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- Essay Name : 854.txt
- Uploader :
- Email Address :
- Language : english
- Subject : Health
- Title : Diseases as a Reflection of the Psyche
- Grade : sophomore- B
- School System : college
- Country : USA
- Author Comments : written in first person form
- Teacher Comments : Youre the man
- Date : 11/01/92
- Site found at : looking for a way to cheat
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- DISEASES AS A REFLECTION OF THE PSYCHE
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-
-
- Wanting to know whether or not the human brain has
- the power to cure the body of illness, I set out to
- find an article with some cold hard facts. This
- article, written by Marcia Angell, Ph.D., elaborates on
- the subject of the connection between mental state and
- disease.
- The belief that there is a connection between
- mental and physical health is apparent in the article.
- It signifies that if a person is in a positive frame of
- mind, active and content, then they are physically
- healthy and have the ability to ward off many
- illnesses. However, in the event the person is in a
- deep state of depression, inactive, or despondent, then
- their body reacts in a way as to give up and allows
- sickness to invade their immune system. The ability to
- control onesÆ physical status is possible, however only
- to a certain extent. One has to be realistic and not
- assume that the mind can cure a terminal illness or one
- of congenital defect, or can it? These beliefs
- coincide with the philosophies of monism, the mind and
- body working as one, and the Grand Unification Theory,
- the joining together of mind and body in an organ
- called the brain. I personally believe the mind can
- influence onesÆ body. My opinion stems from my
- discipline acquired in the martial arts. I can employ
- the use of my mind to block out or ignore moderate
- amounts of pain. Therefore I believe the mind has some
- definite control over the body and its functions as a
- healer. I therefore agree with Marcia Angel in
- believing that positive thoughts and concentration will
- result in a healthy body, while negative thoughts will
- elicit detrimental effects. There is a vast amount of
- the brain that has been explored, yet much of its
- functioning and abilities still remain a mystery. It
- has been said that secrets to the universe and powers
- beyond our comprehension are hidden in certain regions
- of the brain. Perhaps it is in these mysterious
- regions that those secrets lie.
- The practice of healing with the mind could be
- implemented in medical facilities around the world,
- leading to alternative fields of medical interventions
- for treating various illnesses. Mind/Body medicine
- exists worldwide. On October 26, 1993, Turner
- Broadcast System will air ôThe Heart of Healing.ö this
- show depicts various individuals whom have reportedly
- cured themselves with the power of the mind. Viewing
- this documentary could be beneficial to everyone,
- especially individuals with a sense of hopelessness and
- helplessness.
- This article and subject may be interesting to
- individuals in health related fields by lowering the
- cost of treatment and reducing the demand for
- pharmaceuticals to cope with pain and symptoms
- associated with simple illnesses. With proper
- education this can be proven to also aid people whose
- religions prohibit the use of our medical technology.
- And if accepted, they could use the mind to cure
- sicknesses and or reduce the needless suffering of
- minor pain.
- If you are curious about this topic some other
- sources of information are ôMind and body Medicine: A
- new Paradigm?ö by Frank Sabatino, Ph.D.. in the journal
- Hospitals. It also discusses how this once ôshunnedö
- practice is becoming more and more popular in todays
- health care society. Another article one may consider
- reading is ôNew concepts of Health and Healing May
- affect Hospitals Approach to Careö, also by Frank
- Sabatino. It discusses how some of the ancient
- practices are coming back into circulation in the
- medical field. Techniques such as acupuncture,
- acupressure, yoga, and meditation are complimentary
- examples of these practices. Interest in these
- techniques have been aroused partly because of the need
- to restore the human need for alternative treatment
- along with modern medicine. Local hospitals utilize
- counseling staff along with medical personnel in
- treating illnesses such as chronic abdominal pain,
- nausea, vomiting, and chronic headaches by teaching
- patients relaxation and stress management techniques in
- order to enhance the healing process. Patients who
- have been treated solely by use of pharmaceutical means
- with little relief of symptoms tend to respond
- positively when taught alternative psychological
- methods for coping with pain and gaining mental and
- physical wellness.
- In closing, if mind over body medicine was working
- before had the technology that is available today, then
- how are we to know that the answers to todays problems
- are not hidden in the past?
-
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