Diseases As A Reflection Of The Psyche

Essay, Research Paper

DISEASES AS A REFLECTION OF THE PSYCHE

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 ones 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 ones 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