improve sleep, and help protect your body from the unhealthy effects of stress. Discirimation based on race, class, gender, and sexual orientation can also impact our mind and body connection. When we are routinely faced with obstacles such as unjust laws or financial barriers, we’re more likely to experience chronic health problems and suffer from poor mental health. While it’s important that we implement healthy boundaries and self-care strategies, having a strong community, healthy friendships, and other empowering relationships can also shield us from the impacts of stress. Hey Jane would love to support you when you need a little extra love and care with our library of online resources and through providing compassionate and evidenced-based virtual care.