Blog #143--Doctors Are Discovering Mind/Body Connection

While a few doctors have known this for a long time, a majority are just now beginning to recognize the connection between mind and body and how it influences our overall mental and physical health. My current doctor recently attended a continuing education seminar on the Mind/Body Connection. The concept was new to him, but at least he was willing to study the topic.

Doctors know how much their work depends on a patient’s own healing abilities, but many still tend to downplay the subject. After all, if all people knew how often they can heal themselves without assistance from specialists, doctors might lose a small fraction of their business. In addition, all human egos separate rather than unify. They can’t do two things at once, let alone see connections between two or more subjects. Doctors have egos, so they have a natural resistance to unifying concepts.

They tend to believe our minds are separate from our bodies, even though they know our brains and bodily organs communicate with each other through a complex network of neural activity and hormonal changes. If a part of the body needs more of something, it sends a signal to the brain it needs more. The brain then sends out the order. If it has too much, it requests a reduction; the brain then complies to reduce production. Our brains and bodies are always connected, but we tend to overlook this reality, perpetuating our misperceptions.

As I mentioned in my book “It’s a Secret, So Pass It On: a Toolbox For Life,” even family practice doctors and general physicians prefer to treat imbalances with synthetic drugs and/or surgical procedures rather than looking for ways their patients can take advantage of their own immune systems. Their efforts often appear to help, so it makes them feel important while lining their pockets with wealth. But at best, their work supplements a body’s natural healing abilities, and sometimes the best of intentions backfires on them. They may actually do something or prescribe something that hinders a body’s natural defense mechanisms without even knowing it.

Fortunately, more doctors are now making an effort to prevent imbalances before their patients need expensive care. One important way they do this is to spend time getting to know their patients, how they think and how their living environment affects their physical and mental health. Simply showing they care about their patients goes a long way toward making them feel better about themselves, which increases their self-confidence. Our immune system behaves internally exactly how we behave externally. If we are confident, our immune systems are much more capable of fighting off disease than if we lack confidence.

Another way is to learn methods of reducing stress since that is the primary common denominator in most non-traumatic imbalances. The subject of most interest to my doctor at his recent seminar was the Relaxation Response. Cardiologist Herbert Benson wrote a book with that title a long time ago and has been directing the Mind/Body Medical Institute in Boston for the past 35 years. His associate Ann Webster, PhD, led the seminar, pointing out how a state of relaxation helps reduce muscle tension, blood pressure, breathing rate and heart rate. It is also mood-enhancing, restores energy and frees the mind to consider new concepts. What’s not to like?

The methods Dr. Webster discussed included meditation, mindfulness, progressive muscle relaxation, imagery, yoga, body scan, prayer and repetitive exercise. All these methods keep one focused on the method being used rather than extraneous thoughts that might upset one’s sense of balance and increase stress. Over time, one can begin to notice a number of positive changes.

For instance, one’s ability to sleep restfully is often enhanced. One might notice a reduction in headaches and low back pain, two common stress-inducing signs of imbalance. One may see an increase in concentration and efficiency of effort. And one often develops greater self-acceptance.

I’ve experienced many doctors over the course of my lifetime, and some of them made me feel worse rather than better after every visit. These were the ones who jumped to premature conclusions, rushed me through so they could squeeze more patients into their allotted time and prescribed one or more pills to treat (or perhaps disguise) my illnesses. And they had no interest in treating me like a normal human being. One dentist I had even refused to face me; what little she said was from behind me, and she did as little as possible before having her technician do the rest of the work. I felt rather worthless in her presence.

I realize how busy doctors can be, and how their need to help a large clientele prevents them from conversing with their patients. But I know from personal experience that treating me like a quality human being does more for my morale and sense of self-worth than anything a pill-pusher can do. It can be hard to heal ourselves when we feel weak and defeated; feeling good about ourselves has a definite healing effect.

In fact, a couple special doctors I’ve met have become enlightened enough to admit openly they often help people in spite of themselves, and they often lose patients despite their best efforts. If we can find a doctor confident enough to make this admission, we also have one who will treat us as an equal and will truly care about our welfare. Such doctors can best help us to let go of the stresses in our lives and enhance our own immune systems. They are the gold standard of doctors, and they know the importance of the Mind/Body Connection.

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