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Mental Healing: Does Positive Thinking Act Upon Brain Neurons to Improve Health?
Almost all of us have heard of a scenario such as this one: A woman battling cancer has lost almost all hope of recovery. She has not been able to turn to her family for support for fear of their reactions to her illness. One morning she finally breaks down and tells her husband about the cancer. Instead of being devastated and turning his back on his wife, the husband supports the wife, every step of the way, and she gradually seems to improve.
Why is it that something as seemingly innocent as love and support can prolong life or improve someone's health? Is there any neurological evidence that positive thinking, love, and help can actually stimulate the brain to improve health? And how about the placebo effect? How is it that people can get better subconsciously? It seems that some health improvement can either happen consciously (I-function) as in the case of emotional support, or subconsciously (without the I-function) as in a placebo effect.
I would like to assert for this paper, as an overview of the whole course, that some kinds of alternative medicine and mental healing do indeed work. The question is, does it have a neurological basis of brain=behavior or is there something more at work like hope or other emotions that are so far intangible in the human brain? Certain things we may never be able to find in the brain, but either way, I would like to assert that even though brain=behavior does account for most behaviors and actions in the body, that there may at least be something more. I will review all the literature I found and let the decision be yours, but also add in my two cents on the total findings for this paper.
Firs...
... middle of paper ...
...m, and what is it doing? I will continue to believe, until I see otherwise, that there is a "mind" or "soul" that science will not be able to find in their search to concretely assert that brain=behavior. If it is indeed something intangible, then for at least a great many years, if ever, science can not find I-function within a mass of tissue cells in the brain.
WWW Sources
1) Mental Healing
http://www.famu.edu/sjmga/ggrow/Healing/Mental.html
2) Maryland Stress & Health Program
http://www.bsos.umd.edu/socy/health.htm
3) The Power of Positive Thinking
http://www.pei.sympatico.ca/healthyway/HEALTHYWAY/feature_mdh1.html
4)Are you Thinking Yourself Sick?
http://www.oxygen.com/
5)The Brain's Natural Opiates: Endorphines
http://www.oxygen.com/
6)Intrusive Thoughts Proven To Undermine Health
http://www.apa.org/monitor/oct96/thoughts.html
Being diagnosed with a chronic illness is a life-altering event. During this time, life is not only difficult for the patient, but also for their loved ones. Families must learn to cope together and to work out the best options for the patient and the rest of the family. Although it may not be fair at times, things may need to be centered on or around the patient no matter what the circumstance. (Abbott, 2003) Sacrifices may have to be made during difficult times. Many factors are involved when dealing with chronic illnesses. Coping with chronic illnesses alter many different emotions for the patients and the loved ones. Many changes occur that are very different and difficult to get used to. (Abbott, 2003) It is not easy for someone to sympathize with you when they haven’t been in the situation themselves. No matter how many books they read or people they talk to, they cannot come close to understanding.
During our first few class sessions, I became very intrigued by the brain = behavior idea and the I-function. I kept searching for what I thought to be an easy way to approach these complicated issues. We discussed extensively the example of Christopher Reeve, as someone with an intact I-function, but who has lost a certain element of connectedness between total I-function control and his actual body. I became very interested in how the I-function and brain = behavior interrelate. I thought that looking into some information about the persistent vegetative state and the locked-in syndrome would yield a satisfying and definitive answer once and for all. Is a brain still a brain without the I-function? I found no definitive answer, but I was able to convince myself of the "less-wrongness" of the brain = behavior idea.
“Menippean satire is defined as a form of satire that is indirect and nonrealistic in approach. It consists typically of a loosely organized narrative incorporating a series of dialogues between representatives of various points of view” (Collins).
Moss, Clare. “Brief History of Barbie.” Bighistory.net. 22 Dec 2009. Web. 24 Feb 2010. .
As the world moves into the twenty first century, Western civilizations are witnessing a surge of new technology, ideas and economic success. Urbanization is spreading rapidly and Western society’s push for progression is becoming more apparent. However, this obsession with advancement has begun to take its toll on the happiness of the citizens. Studies have shown that in 2002, up to 13 percent of U.S. citizens suffered from mental disorders and that this number has only increased since then (Rinpche 60). As a result of our push for new technology, more techniques and medication are evolving and being used in psychotherapy. We must, however, wonder if it is time to try something else? Despite new advancements in medication and psychology research, we are still witnessing an increase in psychology patients and it may be time to acknowledge the idea that we may not be able to solve these problems with the same mentality that created them. Fortunately, during this progressive push there have been a growing number of Western pioneers with the open mind of trying something new, specifically in the area of psychotherapy, and have been researching and experimenting with different forms of Eastern philosophy and its use in psychotherapy (Spretnak 2).
After having studied the placebo effect for our last paper, I was greatly intrigued by its' importance in understanding health and implications for the connection of mind and body. As I acknowledged in my previous paper, the placebo effect is often documented in a scientific study, yet is considered to be something not completely understood and therefore deemed unreliable by the medical community. However, what I found from my research was that there does seem to be an inherent reliability and could thus be a cornerstone for the concept for mind-body healing.
