This might seem like an odd title for a blog on psychological stuff, but what I mean is that it’s important for us all to remember that we’re living, breathing creatures. We need to be maintained and taken care of. Consider what’s involved in taking care of pets or tending a garden. I’m no gardener (although I’d sort of like to be), but I have had pets. You have to consider what your pet needs to survive and thrive: water, food, care, nurturance, attention, play, fresh air, space, and so on. The same goes for humans, except our needs are sometimes a little more complex. I think it’s easy to lose sight of the importance of tending to these needs. I believe that one reason for this is that our brains are always coming up with such compelling stuff. In our minds, we can imagine entirely different lives, universes, and so on. We can have thoughts about how good or bad we are, whether other people love or care about us, what kind of job we will have, and whether we’ll ever have that relationship we yearn for. We can think about horrors of the past and worry about possible horrors in the future. We also have to think to navigate our daily lives, get work done, learn new things at school, and make decisions. Our brains are so active that it can be easy to lose sight of the fact that our brains are connected to our bodies. And, our bodies need to be taken care of. I’ve often heard people describe themselves as disembodied heads, their bodies functioning much like a wagon, bringing their heads from place to place. That might be what it feels like at times, but in reality, our bodies and brains are part of the very same system keeping us alive. Lifestyle behaviours that affect our bodies (what we eat or drink, how much we exercise, our stress levels, and so on) also affect our brains. Indeed, some researchers at the University of British Columbia (Centre for Brain Health) have found that physical exercise can go a long way in minimizing the loss of volume in an important area of the brain – the hippocampus (involved in learning and memory). We often teach clients in DBT that, to effectively manage emotions, it is important to take care of basic needs: treat physical illness; engage in balanced eating and sleeping; avoid harmful or problematic use of substances; engage in physical exercise, among other tips. Moreover, what we do has a huge effect on the activity in our brains and on how we feel. We’re not just disembodied heads. To disengage from the type of thinking patterns that keep you stuck in your head, consider using mindfulness strategies, focusing on your direct experience of the present moment. Get out of your head for a moment, and consider whether you’re taking good enough care of your brain and your body. Come up with a plan to improve your self-care, starting with small and sustainable steps (e.g., don’t make a change that you don’t think you can keep up for at least a year). Remember that you’re a living being that needs care, and give your body the attention and care it needs. – Alexander L. Chapman, Ph.D., R.Psych.