How many times have you heard people fighting over the legalization of marijuana? Both side of the arguments providing very valid points but which one is the correct choice? The on going fight for the legalization of marijuana is going in a circle. Ike brannon argues on the point that legalization still resonates with people beyond the stoner crowd who see marijuana harmless substance and has put millions of Citizens in jail. (16) People who smoke marijuana do not think it is harmless. They think that the governments laws and banning of the drug is the main point creating the ruckus. They also argue on the fact that legalization would bring 10 million dollars in tax money per year on the drug. This is true ,but would the senate or the house legalize a drug that could do more harm than good? Are we putting our money over our minds? In some cases people think that the drug Marijuana can cure or slow down the process of cancer. Victoria Bekiempis says that she has found that marijuana does slow down cancer but not just that, it is very harmful to the user. (N.p.)
Barbie is a fashion doll manufactured by the American toy-company Mattel, Inc. and launched in March 1959. American businesswoman Ruth Handler is credited with the creation of the doll using a German doll called Bild Lilli as her inspiration.
Throughout history, explanations for mental illness have been described as supernatural, psychological, and biological. Prior to the early Greek physicians, the supernatural model of mental illness prevailed. Early humans did not have science to explain natural events so magic, mysticism, and superstition were used as a substitution. They believed in animism, the idea that all of nature is alive, and anthropomorphism, the tendency to project human features onto nature. Reification was also a popular belief that assumed if you can think of something, it exists. Sympathetic magic was the idea that one can heal and individual by influencing an object that is similar or closely associated to them (Frazer, 1890/1963). Primitive healers would often imitate the patient's ailments and then model the recovery. Reification also lead to the bel...
According to the Barbie website, Handler obtained the idea by watching her young daughter play with paper dolls and using her imagination to pretend that they were adults or teenagers doing what adults or teenagers may do such as attending college or having a career. She was also inspired by the Bild Lilli doll that was famous in Germany in 1952 who was a high end call girl and was sold as a sex toy usually bought by men. Barbie was a high fashion, teenage model (eventually branching out to multiple different careers over time). with a slim plastic body, pale skin tone, and came in either blonde or brunette hair (although she is known for her blonde hair). She wore a white bathing-suit with black strips that came along with sunglasses, high-heels, and hoop earrings. Although Barbie first received negative reactions from the public saying she was too “sexy” and wore provocative clothing, she became very popular amongst young girls. With time Barbie became a fashion icon and an item in every young girl 's
Barbie, an American icon that was a product of the Mattel Company, revolutionized the lives of young girls and women for many decades. The creation of Barbie, meant for many young girls the opportunity to have choices during a time when women were limited. Although, Barbie has long been criticized for being associated with domesticity and her appearance among many other things, she is nonetheless an iconic figure in American History. As a female who grew up playing with Barbie dolls, for many people like myself, she was more than a toy, she was an influence that many woman have tried to emulate because she was an innovate figure in the 1960s and has continued to be well into today. The intention of this paper is to examine what were the intentions of Barbie doll creator Ruth Handler when the doll debuted in 1959 as well as the magnitude of Barbie’s impact on women and women’s history.
Scoliosis is a musculoskeletal disorder that causes a sideways curvature of the spine or backbone. It has been present in the world for thousands of years, among people of every race, gender, culture, and country. A majority of the time these curves are S- or C-shaped. “Scoliosis is most common in late childhood and the early teens, when children grow fast” (Medline Plus). Girls are statistically more likely to have it than boys when dealing with severe and progressive scoliosis. However, mild scoliosis curvature is equally common. It has been suspected that it may be genetic. “Some of these genes likely contribute to causing the disorder, while others play a role in determining the severity of spinal curvature and whether the curve is stable
As Barbie became a household word, the mindset of mothers in America was changing ...
Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 36:2, 67-68. Simon, D. (2004). The 'Secondary'. Practicing Mind-Body-Soul Medicine. Alternative Therapies, 10:6, 62-68.
Barbie, a doll manufactured by Mattel, Inc., encourages an unrealistic body image, racial insensitivity, and contradictive goals, and it is having a negative influence on young girls everywhere. Launched in March 1959 by Ruth Handler, an American business woman and president of Mattel, Inc., Barbie quickly became popular and has gone on to sell three dolls every second, in over one hundred and fifty countries. However, Barbie’s rise to success has not been wholly positive – there have been numerous controversies, parodies, and lawsuits, all addressing a number of issues. One such issue is how Barbie promotes an unrealistic and unobtainable body image. For example, to scale, Barbie is five feet, nine inches tall, has a thirty six inch chest, eighteen inch waist, and thirty three inch hips. Had Barbie been a real person, she would not be able to walk, much less hold her head up. Secondly, Barbie is racially insensitive and perpetuates stereotypes. “Mexico Barbie,” from Barbie’s “ethnic” line, comes with a passport and a Chihuahua, as well as stereotypical red lace ribbons in her hair. Lastly, Barbie portrays goals that are both unobtainable and contradictive. Barbie has had a variety of careers, such as being a doctor, astronaut, and President of the United States, but also engages in stereotypical domestic activities, such as cleaning and baking. These characteristics are affecting young girls in a time when they are most developmentally susceptible, and teaching them a number of negative lessons.